This listing is for an extremely rare medical device for deaf individuals patented September 23 1879 by deaf inventor R.S. Rhodes, #2149 trade mark AUDIPHONE. This was found with original grosgrain and silk black case. From the internet New York Times article November 22, 1879:

THE INSTRUMENT CONSISTS ESSENTIALLY OF A DIAPHRAGM OF HARD RUBBER, SOMEWHAT SIMILAR TO THE DIAPHRAGM OF A TELEPHONE AND SAID TO BE OF PECULIAR COMPOSITION. THIS DIAPHRAGM IS VERY THIN AND ELASTIC, AND CUT IN THE FORM OF A SQUARE WITH ROUNDED CORNERS, SO AS TO PRESENT A COLLECTING SURFACE OF NOT FAR FROM ONE SQUARE FOOT. FOR PURPOSES OF CONVENIENT ADJUSTMENT IT IS FURNISHED WITT A NEAT, HARD RUBBER (GUTTA PERCHA) HANDLE, AND IN THIS FORM MIGHT READILY BE MISTAKEN FOR A FAN OF THE ORDINARY JAPANESE PATTERN. WHEN IN USE THE EDGES OF THE DIAPHRAGM ARE MADE TO APPROXIMATE TOWARD EACH OTHER BY A SILKEN CORD, SO AS TO PRESENT A CONVEX SURFACE TO THE SPEAKER AND A CONCAVE ONE TO THE LISTENER. THE CORD MAY BE FASTENED AT ANY CONVENIENT CONVEXITY OF THE SURFACE OF THE AUDITORY DISC. WHEN THUS ADJUSTED, THE UPPER EDGE IS PRESSED FIRMLY AGAINST THE INFERIOR EDGE OF THE UPPER TEETH, AND THE DEAF-MUTE IS READY TO LISTEN. THE MOST SATISFACTORY RESULTS OBTAINED WERE THOSE IN WHICH THE CONGENITALLY DEAF MEMBERS OF THE CLASS WERE THE SUBJECTS OF EXPERIMENT, DEAFNESS FROM DISEASE FREQUENTLY INVOLVING LOSS OF SENSIBILTY IN THE AUDITORY NERVE RATHER THAN INJURY TO THE BONY OR MEMBRANEOUS STRUCTURES CONCERNED IN HEARING". 

The article does not describe the metal plate on the top of the audiphone whereby the deaf individual places his/her teeth.  All items descibed are present although there is a small crack in the diaphragm on one side which I have tried to photograph.  Photographed with and without flash attachment.  15x81/4" audiphone.  Case has one side with stiffener as originally made.   

One other article states that deaf Chicago resident Rhodes experimented in the early 1870's with a vulcanized rubber fan with wooden handle.  By 1879 mail order sales took off at $10 each ($15 for a Double Audiphone "for Deaf Mutes, enabling them to hear their own voices".  Classes of deaf children were seen and photographed in the press, fans clenched in their mouths, hearing music for the first time.   

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  As photographed and as found. In THIS listing I have added additional photographs after this description. PLEASE SCROLL DOWN THE ENTIRE PAGE TO SEE THESE ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS. Buyer pays postage.

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