Ear trumpets | Packington collection

HIGHER/LOWER Suggest the value order for these ear trumpets
image	answer
	Banjo 1910 £200
	Banjo 1949 £100
	Banjo 1920 £200
	Banjo 1925 £230 silver plated

MYSTERY OBJECT What is this set of objects for ?
	Magnetic compass and 2 painted pieces quack magnetic ear cups with compass as tester

ARRANGEMENTS These were sold to provide an improvement to hearing which ones are 'right' as antiques ?
	Powered by a 4.5v 'flat' battery - this makes a buzzing noise. Supposed to improve hearing by sticking in the ear ! useless but of the time
	Virtually straight - probably a marriage between home made earpiece and half a car/bicycle horn - possibly fake
	Designed to deceive made of modern parts, sold with blurred picture online
	Recent repro of perfectly good trumpet
	Fireman's or sailor's speaking tube for the sender not the receiver
	Repair gone wrong the earpiece re-soldered the wrong way around, a home made piece but with skill in the earpiece
	Beater's or harking horn , makes a noise just by blowing
	Horn for Fox Hunting and Beagling
	Civil War trumpet - excellent reproduction of the correct one at Kent State

UNUSUAL ITEMS to be discussed with host
	Bought from a gentleman's estate in Alabama via a dealer in Brooklyn NY
	decorative trumpet chased with Indian animals bought from a nunnery in Canada
	An expensive 7 horn trumpet bought in Houston Texas, probably unique and quite old ~1820. The horns are enamelled metal and in extraordinary condition.
	A very early ladle shaped trumpet
	Only one in 450 that is vaguely art deco

WHAT'S THE CONNECTION ? What makes these a group ?
	All Rein 108 pretty much the product range at the time Traditional cow horn shaped trumpet
	Conversation tube
	Pair of Auricles
	Large London Dome
	Tiny London Dome

A STORY ATTACHED
	In a red leather box, bought from a Lady in New York. She had two, one plastic and one silver for Church on Sundays !!

BACKGROUND ITEMS all different
	Beautiful silver trumpet by Reily & Storer found in the USA, hallmarked 1835. Very simple folded design but a work of art.
	The only one I have used for real in both cinema and theatre. It was probably silver plated and I believe it is unique. Beautiful repoussé work and works quite well.
	I spent years looking for one of these and 3 slightly different ones turned up in Belgium in a box of 7 trumpets. Solid silver but unmarked and of limited use, but very elegant.
	I found this exquisite folded trumpet quite close to home in Coalville. This must be one of Hawksley's most expensive pieces. In addition to the magnificent scroll grille, the bell is a masterful bit of repousse work.
	It took me several years to persuade the brocante owner in Paris to sell me this large dome. I wanted it for the grille. Amongst some of the most attractive grilles in the collection , this one stood out. I am very keen to find out about the maker Greiling, clearly shown, but no records seem to exist.
	Sold to me by a Scottish lady who thought it should be in my collection after finding the trumpet in her attic and me on the internet. I thought that all the beehive ones were plastic, so a metal one was a nice surprise. The price I offered was market value and both parties really happy with the private sale.
	I waited for 15 years to find one of these. Two appeared as a lot on EBay and disappeared before I bid to buy them. Months later the owner of a Medical Museum offered me the one he didn't want. He had walked to the seller's retail shop and bought the items.
	A fine pair of Victorian silver ear tubes. These are an unusual shape - quite rare. I think probably made as a one off because they have no marks.

Ear Trumpets for the BBC questions and answers