Fake transistors

[bdunham7]

I knew i might be buying fake, but at £1.00 each it was worth a gamble. The devices are TIP36C power transistors.

I shouldn't ask, but why are you screwing around with eBay recycled maybe-fakes for a transistor that can be easily sourced from certified sources for less than $2, and under $1 in 1K quantities? 

[amyk]

Given that the datecode seems to indicate the 5th week of 1968, I'm willing to bet it's an old recycled part from a long-defunct American company. Looking through lists of old transistor manufacturers may find it.

(Yes, 2N3773s existed in 1968.)

[wraper]

On the brighter side you know it is not a fake -- no one prints an unknown brand if it is not their own. OTOH no one knows what level of quality can be expected.

In the past I bought a cheap lab PSU which had two 2N3055 pass transistors marked TRANSUN. Took the lid off, and had the same tiny die and hair thin bond wires you can find in fake crap.

[wraper]

Given that the datecode seems to indicate the 5th week of 1968, I'm willing to bet it's an old recycled part from a long-defunct American company. Looking through lists of old transistor manufacturers may find it.

(Yes, 2N3773s existed in 1968.)

If it was a such date code, it should have had a leading zero. Nor it looks like a part of such age.

[szoftveres]

That glass thing is blue. And by no means it looks like a 52 yr old transistor.