Zenith "Royal Crusader" Transistor (Body) Hearing Aid
The Zenith "Royal Crusader" transistor hearing aid was manufactured by the
Hearing Aid Division of the Zenith Radio Corp. beginning in October 1963.
The Zenith "Royal Crusader" measured 2" x 1½" x ⅝" thick, and
weighed 1¼ oz. without battery or receiver. The case was polished
aluminum.
The coppery-brown microphone grill covered most of the front of the
"Royal Crusader".
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![](../../../../images/photos/275x206/body/zenithroyalcrusaderM.jpg) |
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Comparison of the Zenith "Royal Crusader" (left) and the Zenith
"Crusader II" (right). The "Crusader II" reversed the Zenith name and
microphone grill colors. From the front he "Royal Crusader" looked almost identical
to the "Crusader II" if you didn't notice the colors were
reversed. Also, the "Royal Crusader" had a shiny aluminum case in contrast to the "Crusader II's" dull aluminum finish. |
![](../../../../images/photos/275x206/body/zenithroyalcrusaderpairM.jpg) |
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Front view of the stylish Zenith "Royal Crusader" transistor hearing aid.
The wire pocket clip framed the microphone grill.
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![](../../../../images/photos/275x206/body/zenithroyalcrusaderfrontM.jpg) |
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Top view of the Zenith "Royal Crusader" showing the 2-position "T"
(t-coil) and "M" (microphone) switch (left rear), the 4-position
"H" (high), "M" (mid), "L" (low) and "F" (full) tone control (left
front), the receiver cord jack (center rear) and the 1-7 position
volume control/on-off switch (right front).
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![](../../../../images/photos/275x206/body/zenithroyalcrusadertopM.jpg) |
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Bottom rear view of the Zenith "Royal Crusader" hearing aid showing the
battery door, which opened from the bottom of the case. |
![](../../../../images/photos/275x206/body/zenithroyalcrusaderbattcompM.jpg) |
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Bottom rear view of the Zenith "Royal Crusader" hearing aid showing
a type "N" battery installed. The Zenith
"Royal Crusader" took an "N" size 1.4 volt
No. 401 mercury battery. |
![](../../../../images/photos/275x206/body/zenithroyalcrusaderbatM.jpg) |
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Rear view of the Zenith "Royal Crusader" hearing aid. "Volume" is
inscribed in the upper left corner and "Tone" on the upper right. On the upper back is inscribed
"Zenith" and "ROYAL Crusader". The serial
number is inscribed on the lower battery door (bottom center).
Here is the
Instruction Manual for the Zenith Royal Crusader.
Here is a Guide
to Better Hearing for using your new Zenith Royal Crusader hearing
aid.
Here is a brochure on
Battery Information for your new Zenith Royal Crusader hearing aid. |
![](../../../../images/photos/275x206/body/zenithroyalcrusaderbackM.jpg) |
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This particular Zenith "Royal Crusader" hearing aid had the
less-common "Y" receiver cord, so you could wear a receiver in each ear
for binaural hearing. |
![](../../../../images/photos/275x206/body/zenithroyalcrusaderyM.jpg) |
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The Zenith "Royal Crusader" hearing aid came with a bottle
of accessories for the receiver. There were 3 different-sized filters
(left) and a number of red plastic washers (right).
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![](../../../../images/photos/275x206/body/zenithroyalcrusaderaccessM.jpg) |
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The three filters that came in the accessory bottle with the Zenith
"Royal Crusader" hearing aid. The color-coded filters had
different-sized holes from large (black) to small (red) to help filter
out any harsh sounds.
Filters fitted into the nubbin on the receiver.
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![](../../../../images/photos/275x206/body/zenithroyalcrusaderfilterM.jpg) |
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Close-up of the front side of the receiver for the Zenith "Royal
Crusader" hearing aid with a red plastic washer beside it.
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![](../../../../images/photos/275x206/body/zenithroyalcrusaderwasheroffM.jpg) |
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Close-up of the receiver of the Zenith "Royal Crusader" hearing aid
showing the green filter installed in the nubbin and the red washer on
the outside of the nubbin. The purpose of the washer was to make a
tight seal between the ear mold and the receiver to help prevent sound
leaking out and causing feedback.
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![](../../../../images/photos/275x206/body/zenithroyalcrusaderfilteronM.jpg) |
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The receiver and ear mold of the Zenith "Royal Crusader" hearing aid
shown here snapped apart.
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![](../../../../images/photos/275x206/body/zenithroyalcrusaderrcvrapartM.jpg) |
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Side view of the receiver and ear mold of the Zenith "Royal Crusader"
hearing aid shown here snapped together. You can see the faint red line
between the receiver and ear mold where the washer seals the sound in.
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![](../../../../images/photos/275x206/body/zenithroyalcrusaderrcvrsideM.jpg) |
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The Zenith "Royal Crusader" hearing aid in the carrying case in which it
came.
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![](../../../../images/photos/275x206/body/zenithroyalcrusaderinboxM.jpg) |
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Outsider view of the Zenith "Royal Crusader" hearing aid showing the
carrying case in which it came.
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![](../../../../images/photos/275x206/body/zenithroyalcrusaderboxM.jpg) |
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