1930s Ardente Aurashelle Bakelite Handheld Microphone

This unusual little curio is a 1930s Ardente Aurashelle Bakelite Handheld Microphone. It is being sold as a collectable for display only as it hasn't been tested and may have parts missing e.g. the bakelite battery pack holder has been replaced with a wire.

Approximate Dimensions

• Diameter: 5.6cm
• Height: 7.3cm

Manufactured by Ardente, (founded by R.H Dent in 1919), London, UK: (see 1935 Ardente advert, published after the George V Silver Jubilee, which is probably non P.C by today's standards...). It is becoming rare to find this type of item, which is actually a vintage hearing aid and acoustic/vibratory therapy device designed for use in a hospital environment as opposed to a domestic setting.

Housed in Bakelite, with a wire protruding from one of the openings on the base, the Aurashelle , instead of picking up sounds like a microphone, it did the opposite. Powered by a battery, (not included), the device contained two electromagnets that produced a loud, violent buzzing sound and mechanical vibration, (with loudness levels between 1 and 5 chosen via the sliding switch). It generally caused more harm than good as a medical device!

This unusual bakelite aural device is in pretty good condition, with surface scuffs and scratches commensurate with age and use. A great addition to a Science collection or Man Cave!

Click on the following links for more vintage microphones or medical devices.