E
Ernie Werbel
Guest
Is anyone familiar with the "metal can" transistors in old radios and such?
I am not talking about TO-18, TO-39, or even TO-3 here. These were perfect
"can" shaped, and looked like miniature electrolytic condensers. Once I
have heard of them being referred to as "TO-1" (not sure if this is
official, I haven't seen it anywhere on the 'net). I am pretty certain they
are transsistors. They have three leads and in devices that I have worked
on that use them, I could not see any "conventional" transistors. They used
an odd numbering system, too. Instead of 2N### it was 2SB. Not sure what
that stands for (some chemical element?) Silicon B____? The number 2 may
stand for 2 dominant semiconductor elements perhaps (2 N's or 2 P's). Aaah,
I'm just speculating at this point, but I am trying to give an idea of what
I am talking about. Has anyone else come across these? Do they even make
them anymore? I have only ever seen them in 1960's and 1970's equipment.
They look a bit like this from the side:
____ ______
()____)/======
I am not talking about TO-18, TO-39, or even TO-3 here. These were perfect
"can" shaped, and looked like miniature electrolytic condensers. Once I
have heard of them being referred to as "TO-1" (not sure if this is
official, I haven't seen it anywhere on the 'net). I am pretty certain they
are transsistors. They have three leads and in devices that I have worked
on that use them, I could not see any "conventional" transistors. They used
an odd numbering system, too. Instead of 2N### it was 2SB. Not sure what
that stands for (some chemical element?) Silicon B____? The number 2 may
stand for 2 dominant semiconductor elements perhaps (2 N's or 2 P's). Aaah,
I'm just speculating at this point, but I am trying to give an idea of what
I am talking about. Has anyone else come across these? Do they even make
them anymore? I have only ever seen them in 1960's and 1970's equipment.
They look a bit like this from the side:
____ ______
()____)/======