On Wednesday, 20 February 2019 05:13:25 UTC, wrote:

In the 1960s the pocket radios hit the market and were sold everywhere.
I have not opened one of them in years, but I recall the transistors
used in them did not look like more modern types. They had a small metal
can. Just a straight sided metal can, shaped like modern capacitors, but
bare metal. Some had colored dots on them to identify the leads too.

First, I am thinking that they were geranium types. Is that correct?

germanium yes.

Second, I have a very old GE transistor manual (edition 2) (PDF). No
where in there does it mention the case style of them. What is the case
style?

There was TO1, but there were others

Seems those type of transistors came and went quickly. I assume they
were the first generation of transistors.

no, just the 1st generation cheap enough to go into pocket radios

Shortly after, I recall seeing a lot of metal cases that were shaped
more like a hat, with a brim. Those too vanished. And I recall seeing

More than one case type, eg TO39

some of the hat shaped types with a point sticking out of the top. I
always wondered what that point was for???

to kill your opponents of course.


NT