|
MODEL #
&
PHOTO LINK
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TYPE
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DATE
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COMMENTS
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LINKS TO ADDITIONAL
MUSEUM INFO
|
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BELL LABS
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Type
A
(Photo
Essay)
|
Point
Contact
Prototype
|
1948
|
First
developmental transistor. Used to investigate basic transistor
functionality and circuit operation.
|
Walter
MacWilliams
Oral
History
|
|
Bead
Type
(Photo
Essay)
|
Point
Contact
Prototype
|
1951
|
First
plastic cased point contact transistor - used to investigate reliability
and performance of devices built with inexpensive plastic technology.
|
1689
1760
|
|
M1752
(Photo
Essay)
|
Germanium
Grown Junction
Prototype
|
1951
|
First
developmental junction transistor. Primitive and hand-built, but basis of
modern semiconductor technology.
|
2N27 2N28 2N29
|
|
Prototype
Diffused Base
|
Germanium and
Silicon Diffused Base
|
1954/55
|
First
diffused base transistors. Developed at Bell Labs in 1954 (germanium) and
1955 (silicon). Major breakthrough for future semiconductor technology (ICs
and high frequency transistors).
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CBS HYTRON
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2N36
2N37 2N38
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Alloy
Junction (Ger)
|
1953
|
First
“2N” devices from CBS Hytron. Excellent quality early germanium transistors.
|
2N38 Museum Store
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2N155
|
Germanium
Power
|
1956
|
Early
germanium power transistor.
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2N156
2N158
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Germanium
Power
|
1956
|
Early
germanium power transistor.
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2N180
|
Alloy
Junction (Ger)
|
1956
|
Early
germanium audio driver.
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PT-2A
|
Point
Contact
|
1953
|
Very
early commercial point contact.
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Historic CBS Hytron Diodes
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1N81
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Crystal Diode
(Ger)
|
Early 1950s
|
Early
military grade general purpose germanium diode. Manufactured from the
1950s thru the 1960s by many companies for military use.
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CENTRALAB
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SA001
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Fused Ceramic Transistor Device
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Mid 1950s
|
Pre-IC
ceramic transistor assembly patented by Jack Kilby prior to his pioneering
work at TI.
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FAIRCHILD
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2N697
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NPN
Silicon
Mesa
|
1958
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First
commercial Fairchild transistor.
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2N1613
|
NPN
Silicon
Planar
|
1960
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First silicon planar transistor, precursor to
integrated circuit technology.
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GENERAL ELECTRIC (GE)
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Glass
Prototype
|
NPN Rate Grown Junction (Ger)
|
Mid
1950s
|
Experimental glass case. Early prototype to
determine suitability of glass packaging.
|
Carl
David Todd
Oral
History
|
|
G11/G11A
|
Point Contact
|
1953
|
Developmental point contact. One of the first GE
commercial transistors.
|
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2N43
2N44 2N45
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PNP Alloy Junction (Ger)
|
1953
|
The first commercial transistor to be built to
military specs. Basis for the famous GE “top-hat” case style.
|
Carl
David Todd
Oral
History
2N43/44/45
Museum
Store
|
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2N78
|
NPN Grown Junction (Ger)
|
1955
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Early high frequency, low cost.
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2N107
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PNP Alloy Junction (Ger)
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1955
|
Well-remembered 1950s hobbyist transistor, similar
to the famous Raytheon CK722.
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2N107 Museum Store
Carl
David Todd
Oral
History
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2N123
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PNP Alloy Junction (Ger)
|
1955
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Early military and computer device.
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2N167
2N167A
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NPN Grown Junction (Ger)
|
1955
|
Early military and computer device. High
reliability – used in early Univac computers.
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2N167 Museum Store
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2N135
2N136 2N137
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PNP Alloy Junction (Ger)
|
1955
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Early type developed for radio RF/IF.
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2N169
2N169A
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NPN Grown Junction (Ger)
|
1955
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Early commercial radio transistor. Used as IF amp
in many 1950s radios.
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2N169 Museum Store
|
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2N170
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NPN Grown Junction (Ger)
|
1956
|
Hobbyist RF type.
|
2N170 Museum Store
|
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2N489
2N490 2N491 2N492 2N493 2N494
|
N-Type Silicon Bar Unijunction Transistor
|
Mid 1950s
|
Historic early commercial versions of the unique
“Single Junction” semiconductor switching device
|
2N489 Museum Store
Jerry Suran Oral History
|
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2N508
|
PNP Alloy Junction (Ger)
|
1957
|
First GE type intended for HiFi audio.
|
Dwight
Jones
Oral
History
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GERMANIUM PRODUCTS
CORP (GPC)
|
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2N98A
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NPN Grown Junction (Ger)
|
1957
|
Very early transistor manufacturer.
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2517
|
NPN Grown Junction (Ger)
|
1952
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One of the first commercially available
transistors.
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HONEYWELL
|
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Germanium
Power Tetrode Prototype
|
PNP Alloy Junction Power Tetrode (Ger)
|
1957/58
|
Very rare prototype of Honeywell power tetrode
style transistor.
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MOTOROLA
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XN-1
XN-2 XN-3
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PNP Alloy Junction (Ger)
|
1954/55
|
Prototypes. Likely the first Motorola germanium
junction transistors.
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XN-6B
XN-13
|
PNP Alloy Junction (Ger)
|
Mid
1950s
|
Prototypes. Interesting experimental oil-filled
devices for medium power applications.
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MN9
MN27
|
PNP Alloy Junction (Ger)
|
Late
1950s
|
Pre-production units. Motorola used “MN”
proprietary numbering for early production types.
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EP-7
|
Point
Contact
|
Early 1950s
|
Prototypes. Likely the first Motorola point
contact transistor.
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Power
Prototype
|
PNP Alloy Junction Power (Ger)
|
1954/55
|
Prototypes. Likely the experimental precursor to
the 2N176 style power transistor.
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2N176
|
PNP Alloy Junction Power (Ger)
|
1956
|
One of the first successful commercial power
transistors. Used in millions of hybrid automobile radios.
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2N311
|
PNP Alloy Junction Power (Ger)
|
1957
|
Rare limited production device, sold commercially
in low quantities. Motorola’s tentative competitor to the RCA 2N404.
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2N705
|
PNP Diffused Base Mesa (Ger)
|
Late
1950s
|
Early germanium mesa type, based on diffusion
technology developed at Bell Labs. Very successful commercially.
|
Prototype Diffused Base
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NATIONAL UNION
|
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T18-B
|
Point Contact
|
1953
|
Early production point contact device from
historic company – very rare.
|
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T21-A
|
PNP Alloy Junction (Ger)
|
1953
|
One of the earliest commercial alloy junction
devices; used in hearing aids.
|
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National Union Historic Diodes
|
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|
NU
Germanium Diodes
|
Point Contact and Gold Bonded
|
1952/53
|
Rare and historic early 1950s commercial germanium
diodes.
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PHILCO
|
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A01
|
PNP Surface Barrier (Ger)
|
Mid 1950s
|
Hobbyist type; used in radio frequency
applications.
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Surface
Barrier
|
PNP Surface Barrier MADT (Ger)
|
Late 1950s
|
Leading high speed germanium transistor technology
in the 1950s.
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2N501
|
PNP Surface Barrier MADT (Ger)
|
Late 1950s
|
Very high frequency germanium, used in radios and
computers.
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2N501 Museum Store
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RADIO RECEPTOR
|
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RR66
|
Photo Transistor (Ger)
|
1954
|
First commercial photo transistor
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Art Rossoff Oral History
|
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RAYTHEON
|
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CK311
|
Germanium Power
|
1960s
|
Unique Raytheon power device.
|
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CK718
|
PNP Alloy Junction (Ger)
|
1952
|
Early hearing aids.
|
CK718 Museum Store
|
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CK722
(Black)
|
PNP Alloy Junction (Ger)
|
1953
|
First hobbyist type.
|
CK722 Webpage
|
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CK722
(Blue)
|
PNP Alloy Junction (Ger)
|
1955
|
First hobbyist type.
|
CK722 Webpage
|
|
CK722
(Silver)
|
PNP Alloy Junction (Ger)
|
Late 1950s
|
First hobbyist type.
|
CK722 Webpage
|
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CK726
|
PNP Alloy Junction (Ger)
|
1955
|
Rare and unique Raytheon blue cased germanium
hearing aid transistor.
|
Raytheon Blues Museum Store
|
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CK78X
|
PNP Alloy Junction (Ger)
|
Mid 1950s
|
First metal cased Raytheon hearing aid
transistor. Later used as CK722.
|
CK78X Museum Store
|
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CK793
|
PNP Alloy Junction (Sil)
|
1957
|
Military applications.
|
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Historic Raytheon Diodes
|
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CK705
|
Crystal Diode
(Ger)
|
1949/50
|
Early Raytheon 1N34 equivalent. Used by many
hobbyists for crystal radio construction projects.
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RCA
|
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SX155
|
PNP Alloy Junction (Ger)
|
1955
|
Developmental/experimental audio power
transistor. Used in early HiFi amplifier.
|
H.C. Lin Oral History
Bob Slade Oral History
|
|
TA153
|
PNP Alloy Junction (Ger)
|
1952
|
Developmental PNP. Prototype of the 2N34.
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TA154
|
NPN Alloy Junction (Ger)
|
1952
|
Developmental NPN. Prototype of the 2N35.
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TA165
|
Point Contact
|
1951/2
|
Developmental point contact.
|
Bob Slade Oral History
|
|
TA166
|
Point Contact
|
1951/2
|
Developmental point contact. Early high frequency
device, used in first transistor TV.
|
Jerry
Herzog
Oral
History
Norm
Ditrick
Oral
History
Fred Hunter Oral History
|
|
2N33
|
Point Contact
|
1953
|
Early commercial point contact.
|
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2N72
|
Point Contact
|
1953/54
|
Military Preparedness contract.
|
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2N109
|
PNP Alloy Junction (Ger)
|
1955
|
Early commercial audio.
|
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2N404
|
PNP Alloy Junction (Ger)
|
1957
|
Early germanium computer transistor. Very popular
device through the 1960s.
|
Adolph
Blicher
Oral
History
2N404 Museum Store
|
|
2N247
|
PNP Drift Alloy Junction (Ger)
|
1957
|
First commercial drift transistor.
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Shockley Transistor
Corp
|
|
4E30
(Photo
Essay)
|
Four Layer Diode (Sil) PNPN
“Shockley Diode”
|
1957
|
One of the few products developed by Shockley
Transistor Corp.
|
Gene
Weckler
Oral
History
|
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Signal Corps (U.S.
Army)
|
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Clevite
2N297
|
PNP Alloy
(Ger)
|
Mid 50s
|
Low Frequency and Audio Power
|
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Sylvania
2N625
|
NPN Alloy
(Ger)
|
Mid 50s
|
Computer Core Driver
|
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Motorola
2N1004
|
PNP Drift
(Ger)
|
Mid 50s
|
6 MC Video Amplifier
|
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Lansdale
Tube 2N1201
|
NPN Surface Alloy Diffused Base (Sil)
|
Mid 50s
|
12.5 MC Video Amplifier
|
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Raytheon
2N1657
|
NPN Diffused Base (Sil)
|
Mid 50s
|
High Power Audio
|
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Sony
|
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2T76
|
Grown Junction (Ger)
|
Mid 50s
|
Early Japanese commercial type, used in first Sony
radios..
|
Alan Kastner Web Site
|
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Sylvania
|
|
2N35
|
Alloy Junction (Ger)
|
1953
|
Early hobbyist type.
|
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2N68
|
Alloy Junction (Ger)
|
1955
|
Early hobbyist audio power type.
|
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|
2N95
|
Alloy Junction (Ger)
|
1955
|
Early hobbyist audio power type.
|
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|
2N307
|
Alloy Junction (Ger)
|
Mid
1950s
|
Early hobbyist audio power type.
|
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Texas Instruments (TI)
|
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R212
|
Alloy Junction (Ger)
|
Early
1960s
|
High reliability germanium transistor designed for
use in the Polaris missile program.
|
R212 Museum Store
|
|
TIXM10
|
PNP Epitaxial Planar
(Ger)
|
Mid 1960s
|
Preproduction type, available only in limited
quantities. Early plastic cased style. Epitaxial planar process used with
germanium to produce very high frequency performance.
|
|
|
900
Series
|
Grown Junction (Sil)
|
1954
|
First commercial silicon transistor type. Series
range 900, 901, 902, 903, 904, 905.
|
Link to IEEE Spectrum TI Silicon Transistor
History Article
Bill Brower Oral History
|
|
2N117
|
Grown Junction (Sil)
|
1956
|
1st commercial standard “2N” silicon
type. Series range 2N117, 2N118, 2N119 and 2N120.
|
|
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2N172
|
Grown Junction (Ger)
|
1956
|
One of a series of very successful TI germanium
transistors used by most manufacturers of radios in the 1950s. TI made a
complete set of these types of devices, and sold 100,000s of units.
|
TI Germanium Radio Transistors Museum Store
|
|
2N33X
|
Grown Junction (Sil)
|
1957
|
Early successful commercial and industrial line of
silicon transistors. 2N335 type used in first U.S. earth satellite,
Explorer 1, launched in 1958. Series range includes 2N332, 2N333, 2N334,
2N335, 2N336, 2N337, 2N338.
|
George Ludwig Oral History
|
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|
Transistor Products
Inc (TPI)
|
|
2G
|
Point Contact
|
1953/4
|
Early production point contact transistor.
|
Neville Fletcher Oral History
|
|
X-78
|
Germanium Power
|
1953/4
|
Early germanium experimental power transistor.
|
Neville Fletcher Oral History
|
|
|
|
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|
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Tung-Sol
|
|
2N63
2N64 2N65
|
Alloy Junction
(Ger)
|
1957
|
Excellent 1950s germanium audio transistors from a
well-known vacuum tube company.
|
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Western Electric
|
|
1689
|
Point Contact
|
1952
|
Early experimental point contact. Proto of 2N23.
|
|
|
1760
|
Point Contact
|
1952
|
Early experimental point contact. Proto of 2N26.
|
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|
1858
|
Grown Junction (Ger)
|
1953
|
Early pre-production type used in phone company
equipment.
|
|
|
2N22
|
Point Contact
|
1952/53
|
Historic and very rare “metal cartridge” type
point contact developmental transistor.
|
|
|
2N23
|
Point Contact
|
1952/53
|
Historic and rare “plastic bead” type point
contact developmental transistor.
|
|
|
2N24
|
Point Contact
|
1952/53
|
Early military point contact.
|
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|
2N27
|
Grown Junction (Ger)
|
Early 1950s
|
First RTMA registered 2N junction transistor.
|
2N27
2N29
Museum
Store
|
|
2N29
|
Grown Junction (Ger)
|
Mid 1950s
|
Early highly ruggedized and hermetically sealed
junction transistor.
|
2N27
2N29
Museum
Store
|
|
2N110
|
Point Contact
|
Mid 1950s
|
Commercial quality point
contact transistor. Used in military equipment.
|
2N110
Museum
Store
|
|
3N22
|
Grown Junction (Ger)
|
1956/57
|
First commercial WECO tetrode.
|
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|
4B
4C
|
Grown Junction (Ger)
|
1957
|
Early production type – was employed in
operational phone company equipment.
|
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