Maico Model BX "Universal II" Transistor (Body) Hearing Aid
The Maico Model BX "Universal II" transistor body hearing aid was manufactured by Maico Electronics, Inc. of
Minneapolis, MN in 1967. The name "Maico" was derived from the
initials of the Medical Acoustic Instrument Company.
The Model BX was a modification of the Model AX produced in 1961. It
had a blue plastic front and a
stainless steel back. It measured 2 1/16" x 1 7/16" x
9/16" thick (5.2 x 3.6 x 1.4 cm) and weighed 1.0 oz. (30 g) without
the battery.
The cord, receiver (earpiece) and ear molrd are missing.
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Front view of the Maico Model BX "Universal II" transistor body hearing
aid showing the keystone-shaped microphone grill with the Maico logo in
the center. This aid was quite small for the time. The dark blue front
was also very uncommon in hearing aids.
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Top view of the Maico Model BX "Universal II" transistor body hearing
aid showing the MTO lever (left) the 2-pronged receiver cord jack
(center) and the volume control wheel (right).
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Close-up view of the top left corner of the Maico Model BX "Universal II" transistor body hearing
aid showing the 3-position MTO switch—"M" (microphone), "T" (t-coil) and
"O" (off).
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View of the right side of the Maico Model BX "Universal II" transistor
body hearing aid.
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View of the left side of the Maico Model BX "Universal II" transistor body hearing
aid showing the serial number—19785 (lower left) .
The hole to the right of center was for the wire pocket clip (missing).
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Rear view of the Maico Model BX "Universal II" transistor body hearing
aid showing the chrome back and the battery compartment door along the
bottom.
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View of the Maico Model BX "Universal II" transistor body hearing aid
showing the battery compartment door opened. Note the small, sliding,
white switch at the rear of the battery compartment and the legend for
this switch on the lid (top left). This was essentially a tone control—"HC" (high
cut), "N" (normal) & "LC" (low cut). This sets the output to cut the
high frequencies, no change, or cut the low frequencies depending on the
kind of hearing loss the person had.
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View looking down into the battery compartment of the Maico Model BX "Universal II" transistor body hearing
aid.
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The Maico Model BX "Universal II" transistor body hearing aid used a 1.4 volt
"N"-sized No. 401 mercury battery such as the
Duracell RM-401H.
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