TRANSISTOR MUSEUM™

Historic Transistor Photo Gallery

Photo Essay – Bell Labs Type A

Bell Labs Type A Transistor References and Links

[1] Riordan M., and L. Hoddeson, 1997. Crystal Fire, The Birth of the Information Age. New York: W.W. Norton.

[2] Becker J.A., and Shive, J.N., 1949, “The Transistor – A New Semiconductor Amplifier”, 1949, Electrical Engineering, Vol 68, pp. 215-221, (March).

[3] Ryder, R.M., and Kircher, R.J., 1949, “Some Circuit Aspects of the the Transistor”,BSTJ VolXXVIII, pp. 367-401, (July).

[4] http://www.bobmcgarrah.net/. This website provides an extensive overview and excellent photos of many early transistors, including Bell Labs point contacts.

[5] http://www.tubecollectors.org/ Although dedicated to vacuum tube technology, the June 2002 volume of the group’s magazine, “The Tube Collector”, has an excellent article by Ludwell Sibley on the Type A transistor.

[6] Documented Type A serial numbers: AS-37, AS-62, AS-67, A1790, A1791, A2200, B516F, AM1412, AN2442.

Photo Essay Commentary

The Bell Labs Type A transistor represents a truly historic milestone in early transistor development. This transistor demonstrated that the point contact technology, while clumsy and unpredictable, could yield devices of acceptable performance and could be the basis for a manufactured product.

Copyright © 2004 by Jack Ward. All Rights Reserved. http://www.transistormuseum.com/

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