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Historical
Background
Transistor technology was
advancing rapidly in the mid 1950s, and General Electric, an industry
leader, was active in developing new, high performance types. In 1955, GE
announced the introduction of the 2N169. This type was originally intended
for use in commercial radios as an IF and reflex amplifier, but its use was
later expanded as a general purpose NPN type for multiple applications.
The 1957 2nd edition of the GE Transistor Manual documents the 2N169
for use in a hobbyist circuit, and later additions of the GE Transistor Manual
identify the 2N169 as a general purpose NPN germanium “workhorse”
equivalent to such other well known types as the 2N35 and 2N229. The
2N169A is a higher voltage version of the 2N169, and is identical in all
other performance characteristics. The 2N169 saw widespread use throughout
the 1950s and continued to be manufactured by GE into the 1960s.
If you are building a 1950s
vintage electronic project or repairing a radio from that timeframe, the
2N169 is an excellent choice for a solid, general purpose germanium
transistor, with performance characteristics authentic to the early days of
transistor technology.
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