This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/30/2021
An incredible collection of over 40 earmolds and ear impressions, custom made for NASA astronauts for the purpose of radio communications within the spacecraft, and also to record the astronauts' temperatures. Collection comes from the estate of Gordon L. Bisel, a hearing aid distributor in Houston, TX, who was commissioned by NASA in the early 1960s to fabricate the earmolds for all astronauts on space flights, from Gemini 5 to the first Space Shuttle mission, including all Apollo astronauts.
In addition to the collection of ear pieces, lot also includes an astronaut sign-in sheet that features the signatures of the Apollo 1 crew: Virgil Grissom, Edward White, and Roger Chaffee, in addition to the signatures of David Scott, James McDivitt, and Russell Schweickart. Lot finally includes a wealth of other documents, including autographs by other astronauts, NASA promotional photos, Apollo XI and XII mission patches given to Bisel, and various newsletters, articles and NASA reports documenting the earpiece project.
Complete list of earmolds follows. Note that most of the earmolds include the astronaut's initials engraved in the molds.
Additional photos can be seen here.
1. Joseph Allen, Right and Left Earpieces
2. Neil Armstrong, Right and Left Earpieces
3. Alan Bean, Right and Left Earpieces
4. Karol Bobko, Right and Left Earpieces
5. Vance Brand, Right and Left Earpieces
6. Gerald Carr, Right and Left Earpieces
7. Robert Crippen, Right and Left Earpieces
8. Charles Duke, Right and Left Earpieces
9. Don Eisele, Right and Left Earpieces
10. Joe Engle, Right and Left Earpieces
11. Ronald Evans, Right and Left Earpieces
12. Owen Garriott, Right and Left Earpieces
13. Edward Gibson, Right and Left Earpieces
14. Virgil Grissom, Right and Left Earpieces
15. Fred Haise, Right and Left Earpieces
16. Donald Holmquist, Right and Left Earpieces
17. James Irwin, Right and Left Earpieces
18. Joseph Kerwin, Right and Left Earpieces
19. William Lenoir, Right and Left Earpieces
20-21. Don Lind, Right and Left Earpieces (2 Sets)
22. Jack Lousma, Right and Left Earpieces
23. James Lovell, Right and Left Earpieces
24. Bruce McCandless, Right and Left Earpieces
25. Edward Mitchell, Left Earpiece
26. Franklin Story Musgrave, Right and Left Earpieces
27. Robert Overmyer, Right and Left Earpieces
28. William Pogue, Right and Left Earpieces
29. Stuart Roosa, Right and Left Earpieces
30. Harrison Jack Schmitt, Right and Left Earpieces
31. Rusty Schweikart, Left Earpiece Impression
32. Dave Scott, Right and Left Earpieces
33. Thomas Stafford, Left Earpiece Impression
34. Thomas Stafford, Right and Left Earpieces
35. Jack Swigert, Right and Left Earpieces
36-37. William Thornton, Right and Left Earpieces (2 sets)
38. Paul Weitz, Right and Left Earpieces
39. Al Worden, Right and Left Earpieces
40-41. John Young, Right and Left Earpieces; and Left Earpiece Impression
List of other photographs and documents include:
1. Astronaut sign-in sheet featuring signatures of Apollo 1 astronauts, measuring 8'' x 10''
2. Apollo XI and XII mission patches given to Bisel
3. Autographs inscribed to Chris Bisel by Sally Ride,
William Lenoir, Rick Hauck, John Fabian, and Joe Allen
4. Houston Post article, dated 31 March 1969
5. Alpha Tau Omega alumni publication
6. ''Between Friends - Ears for Our Moon Men'' article
7. Various Beltone Hearing Aid Service newsletters from 1966, 1968 and 1969
8. 15 NASA FACTS publications from the NASA Public Affairs Office
9. 32 NASA 8'' x 10'' photos.
Some degrading of plastic bags holding earmolds; overall items are in very good to near fine condition. With a COA from Gordon Bisel's son.