1992.6.2

Talking Book Phonograph Headphones

Trimm Radio Manufacturing Company

Folding stereo headphones; black cotton wrapped steel head strap, nickel hardware, swivel-mounted black rubber ear pieces; black cotton-insulated wire leading to pair of nickel plated jacks; cast into earpieces, "TRIMM RADIO MFG. CO./CHICAGO, U.S.A."

H-7.5 W-7 D-2.375 inches

ca. 1937

Trimm Radio Manufacturing Company

Chicago, IL

Congress amended the Pratt-Smoot Act in 1933 to allow the Library of Congress to buy and distribute Talking Books to blind adults on the same basis as braille. Initially, the American Foundation for the Blind launched a fundraising campaign to purchase Talking Book machines for users nationwide. In 1935, however, the Foundation managed to convince President Franklin Roosevelt to sign an order allocating WPA funds to the LC for the construction of TB players. In turn, the LC appointed AFB as its agent to supervise the project. By the time it was discontinued in 1942, AFB had produced 23,000 machines in several formats, both electric and spring driven. Headphones were needed for the spring-driven models, which were entirely portable.

Gift of Alvin Roberts, 1992.6.