Maico Model AK "Transist-Ear" Eyeglass-Style Transistor Hearing Aid The Maico Model AK "Transist-Ear" eyeglass hearing aid was made by Maico Electronics Inc. of Minneapolis, MN in 1958. The name "Maico" was derived from the initials of the Medical Acoustic Instrument COmpany. Each thick temple piece contained a 3 transistor hearing aid, receiver and microphone. This eyeglass hearing aid could be configured for either ear, or configured as a binaural aid to fit both ears. The one shown here is for the right ear only. |  | Click picture for larger view | | | | | | |
| Frontal view of the Maico Model AK "Transist-Ear" eyeglass hearing aid showing the thick temple-pieces, yet from the front the glasses appeared normal. |  | Click picture for larger view | | | |
| Rear view of the Maico Model AK "Transist-Ear" eyeglass hearing aid. All the electronics were contained in the right temple-piece. The left temple piece was a dummy, but made to match the size of the the right side. The dummy temple-piece had a battery compartment to hold a spare battery. |  | Click picture for larger view | | | |
| View of outside end of the temple-piece of the Maico Model AK "Transist-Ear" eyeglass hearing aid showing the microphone port (center) on the side and the sound tube (right). The ear mold at the end of the sound tube is missing. |  | Click picture for larger view | | | |
| The underside of the temple-piece of the Maico Model AK "Transist-Ear" eyeglass hearing aid showing the serial number (23098) on the left and the volume control (center). |  | Click picture for larger view | | | |
| Inside view of the end of the temple-piece of the Maico Model AK "Transist-Ear" eyeglass hearing aid showing the manufacturer (Maico), the model (AK), and the generic name they gave to several of their ear level transistor hearing aids at this time (Transist-Ear), and the location of the company (Minneapolis, MN). |  | Click picture for larger view | | | |
| The battery door of the Maico Model AK "Transist-Ear" eyeglass hearing aid swung out from the bottom. To open it, you pushed on a slight protrusion on the end of the temple-piece. It also acted as the on-off switch.
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| The end of the temple-piece of the Maico Model AK "Transist-Ear" eyeglass hearing aid showing the No. 675 mercury battery in the battery compartment. This hearing aid took a 1.4 volt No. 675 mercury battery such as this Eveready EP675E battery.
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