Zenith "Crusader" [Mod I] Transistor (Body) Hearing Aid
The Zenith "Crusader" [Mod I] Transistor Hearing Aid was manufactured by the
Hearing Aid Division of the Zenith Radio Corp. beginning in August, 1958. It was an
4-transistor aid.
The difference between the Zenith "Crusader" (previous page) and the
"Crusader [Mod I] is that the Mod I had an external clip-in
microphone like the "Crusader X" (not shown).
The Zenith "Crusader" [Mod I] measured 2" x 1⅜" x ⅝" thick
(1" thick with plug-in microphone), and weighed 1˝ oz. with battery. The case was
gold-colored anodized aluminum.
The picture at the right shows the earlier version of the Zenith "Crusader" [Mod
I] with the
microphone (right) attached to the external microphone cord.
The "Crusader" [Mod I] had the word "ZENITH" centered across
the bottom (as shown), exactly like the original "Crusader" had.
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Top view of an earlier version of the Zenith "Crusader" [Mod I] showing the 1 to 7 volume
control/on-off switch (top front right). The 4-position tone control
(top front left) is labeled "H" (high), "M" (mid),
"L" (low) and "F" (full) . The receiver cord jack is in the
center (rear). The earlier versions of the Mod I had black-colored
controls with yellow letters and numbers on them. |
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In contrast, later versions of the Zenith "Crusader" Mod I and all
versions of the Mod II had cream-colored controls with black letters and
numbers on them. The serial number of the above earlier version of the
"Crusader" Mod I hearing aid is 705,178. The serial number of the later
version of the "Crusader" Mod I (shown on the right) is much higher,
namely 4,106,504. |
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Rear view of the earlier version of the "Crusader" [Mod I] showing the
battery door which swung up from the bottom of the case revealing the battery compartment (bottom). The Zenith "Crusader"
[Mod I] took an
"N" size 1.4 volt No.
401 mercury battery. |
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Front view of the earlier version of the Zenith "Crusader" [Mod I] showing the unusual clip-on
microphone. (The "Crusader" [Mod I] did not have a built-in microphone.) This
way the microphone could be attached to the hearing aid (as shown) or
removed and attached to the clothing while the hearing aid itself was
"hidden" in a pocket.
The microphone ports are the two holes, one on each side of the
Zenith crest. |
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Front view of the earlier version of the Zenith "Crusader" [Mod I] showing the clip-on
microphone removed revealing the two microphone jacks (black circles).
Notice the long sharp prongs on the microphone so it could pierce thick
clothing easily. |
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Front view of the earlier version of the Zenith "Crusader" [Mod I] showing the plug of the microphone
cord that could be plugged in in place of the microphone itself. |
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Other end of the earlier version of the Zenith "Crusader" [Mod I] microphone cord
showing the two jacks (right side top and bottom of the white plug) and
the bottom of the microphone (bottom right). |
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The microphone of the earlier version of the Zenith "Crusader" [Mod I] shown plugged
into the remote microphone cord. |
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Front view of the later version of the Zenith "Crusader" [Mod I] showing
the external microphone plugged in. Notice the different design on the
front—a crown at the top and the diamond-shaped microphone port centered
on the lower front.
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Close-up of the upper left corner of the external microphone of the
later version of the Zenith "Crusader" [Mod I]. Notice that
this external microphone also has a t-coil in the case as evidenced by
the "T" t-coil and "M" microphone switch (shown in the "T"
position. |
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Rear view of the earlier version of the Zenith "Crusader" [Mod I] hearing aid. Engraved into the back
it reads "Zenith", "Crusader" and "the royalty of hearing".
In the top left corner is engraved the word "VOLUME", and in the top
right corner the word "TONE".
The serial number on the battery door is 0705178.
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Rear view of the later version of the Zenith "Crusader" [Mod I] hearing aid.
It is the same on the back except for a much higher serial number.
The serial number on the battery door of this later Mod I model is
4106504.
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View of the earlier version of the Zenith "Crusader" [Mod I] in its original case.
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Top view of the carrying case of the earlier version of the Zenith "Crusader" [Mod
I].
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