Vintage Transistor books & Datasheets

This site contains my collection of vintage transistors and diodes books. The books are published from the early fifties till the late sixties. Enjoy the beautiful pictures and click on the picture for more details. Suggestions regarding these books or pictures are always welcome. I'm still looking for old published items to complete my collection, so if you would like to sell or exchange something, please contact me, jan@transparentsound.com.


Brimar datasheets for the historic TS1, TS2, TS3, TP1, TP2, TJ1, TJ2 and TJ3:

Thanks to Stef Niewiadomski from the UK for his great contribution of the historic Brimar datasheets. These devices are not on the website and very rare, so if anybody will sell or trade them, please contact me, jan@transparentsound.com The TP1 and TP2 are PNP point contact transistors, TP1 for control and switching applications and the TP2 for oscillator circuits up to 2MHz. The TS1, TS2 and TS3 are PNP alloyed junction Transistors for the use in low frequency applications and the TJ1, TJ2 and TJ3 for the use in audio circuits.


 

Joel N. Shurkin, Broken Genius (2006, ISBN 978-0-230-55192-3):

         

Great book about the life of William Shockley, it's shows us how important that man was for the transistor industy.


Michael Riordan & Lillian Hoddeson, Crystal Fire (1997, ISBN 0-393-31851-6):

       

A beautiful book with a great historic value how is was begun in the early days of the transistor.


Ed Millis, "TI, the Transistor and Me" (2000, ISBN 0-9709463-2-5):

         

Nice book with comic historic facts, how Ed Millis has lived in this important period of the early transistor at Texas Instruments, I would like to thank Ed for hid contribution of great TI devices, see Texas Instruments Transistors at this site.


CBS-Hytron Transistor Manual (1953):

       

The small two color leaflet describes the following devices: PT-2A, PT-2S Point-Contact transistors, 2N36, 2N37 and 2N38 Junction Transistor. It tells us something about the theory, datasheet and some application notes. Most interesting issue in mine opinion is the vision of CBS-Hytron in 1953 to the future. CBS compares the vacuum tube with the new small devices and their advantages like, protection against this instability that results from the effects of moisture, light and surface contamination.


CBS-Power Transistor Manual for the 2N155, 2N156 and 2N158 (1957):

       

The small two color leaflet in blue describes the following devices: 2N155, 2N156 and 2N158 Power Alloy-Junction Transistors. CBS commercial text in 1957 tells us; They have high power-handling capacity coupled with high current amplification. Manufacturing processes for these transistors have tight controls, extra purity precautions and an elaborate system of inspection and testing to assure, uniform characteristics of the end product. The spread between upper and lower limits of characteristics is narrow, eliminating any necessity for preselecting.

     

The 2N155 was sold in a TO3 metal can housing and the 2N156 and 2N158 both in a metal cylinder with a diameter of 0.58inch and a length of 0.8inch. The last two items with long connection leads. CBS types 2N155, 2N156 and 2N158 are PNP Alloy Junction Transistors. The 2N155 is especially designed for use in audio power output stages. Suitable applications for the 2N156 and 2N158 high power transistors are in servo amplifiers, power converters and low-speed switching circuits. The 2N155 and 2N156 operates from a 12 Volt supply and the 2N158 from a 24 Volt supply.


CBS Point Contact Crystal Diodes Datasheet for 1N34, 1N55, 1N55A, 1N38, 1N38A, 1N67 and 1N67A (Early fifties): (New)

           

Simple but interesting diode datasheet, I think it was before the CBS-Hytron period. Reference number is Bulletin 217A. It shows static characteristics for 1N34 till 1N67A and at the back some datasheets for many other diodes.


General Electric Transistor Manual (GE 1957):

 

This book consists of several nice transistor applications included interesting background of the used devices. Most interesting aspect of this small book is the datasheet archive from a 2N22 of Western Electric till the 2N434 of General Electric. Some transistors are missing in the list like the 2N76, 2N110, 2N407 and 2N410. Maybe more, I don't know. The list is copied and placed on my site see JEDEC-code page. Last item to mention are the outline drawings of the transistors, these are very useful for the real Transistor Collector.


Mullard Transistors for the experimenter, based on the OC70 & OC71 (August 1956):

This book of Mullard LTD. is the second edition and published in august 1956 in London. It describes the principals of the junction transistor, especial the OC70, OC71 (both for high frequencies) and the OC72 for audio reproduction. Two OC72 in Push-Pull could deliver 200mW output power and works on +6V. The thirty pages shows a lot of interesting circuits for the experimenter and therefore a great book for every transistor collector. The condition of this book is very fragile and had to be scanned to read it.


Philco Transistor Reference Chart (Early sixties): (New)

 
 
 

This Transistor reference Chart describes in 8 pages several Philco Transistors. Like PNP Alloy, SBT, MAT, SAT, MADT, SADT, SPAT types. Even Germanium Tunnel diodes, T1925, T1975 and T1976. Last page shows the packages outline from TO-1 till TO-31. It's a nice to have datasheet and I've published all pages.


Transistors Theory and Practice (1954):

 
   

Transistors "Theory and practice" by Rufus P. Turner published in 1954. This is a book what explains the working of the transistor in all his quality, like the point contact, surface-barrier and diffused types. The book is full of examples, especially the handwritten drawings of the early transitor models what I liked it most.


The Transistor Age (1964):

The Transistor Age, published by Southwestern Bell is made to inform the people how transistors work and what kind of a impact they mean in our live at that time in 1964. This very small book (21pages) is full of illustrations and compares the tube versus the transistor in rocket technology. 

Transistors (Dutch), Age early fifties:

   

This small book is an introduction of the point contact and junction transistor in Holland. The author Mr. W. Tebra didn't thought that this new device would replace the Tube or Valve. He thought that the transistor get it's place separately with tubes. The "Transistor" is for hearing aids and small radio's. This book consists of two beautiful photo's one is the cover of a point contact device and the other one is an proto type junction transistor versus a tube 6AK5. The book Transistors was written by Mr. W. Tebra and published by Wimar in Haarlem (Holland)


Raytheon Transistor Applications (Raytheon mid fifties):

 

Fifty beautiful transistor applications build around Raytheon Junction Transistors. For me the most interesting part where the datasheets of the CK721, CK722 and Ck727. These data sheets are include all kind of characteristics, like Ic/Vcb, Ic/Vce and junction temp/ambient temp. The book ended with a short list of the most common devices at that time and their common values. The book is published by Raytheon, date unknown but I think around mid fifties.


Raytheon Transistors in Jetec 30 packages (Late fifties):

This 2 color leaflet from Raytheon is donated by Frank Philipse from Holland, see website http://www.tubedata.info/. It is a four pages commercial document with the latest transistors for that time (end fifties) in the Jetec 30 packages. There where three packages styles from 0.59˚C/mWatt till 0.36˚C/mWatt. At the back of this folder we find 5 different diode packages with several diodes in the CK-series and 1N series.


Raytheon Technical and Application Data Part-1 (1957): (New)

On Ebay I bought a map with Raytheon Technical and Application Data, of Raytheon Devices from the mid fifties. I didn't know that this was an original document written by W.B. Mitchell, Semiconductor Diode Application Engineer and two commercial employees, J.P. Roveto from Semiconductor Diode Sales and W.S. Peter, Manager Transistor Sales. All dated from 1955 till 1957. The map contains several original reference charts and original datasheets from CK721, CK722, CK725, 2N63, 2N64, 2N65, 2N106, 2N427, 2N428, 1N437, 1N438, 1N439, CK774, CK775, CK776, CK777, 2N425, 2N426, 2N106, 2N112 and 2N113 .

Raytheon Technical and Application Data Part-2 (1957): (New)

   

The Reference charts are showed here and the technical datasheets are put together with the transistor collection, only for the transistors in my collection. On request I will sent a datasheet of the remaining  transistors who are not in the collection.


Microwave Diode Handbook (Sylvania 1957):

Small book, 41pages with interesting know how about the microwave diode, like the 1N21, 1N23, etc. it tells us about the physical structure, electronic curves and a lot about overall noise. For me as collector I was happy surprised with the small overview of handy booklets for the electronic hobbyist. Like the "Germanium Crystals for Industrial Uses", "Crystal Diode, Crystal Kinks", Electronics Shortcuts for hobbyists" and "40 uses for Germanium Diodes", all coming from Sylvania Compagny.


Crystal Diode Circuits Kinks (Sylvania 1958): (New)

Small book, 33pages with a beautiful cover design an a lot of funny pictures complementing the small diode circuit designs. Sylvania know how to interest young boys with electronics. Book consists of 40 diode applications, several datasheets from 1N34A till 1N1093. It ends with an overview of other interesting hobby books like "Industrial Uses for Germanium Crystals", "28 uses for Junction Transistors", "40 uses for Germanium Diodes" and "How to make a Transistorized Portable Radio".


28 Uses for Junction Transistors (Sylvania 1955):

 

In forty-eight pages, twenty-eight small interesting circuits based on Sylvania technology from the late fifties. Transistors like the 2N34, 2N35 and 2N68 are used for the circuits in the book. Me as analogue designer was surprised with a five Watt Push-Pull Audio Amplifier based on two 2N68 PNP Germanium Power transistors. I think that the 2N95 NPN complementary device of the 2N68 wasn't invented yet. The book has an simple setup and is very clear to read. It is an beautiful collectors items. There is no author for the book, only the text copyright 1955, "Sylvania Electric Products Inc." First edition, second printing.


28 Uses for Junction Transistors (Sylvania 1957):

 

The same as above but a later release, see small details like the third picture. This is a third edition from 1957.


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