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
These General Electric Germanium transistors are USED and have been tested
GENERAL ELECTRIC - Vintage Transistor
Estimated to be from the 1960's ~ 1970's era
Type: 8846
Black coated metal body
TO-5 packaging
Printed markings ...
(top of the can)
GE - General Electric logo graphic
(side of the can)
8846 521 & 530
The suffixes 521 & 530 I believe refer to batch codes
Transistor tester shows these are a PNP device
Current gain test results:
Suffix 521 91
Suffix 530 80
I have no further technical information about these transistors and could not find any reliable information online - these are indeed "relics" from the past!
COSMETIC CONDITION:
USED
CLEAN
Easy to read markings
NO body damage
Legs have a light dullness due to oxidisation but still perfectly serviceable
NO lead damage but cut due to removal from the original circuit - lead lengths are 7mm
I have now placed these Germanium transistors into individual sealed packets (see the photograph) with each identified as to the current gain.
