1956: The Model 840 "Lady America"
The Model 840 was one of Radioear's first transistorized models. Able to fit in the palm of one's hand, it was a unique clip-on, body-worn style of hearing aid.
“840, Copy 3 – 45J7/2K26, grey with M74 receiver, cord, bag, presentation case, Lady America clip, 1956”. Radioear Corporation Records, 1900-1990, AIS.2023.21, Archives of Industrial Society, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System, Box 27, Item 4.
Kaple, Dan. Scanning consultation at Thomas Blvd. 28 November 2025.
The Lady America
The Radioear 840 “Lady America” is a fully electric transistor-based hearing aid.
It contained 3 transistors and was powered by an "A" battery. It was 1.364 inches wide and 2.406 inches long.
The Lady Radioear cost $280 in 1956, or $3,393 in 2025.
The Model 840 Lady America in a display case
1956, 1956. Radioear Corporation Records, 1900-1990, AIS.2023.21, Archives of Industrial Society, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System, Box 47, Folder 8b.
The Model 840 Parts List
“Radioear Price Lists, Parts and Accessory Catalogs, and Revisions, December 15, 1949 - March 1, 1957”. Radioear Corporation Records, 1900-1990, AIS.2023.21, Archives of Industrial Society, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System, Box 41, Folder 4c.
Miniaturized components like transistors and watch batteries ushered in a new era of concealed, wearable hearing aids.
The Transistor
In 1948, the transistor was invented, spelling the end of vacuum tube hearing aids.
The Radioear 800 series could have the same tonal range without the fragility, energy, or excess heat inherent to vacuum tubes.
Pictured to the right, an advertisement emphasizing how small the transistors were, highlights how revolutionary this invention was to the hearing aid industry. Hearing aids were one of the first commercial applications of the transistor—the transistorized radio came after.
A spoonful of transistors
1956, 1956. Radioear Corporation Records, 1900-1990, AIS.2023.21, Archives of Industrial Society, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System, Box 47, Folder 8b.
Watch Batteries
With the transition to all-electronic transistor-based devices, manufacturers adopted much smaller, lighter “button-style” watch batteries. Earlier hearing aids relied on large, heavy batteries that were worn on the body or carried in a pocket to generate power for vacuum-tube systems. The small size of the new hearing aids of this era became the selling point of the 800 series, leading to marketing that focused on fashion, size, and concealability.
A comparison between the compact button-style batteries used in transistorized hearing aids and the much larger batteries of the previous decade
1956, 1956. Radioear Corporation Records, 1900-1990, AIS.2023.21, Archives of Industrial Society, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System, Box 47, Folder 8b.
Model Helen J. Heath holds the Model 840 between her fingers with a tabletop hearing aid placed on her lap to demonstrate the size differences between these two devices
1956, 1956. Radioear Corporation Records, 1900-1990, AIS.2023.21, Archives of Industrial Society, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System, Box 47, Folder 8b.
Advertising of the Era
The Lady America was one of the hearing industry's first forays into wearable, fashionable hearing aids. It could be worn multiple ways: clipped to a tie, worn behind the ear with a headband, or on eyeglasses, or clipped to oneself.
Radioear began promoting the 800-series hearing aids not only as technological tools but also as fashion-forward accessories. Advertisements highlighted how easily the electronics could be hidden inside eyeglass frames or under hair.
Model Helen J. Heath shows off her concealed hearing aid
1956, 1956. Radioear Corporation Records, 1900-1990, AIS.2023.21, Archives of Industrial Society, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System, Box 47, Folder 8b.
Hearing Aid Eyeglasses
The Lady America could be turned into an eyeglass hearing aid. This model had all the electronics in modules—one behind each ear. One half of the model was the receiver end; the other was the microphone.
To turn it back into the body-worn version, the user could unplug the two modules from the end of each temple-piece and plug them into each other.
The eyeglass version of the Model 840 is shown with a receiver plugged in
1956, 1956. Radioear Corporation Records, 1900-1990, AIS.2023.21, Archives of Industrial Society, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System, Box 47, Folder 8b.
“840, Copy 6 – 13H8/1N56, grey with eyeglass fronts, M74 receiver, and cord, 1956”. Radioear Corporation Records, 1900-1990, AIS.2023.21, Archives of Industrial Society, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System, Box 27, Item 7.
Kaple, Dan. Scanning consultation at Thomas Blvd. 28 November 2025.
The "Lady Radioear" Campaign
Up until this point, archival advertisement material primarily focused on the practicality and higher quality of life brought about by hearing aids. In the 50s, especially with the Lady America, Radioear started to advertise their products as a fashionable accessory.
Reflecting the traditional gender roles of the time the "Lady Radioear" campaign featured model Helen J. Heath in various marketing images, highlighting her role as a mother, wife, and housemaker.
The standard ad copy for a Lady America advertisement stated: “'Lady America’ is the mother of two live-wire children. She cooks, keeps house, feeds the family dog and does volunteer work for her local hospital. The wife of a prominent physician, she is Helen J. Heath" (1956, 1956. Radioear Corporation Records, 1900-1990, AIS.2023.21, Archives of Industrial Society, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System, Box 47, Folder 8b.).
An advertisement for Lady America featuring Helen J. Heath modeling as Lady Radioear
“Beauty Calls On Deafness”. Radioear Corporation Records, 1900-1990, AIS.2023.21, Archives of Industrial Society, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System, Box 47, Folder 8b.
A Lady Radioear photoshoot featuring Helen J. Heath sighting down a revolver
1956, 1956. Radioear Corporation Records, 1900-1990, AIS.2023.21, Archives of Industrial Society, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System, Box 47, Folder 8b.
Sources
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Bauman, Neil. “The Hearing Aids of Yesteryear.” Canadian Audiologist, Canadian Audiologist | The Official Publication of the Canadian Academy of Audiology, 22 Aug. 2020, canadianaudiologist.ca/the-hearing-aids-of-yesteryear/.
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“Price Lists, April 1, 1955 - March 1, 1971”. Radioear Corporation Records, 1900-1990, AIS.2023.21, Archives of Industrial Society, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System, Box 40, Folder 14.
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Bauman, Neil, and Hugh Hetherington. “Radioear Model 840 “Lady America" Hearing Aid” The Hearing Aid Museum, https://hearingaidmuseum.com/gallery/Transistor%20(Body)/Radioear/info/radioear840b.htm. 2006-2019.
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"Engineering Bulletin". Radioear Corporation Records, 1900-1990, AIS.2023.21, Archives of Industrial Society, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System, Box 47, Folder 8b.