Author Topic: recently obtained a germanium part  (Read 2701 times)

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Offline LaserTazerPhaserTopic starter

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recently obtained a germanium part
« on: June 08, 2019, 09:16:46 pm »
Whats the year it was likely manufactured? It appears to  have solder on leads but diode test showed Vc-b 0.138v and Vce seems to be high for germanium type.
« Last Edit: June 09, 2019, 05:42:30 am by LaserTazerPhaser »
 

Offline Audioguru

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Re: recently obtained a germanium part
« Reply #1 on: June 09, 2019, 12:39:24 am »
That antique transistor is between 50 years old to 60 years old. Kiss it goodbye then bury it.
 
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Offline LaserTazerPhaserTopic starter

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Re: recently obtained a germanium part
« Reply #2 on: June 09, 2019, 03:23:29 am »
Isn't the die sealed off from corrosion?
 

Offline amyk

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Re: recently obtained a germanium part
« Reply #3 on: June 09, 2019, 04:10:33 am »
Do any of them have the usual yyww date codes?

I would guess late 60s/early 70s. Pictures of some others I can find online have 70s date codes.
 

Offline Tomorokoshi

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Re: recently obtained a germanium part
« Reply #4 on: June 09, 2019, 04:56:13 am »
A HEP series transistor? Now that's cool!
 

Offline soldar

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Re: recently obtained a germanium part
« Reply #5 on: June 09, 2019, 09:11:44 am »
I would not throw them away if they are not damaged as they have historical value.

If they are point contact transistors they are easily damaged by shock or vibration.

Germanium transistors were very subject to temperature. Today they really are only of historical value or to repair transistor devices, like radios, from that time.
All my posts are made with 100% recycled electrons and bare traces of grey matter.
 

Offline Ian.M

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Re: recently obtained a germanium part
« Reply #6 on: June 09, 2019, 10:35:47 am »
There are very few things a Ge power transistor is good for nowadays, apart from repairing antique equipment.   One application that may be worth experimenting with is an ultra-low voltage Joule Thief.  Of course it wont start at as low a voltage as a modern energy harvesting IC . . .
 

Offline LaserTazerPhaserTopic starter

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Re: recently obtained a germanium part
« Reply #7 on: June 09, 2019, 01:01:38 pm »
What were those 2khz F(t) germanium TO-3 transistors used for?
 

Online Gyro

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Re: recently obtained a germanium part
« Reply #8 on: June 09, 2019, 06:49:50 pm »
I would not throw them away if they are not damaged as they have historical value.

If they are point contact transistors they are easily damaged by shock or vibration.

Germanium transistors were very subject to temperature. Today they really are only of historical value or to repair transistor devices, like radios, from that time.

The last time I used a Germanium transistor, it was an OC71 style glass encased one - I used it as the sensor for a precise aquarium thermostat, higher temperature coefficient than Silicon and nice fish friendly package. It was glued into the end of a plastic tube with aquarium safe silicone. It was still going strong after 20+ years.
« Last Edit: June 09, 2019, 06:52:03 pm by Gyro »
Best Regards, Chris
 

Offline Canis Dirus Leidy

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Re: recently obtained a germanium part
« Reply #9 on: June 09, 2019, 08:00:21 pm »
What were those 2khz F(t) germanium TO-3 transistors used for?
It's enough for voltage regulator. Or even for audio amplifier:

(Schematic was taken from VWM60 service manual)
 

Offline emece67

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Re: recently obtained a germanium part
« Reply #10 on: June 09, 2019, 10:06:41 pm »
.
« Last Edit: August 19, 2022, 02:25:07 pm by emece67 »
 

Offline David Hess

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Re: recently obtained a germanium part
« Reply #11 on: June 10, 2019, 02:50:51 am »
There are very few things a Ge power transistor is good for nowadays, apart from repairing antique equipment.   One application that may be worth experimenting with is an ultra-low voltage Joule Thief.  Of course it wont start at as low a voltage as a modern energy harvesting IC . . .

They make great pass elements for very low dropout voltage regulators.  And they are useful for a very low input voltage inverter which is even better than a Joule Thief.
 
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Offline Seekonk

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Re: recently obtained a germanium part
« Reply #12 on: June 10, 2019, 03:59:32 pm »
I still have a batch of GT-109 from General Instrument, 67 date code if I remember. Must be at the end of production because they finally got very good at it. Leakage compares to silicon.  I have people that prize these because they make excellent FUZZ boxes.  One guy said he has bought all sorts of germanium and never found any as good as mine.
 

Offline exe

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Re: recently obtained a germanium part
« Reply #13 on: June 10, 2019, 07:58:05 pm »
I have a few (may be 10-20, not many) old USSR transistors. I want to build something with them, but can't figure what. Probably, I should just throw them or give away.
 

Offline Macbeth

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Re: recently obtained a germanium part
« Reply #14 on: June 10, 2019, 08:45:35 pm »
The last time I used a Germanium transistor, it was an OC71 style glass encased one - I used it as the sensor for a precise aquarium thermostat, higher temperature coefficient than Silicon and nice fish friendly package. It was glued into the end of a plastic tube with aquarium safe silicone. It was still going strong after 20+ years.
The OC71 is my most memorable transistor. Because as a child in the '70s I made the Ladybird Radio and wired the OC71 backwards and it released the magic smoke. That was my first hint at the brutality of getting things wrong in electronics.
But the unpowered germanium diode crystal set went so well...!
 

Offline soldar

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Re: recently obtained a germanium part
« Reply #15 on: June 11, 2019, 01:19:16 pm »
OC71 and AC126. I remember them like it was yesterday and probably still have a few lying around.
All my posts are made with 100% recycled electrons and bare traces of grey matter.
 

Online Gyro

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Re: recently obtained a germanium part
« Reply #16 on: June 11, 2019, 01:24:09 pm »
Ah, the joys of scratching the paint on the side of an OC71 and finding out whether you'd scored a cheap OCP71 or just a white paste filled one.  :)
Best Regards, Chris
 

Offline Ian.M

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Re: recently obtained a germanium part
« Reply #17 on: June 11, 2019, 02:44:12 pm »
 Then there was the joys of trying convert an OC71 to an OCP71 by trying to centrifuge the white paste down into the bottom of the envelope to get it clear of the junction!   ;)
 
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Offline bob91343

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Re: recently obtained a germanium part
« Reply #18 on: June 11, 2019, 04:47:56 pm »
I am impressed with the number of those who still have germanium parts.  I recently repaired an HP counter that had a shorted 2N404.  As it happened, my hoarding aspect meant that I still had some stock of the exact part.  The counter has been working great for a while now.  Model 5245L.

I have several drawers labeled Obsolete Transistors that include germanium as well as early silicon.  I am mentally unable to toss them, although I don't imagine they will ever get used.

A friend recently obtained a couple of brand new CK722s in their original packaging.  Those were, to my knowledge, the first commercially avaialbe transistors.  Most of them wouldn't work.
 


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