Zenith Super Royal [Mod I] Vacuum Tube Hearing Aid

The Zenith Super Royal [Mod I] vacuum tube hearing aid was manufactured by the Hearing Aid Division of the Zenith Radio Corporation of Chicago, IL beginning in October, 1952.

The Zenith Super Royal [Mod I] and the Zenith Royal [Mod I] were the last vacuum tube hearing aid models produced by Zenith. Four months later (February, 1953) Zenith produced their first transistorized hearing aid, the Royal T.

The gold-colored anodized aluminum case was set over a black plastic chassis.

The Zenith Super Royal [Mod I] measured 4½” by 2⅜” by ⅞” thick, and weighed 7¾ 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.

Below the "ZENITH" name on the lower front is the t-coil (called "phone magnet" in those days).

In front of the receiver jack (front center) is a two-position A1-A2 switch. This interesting and rare 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.

This hearing aid took two RM-1 1.4 volt mercury "A" batteries (center) and two 22½ volt "B" batteries hooked in series to give 45 volts for increased power output (such as the Eveready 412E) (lower half).

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 battery.

On the upper half are inscribed the words "Zenith", 'Super Royal" and "the royalty of hearing".