Zenith "Vocalizer II" Transistor (Body) Hearing Aid
The Zenith "Vocalizer II" transistor hearing aid was manufactured by the
Hearing Aid Division of the Zenith Radio Corp. in 1968.
The Zenith "Vocalizer II" measured 2˝" x 1⅝" x ⅝" thick,
(6.4 x 4.2 x 1.6 cm) and
weighed 3.1 oz. (90 g) with receiver, ear mold and battery. The case was
stainless steel (semi-gloss finish).
There were two versions, the original version and later a modified
version (mod). The quick way to tell them apart is the original version
had a black plastic top and bottom, while the modified version was had a
tan-colored top and bottom.
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Front view of the Zenith "Vocalizer II" showing the Zenith name and
to the right of
it the Zenith Logo. The whole case was stainless steel with a
semi-gloss finish on the top section and a polished, shiny finish on the
bottom section.
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Front view of the Zenith "Vocalizer II" (mod) showing the Zenith name and
to the right of
it the Zenith Logo. The whole case was stainless steel with a
semi-gloss finish.
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Top view of the Zenith "Vocalizer II" showing the 3-position
"M" (microphone) "B" (both microphone & t-coil) and "T" (t-coil) switch
(left), the square microphone grill (center) and the 1-7 position
volume control/on-off switch (right). Note the black top
of the Zenith "Vocalizer II" original version.
Also note that the pocket clip is on the back and that if you were
looking down at the top of the hearing aid clipped to your pocket, all
the letters would be upside down from your point of view as shown in the
picture at the right
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Top view of the Zenith "Vocalizer II" (mod) showing the 1-7 position
volume control/on-off switch (left), the square microphone grill
(center) and the 3-position "M" (microphone) "B" (both microphone &
t-coil) and "T" (t-coil) switch (left). The top of the Zenith
"Vocalizer II" (mod) was tan-colored plastic.
Also note that the "insides" of the modified version were mounted in
the case reversed so that looking at the top when clipped to a pocket the words are
now right side up from your perspective as shown in the picture on the
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Side view of the top of the Zenith "Vocalizer II" showing the
two rounded plastic tabs at the left and right ends of the case.
Presumably, these tabs helped prevent the controls from accidentally
being bumped and thus changing the settings. |
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Rear view of the Zenith "Vocalizer II" showing the
U-shaped pocket clip design. Note the sales label on the bottom.
Obviously, this was a demo unit to show dealers they could have their
names on every hearing aid sold. The label reads, "This space reserved
for your personalized name plate."
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Rear view of the Zenith "Vocalizer II" (mod) showing the
solid pocket clip design with a tan-colored plastic-coated bottom.
There was no sales label on the bottom section, nor a recessed spot for
the name plate.
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Bottom view of the Zenith "Vocalizer II" showing the Zenith name and
model number below it. Note the black plastic bottom that provided
entrance to the battery compartment.
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Bottom view of the Zenith "Vocalizer II" (mod) showing the Zenith name and
model number below it. Note the tan plastic bottom that provided
entrance to the battery compartment.
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View of the battery compartment of the Zenith "Vocalizer II" (mod).
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Bottom view of the Zenith "Vocalizer II" showing the
serial number—Z2744 (top center). The original Vocalizer II had serial
numbers in the range Zxxxx, while the modified Vocalizer II had serial
numbers in the range ZCxxx. For example, the serial number for the
Vocalizer II (mod) shown in the picture above was ZC578 (barely visible).
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View of the battery compartment of the Zenith
"Vocalizer II" (mod) with they battery in place. |
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The Zenith
"Vocalizer II" (mod) took an "N" size 1.4 volt
No. 401 mercury battery (left) such as this Eveready No. E401E
battery. It came with a 2-pak of batteries
(right). |
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View of the right side of the Zenith
"Vocalizer II" (mod) showing the jack for the receiver
cord (center) and the end tab of the plastic top (right).
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View of the right side of the Zenith
"Vocalizer II" (mod) showing the three-pronged receiver
cord plug and jack. The center prong was not used as the cord consisted
of two wires.
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View of the right side of the Zenith
"Vocalizer II" (mod) showing the receiver cord plugged into
the jack. The plug could be plugged in with the cord facing to the top
(shown) or the bottom, but facing the top was the best way so there
wasn't a sharp kink in the wire that would eventually break. |
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View of the clear, hard-plastic ear mold (left), the red plastic
spacer (center) and the receiver (right).
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The Zenith
"Vocalizer II" (mod) came with a little bottle of spare
spacers (right). The spacers fit over the nubbin and provided a snug fit
for the ear mold so no sound could leak out and cause feedback.
Sometimes you might have to use two spacers at the same time to get a
tight enough fit. |
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View of the receiver (right) with the red plastic spacer in place
ready to snap the plastic ear mold onto the nubbin.
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View of the receiver and ear mold from the side showing them snapped
together.
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View of the receiver plug and jack. Note the center pin is longer than
the other two.
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Rear view of the Zenith
"Vocalizer II" (mod) receiver showing the cord plugged into
it, as well as the design on the back of the receiver.
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The Zenith
"Vocalizer II"
(mod)
manual. |
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The Zenith "Vocalizer II" (mod) hearing aid in its original case showing the
receiver, ear mold and cord (left), the hearing aid (center), bottle of
spacers (top right) and box of batteries (bottom right). |
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Top rear view of the Zenith "Vocalizer II" (mod) hearing aid
case. |
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The Zenith "Vocalizer II" (mod) hearing aid came in a protective
cardboard box. |
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Top rear view of the box the Zenith "Vocalizer II" (mod) hearing aid
came in. |
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End view of the box the Zenith "Vocalizer II" (mod) hearing aid came in.
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