Ear trumpet

The ear trumpet concentrated sound waves into the ear canal, providing the only hearing assistance available before electronic amplification. First documented in the 17th century, these funnel-shaped devices ranged from simple cones to elaborate instruments disguised as furniture, fans, or walking sticks. They worked through basic acoustics: a large collecting area gathered more sound energy than the unaided ear could capture.

The principle was straightforward. Sound waves spread as they travel; a large horn could intercept a wider wavefront and channel the energy into the narrow ear canal. Gains of 10-15 decibels were achievable—significant for mild to moderate hearing loss, though insufficient for severe deafness.

Designs proliferated over three centuries. London instrument makers competed to produce more effective and more discreet ear trumpets. Conversation tubes allowed private exchanges without shouting. Acoustic chairs with built-in horns concealed the listener's impairment. The bourgeoisie of the 18th and 19th centuries could choose from catalogs of hearing devices.

Social stigma drove design innovation. Ear trumpets advertised disability; users sought devices that attracted less attention. The Victorian era produced trumpets disguised as headbands, bonnets, and beard ornaments. The tension between effectiveness (larger is better) and discretion (smaller is better) constrained design.

Electronic hearing aids, developed in the early 20th century, eventually displaced ear trumpets. Vacuum tube amplifiers, then transistors, then integrated circuits provided amplification that acoustic devices could not match. But the ear trumpet persisted in some applications—its simple construction, no battery requirements, and robust design made it useful where electricity was unavailable.

The ear trumpet demonstrates how human ingenuity addressed disability with available technology. For centuries it was the only option; when better technology arrived, it became obsolete almost overnight.