Zenith Royal Vacuum Tube Hearing Aid
The Zenith Royal vacuum tube hearing aid was manufactured
by the Hearing Aid Division of the Zenith Radio Corporation of Chicago,
IL beginning in February, 1952.
The gold-colored anodized aluminum case was set over a black plastic
chassis. (Note: limited quantities of the Zenith Royal were made with a
black case.)
The Zenith Royal measured
3” by 2⅜” by ⅞” thick, and weighed 5˝
oz. with the batteries. It used 3 vacuum tubes.
The round microphone grill (top center) had the Zenith crest in its
center. The pocket clips are on each side of the microphone grill.
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Top view of the Zenith Royal showing the 4-position "H" (high),
"M" (mid), "L" (low) and "F" (full) tone control (top left), and the 1-7 position volume
control/on-off switch (right). The 2-prong receiver jack is in the center. |
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Right side view of the Zenith Royal hearing aid showing the A1-A2
battery switch (left of center) and the thumbnail
indentation (center) labeled "LIFT" to open the battery compartment
door. This interesting and rare A1-A2 switching arrangement was only
used on the Zenith Royal and Super Royal models to switch between either
of the two "A" batteries these hearing aids had.
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Rear view of the Zenith Royal hearing aid showing the opened
battery compartment. The whole back opened. The battery door was hinged
on the right. This hearing aid took two
RM-1 1.4 volt mercury "A" batteries (center) and one 22˝ volt "B" battery
(such as the
Eveready
505E) (bottom). The Zenith Royal and Super Royal models were
unique in that they had not one, but two "A" batteries. Only one "A"
battery was in use at any given time—selected via the "A1-A2" switch. By
periodically switching between the two "A" batteries, it gave each "A"
battery time to recover while the other one was being used. In addition,
the second "A" battery also acted as an immediately-available spare
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The back of the Zenith Royal hearing aid. In the top left is the
word "VOLUME" and in the top right the word "TONE". On the upper half
are inscribed the words "Zenith", 'ROYAL" and "the royalty of
hearing".
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The Zenith Royal in its original carrying case. |
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View of the Zenith Royal carrying case.
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