HISTORY
The days of Germanium transistors have long since passed but while sorting through one of my many boxes of goodies to find new homes for, some Germaniums were lurking in the corner - afraid to see the light of day just in case the "Silicon Gang" are about!
Germanium transistors seem to be a bit like the vinyl records vs digital formats war - nobody thought that anyone would use Germanium devices once Silicon became the "norm" but there is quite a strong demand for these old transistors, particularly by experimenters in the world of audio, effects pedals in particular
This SSDI Germanium transistor is NEW unused but of course, very old stock
SSDI (Solid State Devices Inc.) formed in USA around the late 1960's and their business was semiconductor manufacturing, in fact SSDI still operates to this day but of course they don't manufacture Germanium devices any longer!
SSDI (USA) - Vintage Transistor
Estimated to be from the late 1960's ~ 1970's era
Type: 2N358
NPN
Metal body TO-5 packaging
Printed markings ...
(top of the can)
SSDI - General Electric logo graphic
(side of the can)
314
2N358
Manufacturer specifications:
Vce 18V
Pc 100mW
Ic 500mA
Ft 4Mhz
Minimum hFE 25
TESTING:
I have made basic 'go - no go' tests and the results are ...
Good device
NPN
hFE 117
COSMETIC CONDITION:
USED
CLEAN
Relatively easy to read markings
NO body damage
HOWEVER ... due to age, there is light oxidisation around the body but more importantly those legs needed a cleanup before I could reliably test the device. A further cleanup may be in order before soldering those legs!
NO lead damage with the legs being uncut i.e as originally supplied
I have now placed this Germanium transistor into a sealed packet
