Sonotone X65 Hearing Aid Battery The Sonotone X65 was a 4½ volt carbon zinc battery made to be used with Sonotone's carbon hearing aids of the 1930s. It was manufactured by the Sonotone Corporation of New York. It weighed a hefty 12 oz., and measures 4" by 3¼" by 1".
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| The reverse side of the Sonotone X65. The inscription on the back reads: "How To Use: Your battery will give better results and have a longer life if used properly. . . Tests show best results are obtained if batteries are not used more than four hours continuously and then given a 24 hour rest. . . Alternate your batteries at least daily. Do not leave switch on unless you wish to use instrument. Before retiring, detach the battery from plug to insure battery rest." |  | Click picture for larger view | | | |
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Top view of the Sonotone X65 battery showing the 3-hole socket, but only the 1st and 3rd holes were used.
The reason for the center hole is that this battery was used in a carbon hearing aid that had a carbon amplifier. Carbon amplifiers only had 2-pronged plugs. Plain carbon hearing aids (without amplifiers) had 3-pronged plugs. The 3-pronged plug normally plugged into the amplifier, and the 2-pronged amplifier plugged into the battery. However, you could use the plain carbon hearing aid without the amplifier. In this case, you plugged the 3-pronged plug directly into the battery—hence you needed a center (dummy) hole in the battery, even though only the 1st and 3rd holes were used. |  | Click picture for larger view | | |
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