Estate Coins & Currency, Vintage Women's Fashions, Vintage Medical and other Collectibles
Lot 95:
Description
An early 20th-century portable carbon-microphone hearing aid system manufactured by The Gem Earphone Co. of New York. The set consists of a microphone transmitter unit with a leather-wrapped handle and a circular black housing featuring a central mechanical adjustment dial. A single black earpiece is connected to the system by a black fabric-covered electrical cord. The power source is a separate battery unit with a leather-wrapped body and a red composition top featuring two metal contact pins. The set is contained within its original rectangular black pebble-grained carrying case with a snap-button closure and a red fabric-lined interior divided into three fitted compartments. The exterior of the case lid is gold-stamped with the characters THE GEM EARPHONE CO. NEW YORK. The red top of the battery component is molded with the characters GEM 1A. The rim of the black circular transmitter housing is embossed with the characters PAT. APPLD FOR. Construction materials include leather or leatherette, molded black plastic, red composition material, metal hardware, and fabric-covered wiring.
Condition report:
The set shows signs of age and use. The leather-wrapped components exhibit scuffing and minor material loss, particularly at the edges. The gold-stamped lettering on the case lid shows fading and partial loss. The black earpiece has minor surface wear and small areas of paint loss on the rim. The fabric-covered cords are intact but tangled. The mechanical dial on the transmitter unit is present and moves. The item is being sold as a historical collectible; electrical functionality is untested and not guaranteed.
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