Zenith Model A2AN "Radionic" Vacuum Tube Hearing Aid
The Zenith Model A2AN "Radionic" vacuum tube hearing aid was manufactured
by the Hearing Aid Division of the Zenith Radio Corporation of Chicago,
IL beginning in November, 1943. It only had minor charges from the Model
A2A of 1942.
The pink plastic case measured 5⅛” by 2¾” by ⅞” thick, and weighed 7⅞
oz. without the batteries. (Zenith also made a black plastic model as
well.)
The microphone grill is the series of 9 horizontal slots (top center)
behind the pocket clip. Notice the large "Z" on the lower front face.
This was a two-piece hearing aid as it connected to external
batteries (battery cords bottom left). The magnetic receiver is at the
bottom right.
It was sold through drug stores and jewelry stores for $40.00. |
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Top view of the Zenith Model A2AN showing the 4-position (2, 3, 4 and the
lever straight up for position 1) tone control (left), the large volume
control wheel (center) and the on-off switch (right).
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Inside view of the Zenith Model A2AN showing one of the two vacuum tubes
standing up. This vacuum tube is a Raytheon CK 511 X. It measured 1
3/16" x ½" (3.7 x 1.3 cm) in diameter. These early hearing aid vacuum
tubes were round, not flattened as were later ones.
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Close up view of the bottom of the Raytheon CK 511 X vacuum tube showing
the leads soldered in place. This is in contrast to radio vacuum tubes
which had pins so you could easily replace them when they died.
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Close-up view of the inside of the the Zenith Model A2AN showing the
Raytheon CK 511 X vacuum tube laying down in its normal position.
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Bottom view of the Zenith Model A2AN showing the battery jack (left), and
the receiver jack (right). The "butterfly" in the middle swivels 90
degrees to hold the plugs in place. You couldn't accidentally put the
plugs in the wrong sides because the "pins" were off center (see two
below pictures).
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Close-up view of the Zenith Model A2AN battery plug. The battery plug had
the heavy battery wires attached to it.
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Close-up view of the Zenith Model A2AN receiver plug. The receiver plug
had the thin receiver cord attached to it.
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Close-up view of the Zenith Model A2AN receivers and ear tips. The
black receiver (top left), the clear plastic ear tip post (right of
receiver) and the rubber ear tip (right of plastic post) all snapped
together as shown with the pink receiver and parts assembled (top
right). The Model A2AN came with a variety of sizes of rubber ear tips
(bottom left) and a variety of sizes of ear tip posts (bottom right). |
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Close-up view of the Zenith Model A2AN battery plugs. The 3-pronged plug
went into the "B" battery (left) and the 2-pronged plug fit the "A"
battery (right).
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View of the Zenith Model A2AN hearing aid with both the "B" and "A"
batteries attached. This whole assembly weighed a whopping 1½ pounds!
The
Zenith Z-30 "B" battery (left) put out 45 volts, while the
Zenith "A" battery (to the
right of the "B" battery) put out the usual 1½ volts.
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Back view of the Zenith Model A2AN hearing aid. The two slots (top
center) are for the pocket clip. It could be attached to the front as
shown in the top picture, or attached to the back via these slots.
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Close-up view of the back of the Zenith Model A2AN showing the
information engraved there. It reads, "ZENITH RADIO CORP. U.S.A.",
"MODEL A2AN" then gives the serial number and patent info.
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The Zenith Model A2AN "Radionic" hearing aid in its original box. |
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Top view of the Zenith Model A2AN "Radionic" hearing aid's original box.
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