Zenith "Royal Regent" Transistor (Body) Hearing Aid
The Zenith Model "Royal Regent" Transistor Hearing Aid was manufactured by the
Hearing Aid Division of the Zenith Radio Corp. in 1964. It was an 6-transistor aid
using a push-pull (PP) amplifier.
The Zenith "Royal Regent" measured 2¾" x 1 11/16" x
⅝" thick (6.9 x 4.3 x 1.6 cm), and weighed 2.6 oz. (74 g) with batteries. The case is
polished aluminum front and back.
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Front view of the Zenith "Royal Regent" transistor hearing aid showing
the brown vertical rectangular microphone grill (right of center) and
the brown strip with the Zenith logo near the top (left of center). At
the bottom is the "Zenith" name. Note the wire pocket clip
framing the mic grill on the bottom and sides.
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Upper left side view of the Zenith "Royal Regent" transistor hearing aid showing
the three-pronged receiver cord plug and 3-pin jack unplugged.
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Side view of the Zenith "Royal Regent" transistor hearing aid showing
the receiver cord plugged into the 3-pin jack (left of center).
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Top view of the Zenith "Royal Regent" transistor hearing aid showing the 1 to 7 volume
control switch (top front right) and the 4 position slider switch (top
left corner).
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Top right rear view of the Zenith "Royal Regent" transistor hearing aid showing the 4 position
switch (top right) in the "off" position. Note the 4 "dots" indicating
the switch position on the hearing aids "shoulder". The legend for these 4 positions
is "MIC" (microphone), "TEL"
(t-coil), "HI" (high-frequency emphasis) and "OFF".
The "MIC" position is at the same time the "full tone" position.
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View of the empty battery compartment of the Zenith "Royal Regent"
transistor hearing aid. Note the positive terminals are on the left. |
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View of the battery compartment of the Zenith "Royal Regent"
transistor hearing aid showing two Zenith "N" cells in place. This
hearing aid took not one, but two "N" size 1½ volt carbon-zinc batteries
such as these
Zenith "N" batteries or equivalent. The serial number (8417737)
runs up the left side of the battery compartment. |
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At the back of the battery compartment of the Zenith "Royal Regent"
transistor hearing aid is a dealer adjustment tone control switch (under
the "dealer adjustment" label. The legend is above on the metal part of
the case. It shows "HIGH" to the left and "LOW" to the right.
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Back view of the battery compartment of the Zenith "Royal Regent"
transistor hearing aid with the "Dealer Adjustment" label removed
showing the 4-position rotary tone adjustment switch. You used a small
screwdriver which fit into one of the notches to move it either left or
right.
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Bottom view of the Zenith "Royal Regent" transistor hearing aid
showing the thumb notch for opening the battery compartment door
(center).
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Rear view of the Zenith "Royal Regent" transistor hearing aid. Engraved into the
upper back
are the words "Zenith", "Royal" and "Regent".
The lower half of the back is the swing-up battery compartment door.
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Close-up view of the upper back of the Zenith "Royal Regent" transistor hearing aid
showing the manufacturer "Zenith" and the model "Royal
Regent" engraved there.
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Side view of the receiver of the Zenith "Royal Regent"
transistor hearing aid
showing the 3-pronged receiver cord unplugged.
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Rear view of the receiver of the Zenith "Royal Regent"
transistor hearing aid
showing the receiver cord plugged in.
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Front view of the receiver and ear mold of the Zenith "Royal Regent"
transistor hearing aid shown unsnapped. The ring on the ear mold snapped
onto the nubbin in the center of the receiver.
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Side view of the receiver and ear mold of the Zenith "Royal Regent"
transistor hearing aid snapped together.
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Front view of the receiver of the Zenith "Royal Regent"
transistor hearing aid
showing the nubbin in the center without any plastic insert.
Note the red washer in place to give a better seal and thus help prevent
feedback.
Also, note this is a model Y-1-R receiver (right side). This receiver model
produced a "peak" response in the higher frequency ranges. This was the
receiver that normally came with the "Royal Regent".
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The Zenith "Royal Regent" hearing aid
came with a small bottle of spare parts. There were several red
plastic washers to ensure the ear mold had a tight fit to the receiver to
help prevent feedback. You could use one or several red washers as needed.
In addition there were 4 color-coded "earphone inserts" with varying
size of holes in their centers. They fit into the receiver nubbin to
"reduce the impact of sudden loud sounds for the individual with
'tender' ears".
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Front view of the receiver of the Zenith "Royal Regent"
transistor hearing aid
showing the large-holed black earphone insert in the center of the
receiver and the three smaller-holed colored earphone inserts below.
Note the red washer in place.
Also, note this is a model Y-5-R receiver (top). This receiver model
produced a relatively "flat" response. Normally, the Y-1-R came with the
"Royal Regent" but you could get this model if your hearing loss
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The Zenith "Royal Regent" transistor hearing aid came with a "Guide to
Better Hearing" (left) and a
"Operating Instructions" manual (right).
Read either one by clicking on the links above.
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The Zenith "Royal Regent" transistor hearing aid and its accessories in
its original carrying case. I don't know what the compartment on the
right was for.
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Left side view of the inside of the carrying case of the Zenith "Royal
Regent" transistor hearing aid showing the receiver, ear mold and cord
compartment. On the bottom of the compartment are the words, "Keep ear
mold, earphone and cord here".
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Top outside view of the case the Zenith "Royal Regent" transistor hearing aid
came in showing the "Zenith" name and logo (right).
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Outside view of the case the Zenith "Royal Regent" transistor hearing aid came in.
The case measured 6½" x 3 5/16" x 1 1/16" (16.7 x 8.4 x 2.7 cm).
A special thank you to the Clark School for the Deaf in Northampton,
MA for donating this hearing aid to the Museum.
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