Zenith Royal Vacuum Tube Hearing Aid The Zenith Royal vacuum tube hearing aid was manufactured by the Hearing Aid Division of the Zenith Radio Corporation of Chicago, IL beginning in February, 1952. The gold-colored anodized aluminum case was set over a black plastic chassis. (Note: limited quantities of the Zenith Royal were made with a black case.) The Zenith Royal measured 3” by 2⅜” by ⅞” thick, and weighed 5˝ oz. with the batteries. It used 3 vacuum tubes. The round microphone grill (top center) had the Zenith crest in its center. The pocket clips are on each side of the microphone grill. |  | Click picture for larger view | | |   | | | |
| Top view of the Zenith Royal showing the 4-position "H" (high), "M" (mid), "L" (low) and "F" (full) tone control (top left), and the 1-7 position volume control/on-off switch (right). The 2-prong receiver jack is in the center. Here is a copy of the User's Manual for the Zenith Royal hearing aid. |  | Click picture for larger view | | | |
| Right side view of the Zenith Royal hearing aid showing the A1-A2 battery switch (left of center) and the thumbnail indentation (center) labeled "LIFT" to open the battery compartment door. This interesting and rare A1-A2 switching arrangement was only used on the Zenith Royal and Super Royal models to switch between either of the two "A" batteries these hearing aids had.
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| Rear view of the Zenith Royal hearing aid showing the opened battery compartment. The whole back opened. The battery door was hinged on the right. This hearing aid took two RM-1 1.4 volt mercury "A" batteries (center) and one 22˝ volt "B" battery (such as the Eveready 505E) (bottom). The Zenith Royal and Super Royal models were unique in that they had not one, but two "A" batteries. Only one "A" battery was in use at any given time—selected via the "A1-A2" switch. By periodically switching between the two "A" batteries, it gave each "A" battery time to recover while the other one was being used. In addition, the second "A" battery also acted as an immediately-available spare battery. |  | Click picture for larger view | | | |
| The back of the Zenith Royal hearing aid. In the top left is the word "VOLUME" and in the top right the word "TONE". On the upper half are inscribed the words "Zenith", 'ROYAL" and "the royalty of hearing". |  | Click picture for larger view | | | |
| The Zenith Royal in its original carrying case. |  | Click picture for larger view | | | |
| View of the Zenith Royal carrying case.
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