LOUD NOISES HELP THE DEAF (Sep, 1933)
Filed under: Impractical — @ 2:04 am
Source: Popular Science ( More articles from this issue )
Issue: Sep, 1933
Buy on Ebay
Source: Popular Science ( More articles from this issue )
Issue: Sep, 1933
Buy on Ebay
LOUD NOISES HELP THE DEAF
Based on the theory that exercise of the eardrums aids certain cases of defective hearing, Dr. J. B. Prager, of New York City, has devised a phonograph that subjects patients, through earphones, to loud noises. His records include dynamite explosions, the shrieking and clanging of fire engines, thunderstorms, and waves beating on rocks. Knobs on a panel resembling a giant radio set regulate the volume. The full blast of a fire siren may at first produce only a pleasant tingling in the ears, Dr. Prager reports.
I don’t know if it works or not, but that is one cool piece of equipment!
Comment by Neil Russell — February 2, 2008 @ 6:15 am
What an amazingly stupid idea. I mean I could understand if they amplify music or speech, but having “loud noises” on records is just stupid.
Comment by Casandro — February 2, 2008 @ 6:20 am
Casandro
Why? Because you say so?
Comment by Firebrand38 — February 2, 2008 @ 7:23 am
This device probably did much more harm than in ever did good in helping people hear. This idea was not new in 1933. You can see a much smaller and much older (1903)device in the Hearing Aid Museum at http://www.hearingaidmuseum.co.....ssacon.htm.
Comment by Neil — February 2, 2008 @ 8:19 am
Oops–sorry. In the above post the trailing period got added as part of the hyperlink so it bombs.
Here is the correct link.
http://www.hearingaidmuseum.co.....ssacon.htm
Comment by Neil — February 2, 2008 @ 8:31 am
The irony is that loud noises MAKE people deaf…
Comment by Rick Auricchio — February 3, 2008 @ 8:05 pm
Loud noises on record= stupid? Not simply because someone says so, but because recording and reproduction equipment of the day responded exceedingly badly to large amplitude sonds, given the coarsness of the physical recording medium and the surface speed of the disc. Particularly loud sounds cause the needle to jump rather than follow the rapidly deviating groove, and the excessive lateral force on the needle wears the disc out with alarming rapidity. It happened on some of the old Philips Hi-Fi 78’s in the early fifties, particularly with older repro equipment.
I need to get out more.
Comment by Oliver — March 30, 2008 @ 4:54 pm