Made by Commonwealth of Australia (Commonwealth Acoustic laboratories) to address the problem of providing hearing aids to ex-service men with impaired hearing due to war related events. They were issued by the then Repatriation Department a cheaper alternative to imported more expensive but lower quality units. The were also used for the large number of children who had impaired hearing due to the Rubella epidemic in Australia during WWII. http://www.acoustics.asn.au/journal/2000/2000_28_3_Upfold_Piesse.pdfIssued to Henry Claude Roussac a veteran of both WWI and WWIISteel square case with a white plastic thumb wheel with volume marks on the side and two holes for the insertion of the earpiece plug, front contains a small (10mm x 5mm) microphone covered by a wire grill.There is a small retaining clip on each side to clip the unit into a shirt pocketC of A CALAID D11849calaid, hearing aid, australian acoustic laboratories, roussac, gallipoli, repatriation department, cal

The first commercial digital hearing aid was created in 1987 by the Nicolet Corporation. The hearing aid contained a body-worn processor that had a hardwire connection with an ear mounted transducer. While the Nicolet Corporation’s hearing aid was not publicly successful and the company shortly folded, it was able to start a competition between companies to create more effective hearing aids. Two years later, in 1989, the behind-the-ear (BTE) digital hearing aid was launched. In addition to the Nicolet Corporation, Bell Laboratories expanded upon the hearing aid business by developing a hybrid digital-analog hearing aid. When the hearing aid was put on in the market, it was instantaneously successful. This development helped bring major changes to the world of the hearing aid. The next major milestone was creating an all-digital hearing aid. The Oticon Company developed the first digital hearing aid in 1995, but it was only distributed to audiological research centers for research on digital technology in the realm of acoustic amplification. The Senso was the first commercially successful, all-digital hearing aid, and was created by Widex in 1996. After the success of the Senso, Oticon began marketing their own hearing aid, the DigiFocus. Presently, the digital hearing aid is now become programmable. By making the hearing aid programmable, it has allowed hearing aids to be capable of regulating sound on their own, without using a separate control. The hearing aid can now adjust itself depending on what environment it is in and often does not even need a physical volume control button. These were the first behind the ear hearing aids manufactured by the National Acoustic Laboraties (NAL) in Australia Body worn hearing aid consisting of separate pieces, one for each ear with attached ear mould, for one ear, in original box. Provided and manufactured by the NAL (National Acoustic Laboratories), part of the Commonwealth Department of Health. "NAL" in centre of stylised map of Australia. "COMMONWEALTH/DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH" on inside of box. "IV" and "F.McD/RIGHT" manually etched on hearing aid. "II" manually etched on other hearing aid. "CAL AID H" inscribed on inside edge of hearing aid.

The first all transistor hearing aids appeared in 1953. They were created to replace vacuum tubes; they were small, required less battery power and had less distortion and heat than their predecessor. The vacuum tubes were typically hot and fragile, so the transistor was the ideal replacement. The size of these transistors led to developments in miniature, carbon microphones. These microphones could be mounted on various items. There were body hearing aids where the earpiece was connected to the hearing aid and battery pack worn on the body. Ear level hearing aids consisted of eyeglass, behind the ear (BTE), in the ear (ITE), and in the canal (ITC, CIC) hearing aids. A new aid type, the Calaid V, was introduced featuring a forward facing microphone, and three potentiometers for adjustment of maximum gain, maximum power output, and low frequency roll off. The Calaid V was introduced in the early 1980s and remained the most frequently used aid in NAL's service for the next ten years (From: THE CALAID: AUSTRALIA'S OWN HEARING AID by Laurie Upfold and Ray Piesse Single Behind-the-ear hearing aid. Provided and manufactured by the NAL (National Acoustic Laboratories), part of the Commonwealth Department of Health. "CALAID/V" on bottom face

The first commercial digital hearing aid was created in 1987 by the Nicolet Corporation. The hearing aid contained a body-worn processor that had a hardwire connection with an ear mounted transducer. While the Nicolet Corporation’s hearing aid was not publicly successful and the company shortly folded, it was able to start a competition between companies to create more effective hearing aids. Two years later, in 1989, the behind-the-ear (BTE) digital hearing aid was launched. In addition to the Nicolet Corporation, Bell Laboratories expanded upon the hearing aid business by developing a hybrid digital-analog hearing aid. When the hearing aid was put on in the market, it was instantaneously successful. This development helped bring major changes to the world of the hearing aid. The next major milestone was creating an all-digital hearing aid. The Oticon Company developed the first digital hearing aid in 1995, but it was only distributed to audiological research centers for research on digital technology in the realm of acoustic amplification. The Senso was the first commercially successful, all-digital hearing aid, and was created by Widex in 1996. After the success of the Senso, Oticon began marketing their own hearing aid, the DigiFocus. Presently, the digital hearing aid is now become programmable. By making the hearing aid programmable, it has allowed hearing aids to be capable of regulating sound on their own, without using a separate control. The hearing aid can now adjust itself depending on what environment it is in and often does not even need a physical volume control button. Silver metal case with side clips and hearing aid attached. Has battery compartment for AA batteries. Volume control is the top left hand corner. "C OF A/CALAID/36778" on back of case deaf children australia, hearing aid, calaid

The first commercial digital hearing aid was created in 1987 by the Nicolet Corporation. The hearing aid contained a body-worn processor that had a hardwire connection with an ear mounted transducer. While the Nicolet Corporation’s hearing aid was not publicly successful and the company shortly folded, it was able to start a competition between companies to create more effective hearing aids. Two years later, in 1989, the behind-the-ear (BTE) digital hearing aid was launched. In addition to the Nicolet Corporation, Bell Laboratories expanded upon the hearing aid business by developing a hybrid digital-analog hearing aid. When the hearing aid was put on in the market, it was instantaneously successful. This development helped bring major changes to the world of the hearing aid. The next major milestone was creating an all-digital hearing aid. The Oticon Company developed the first digital hearing aid in 1995, but it was only distributed to audiological research centers for research on digital technology in the realm of acoustic amplification. The Senso was the first commercially successful, all-digital hearing aid, and was created by Widex in 1996. After the success of the Senso, Oticon began marketing their own hearing aid, the DigiFocus. Presently, the digital hearing aid is now become programmable. By making the hearing aid programmable, it has allowed hearing aids to be capable of regulating sound on their own, without using a separate control. The hearing aid can now adjust itself depending on what environment it is in and often does not even need a physical volume control button. Square, silver metal hearing aid with electronics and AA battery compartments. Has an ear piece and ear mould attached by wire, with a volume adjustment. A body level type, probably a CALAID T manufacture from 1955 to the 70's. On front "C OF A/CALAID/108499" deaf children australia, hearing aid, calaid, commonwealth of australia