Accession No
6064
Brief Description
‘vibrophone’ sonic exerciser with case, by Allerme, French, 1885 (c)
Origin
18, Rue Chapon; Paris; France
Maker
Allerm, M. L.
Class
medical; sound
Earliest Date
1885
Latest Date
1885
Inscription Date
Material
brass; steel; paper
Dimensions
brass cone: length 20mm; diameter 10mm hammer: length 62mm case: 50mm x 85mm x 30mm
Special Collection
Provenance
Purchased from Tesseract, Box 151, Hastings-on-Hudson, New York 10706, U.S.A., on or before 17/02/2006. From Tesseract catalogue 81, Winter 2005/2006.
Inscription
‘LE “VIBROPHONE” DEPOSE’ (on brass cone)
Description Notes
‘vibrophone’; sonic exerciser with case; French, by Allerme; c.1885
brass cone with internal steel spring and plate; stainless steel (?) hammer; folded type script of instructions; fitted green box
condition: good; complete; box condition: fair
References
Events
Description
The Vibrophone is described as a ‘sonic exerciser’. This small cone is inserted into one’s ear and struck, creating a loud bell noise, the vibrations of which are supposed to ‘massage’ your inner ear. This is meant to relieve your ear from daily stresses. We now know this as a ‘quack’ instrument (with no medical benefits), but the instructions for use are very serious and you are instructed that within the first few days of usage, it should not be kept in for more than a few hours. It was not supposed to be used if you have a cold and warns users not to fall asleep with the cone in their ear.
[Label written by Rosanna Evans, year 10 work experience student]
Created by: Rosanna Evans, year 10 work experience student
FM:46533
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