TRANSISTOR MUSEUM™ Historic Transistor Photo Gallery
Transistor Size (5/16”Diameter X 1/8” Thick)  Date Code 6-53 (1953 Week 6) on Back 2” X 1 1/4” Cardboard Package (Includes padded insert to protect the 2N23)	WESTERN ELECTRIC 2N23 TYPE Germanium Plastic Bead Type Point Contact Transistor USAGE Low Speed (1Mc) Switching Applications DATE INTRODUCED 1952 CASE STYLES Plastic Bead AVAILABILITY Rare (Limited Production)
HISTORIC NOTES The original point contact transistor types developed by Bell Labs/Western Electric in the early 1950s included several different case styles, which were used primarily to further understand the manufacturing and performance limitations of the first transistor technology.  The plastic bead case style, (see Transistor Museum™ Bead Type) was an early attempt to develop inexpensive plastic cases which provided adequate mechanical and environmental device protection.  Developmental model numbers of this type included the 1689 and the 1760.  Western Electric was interested in standardizing the nomenclature and identification of these early transistors, and used the RTMA industry organization to apply standard “2N” numbers to the proprietary types.  By mid 1952, the 1689 plastic bead point contact transistor was confirmed as the 2N23.  The plastic bead case style was not selected for further development, and by 1956 all WECO transistors of this style were obsolete.  The 2N23 was one of the most common early point contact transistors, and was used for experimental circuit development and manufacturing process characterization at Bell Labs/Western Electric.
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