History
The foundations of British Thomson-Houston (BTH) were laid in 1886, when a London firm Laing, Wharton and Down was formed to exploit in the United Kingdom the sale of products made by the American Electric Co.  “Thomson-Houston (BTH)” was merged with the similar “Metropolitan-Vickers Company” in 1928, but the two maintained their own identities until 1960. The holding company, “Associated Electrical Industries (AEI)”, was formed in 1929 and was initially a financial holding company for a number of leading electrical manufacturing and trading companies in the United Kingdom. These included British Thomson-Houston, Metropolitan-Vickers, Edison Swann and Ferguson Pailin. In 1959 AEI became a trading company and the AEI symbol began to replace most of the brand names and trademarks of companies within the group.

Devices
Early devices in the late 50s were: BTH as well AEI made the same transistors, early devices in mine collection of BTH, were: GT11, GT12, GT43 and for the AEI devices, GT41, GT45-B
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(Associated Electrical Industries
/ British Thomson Houston)

History
The Bendix Corporation was founded in 1924 by the inventor Vincent Bendix. At first it manufactured brake systems for cars and trucks. Bendix Radio Corp. was started in 1937 in Baltimore and renamed in Bendix Radio Division in 1941. In 1948 Bendix shipped its first automobile radios to Ford Motor Company and over the next decade they became a major automobile radio innovator introducing the first printed circuit boards, first all transistor radio, the first AM-FM radio and the first radio with stereophonic sound. Bendix also built television sets from 1950 to 1959. In the 70s, 80s and 90s Bendix went through a series of mergers, sales and changes with partners or buyers like Raytheon, Allied Signal and others. The Allied Corporation would later buy Honeywell and adopt the Honeywell name, and Bendix became a Honeywell brand.

Devices
Earlier Bendix Power transistors were: the 2N234 (TO-3), 2N235 (B-111), 2N285, X-110 Germanium PNP devices in 1956, the 2N235B and X-133 in 1957. Bendix low power transistor I’ve found is the 2N10008.
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History
"Western Electric" in the USA opens in May 1883 a small office and store in London. In September 1925 the International Western Electric Company was bought by the "International Telephone and Telegraph Company (ITT)" and since then this undertaking in Great Britain which has grown substantially is named "Standard Telephones and Cables Ltd. (STC)". STC uses first the brand name “STANDARD” for their valves. In 1932 to 1933 the valves are called “MICROMESH”  and from 1934 on “BRIMAR”. The Brimar valve and cathode-ray tube division was sold to Thorn Electrical Industries Ltd. in 1960. Between 1950-1960 STC played a major role in the British semiconductor research.

Devices
Earlier devices were the PT-2S point contact device from 1953. The PT-2S was intended for Switching, while the PT-2A was for Amplifying. the 1N34 Germanium diode and the PT-2S Point Contact Diode in 1953, later there came the 2N36, 2N37, 2N38 PNP Germanium transistors and in 1956 the 2N155 PNP Germanium Power  transistor in TO-3 metal case.
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History
“Transistor Products Incorporated” (later Clevite) was a semiconductor manufactory in the 50s and build several devices. Like the experimental X-78 Germanium Power Transistor build by Neville Fletcher in 1953. After the Fairchild spin-off (Leaving of Roger & Larsen "Engineers" from STC to Fairchild), "Shockley Transistor Corporation (STC)" was sold to “Clevite” in 1960, see commercial datasheet. But it wasn’t the success for Clevite, they hoped. In 1965 Clevite was sold to ITT and definitely closed in 1968.

Devices
In 1953 they had a series of point contact types from the 2A through 2G in the Type-A case Bell Labs used. In 1956 Power transistors like the CTP1320 and the CTP1304 in TO3 case. The 2N1029B commercial power transistor in 1962. With STC they produced the 4E30, earlier produced by STC self in the late 50s.
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History (1)
As for CV valves, it does NOT stand for "Common Valve". That is a myth that seems to have grown up recently. Originally, each user had their own codes, the Navy, Army, RAF, and Post Office, so that makers would have to badge an identical valve according to the user. Some had very minor differences, so that makers had to produce "specials" for one department that were so close to another that a standard could have been used. Eventually the government set up a department to ensure that standard valves were used in every service. That was called, the COMMUNICATION VALVE department, to distinguish it from pneumatic or hydraulic valves. The CV code hasn’t a real system but for every unique number stands a specific device, in most cases a standard device with better or tighter spec’s.  The code was introduced in 1941 and goes till 1963. On the internet you could find the CV-register in pdf format. The devices were made by several manufactories and could sometimes be identified by their description. Thanks to Alan Stepney from the UK for this historic information!

The UK Military
CV-series: Common Valve?, Crystal Valve?, No
Communication Valve!

History (2)
The CV-register consists of four columns, the first one is for the numbering of the CV device. The second column is for the prototypes and possible substitutes. The third column contains the Government spec’s like; AD=Admiralty Surface Weapons Establishment, MOA=Ministry of Aviation, RAE, RRE and SRDE, SH=UK Atomic Energy Authority, AERE, WO=War Office, GPO=General Post Office (BT now), JAN,MIL=USA JAN1A and MIL-E1B, COM=No specification issued (contact the manufactory). And at last, the fourth column gives us the description of the device. As example my CV-425, this is a Semiconductor Diode with MOA spec, equivalent types are; CG1C, GEX44, GEX45/1 and the OA74.  Many thanks to the people that take care for the CV-register, http://www.tubecollector.org/cv/1963/ and to Mister Transistor's Historic Semiconductors who’s site is full of nice examples of the CV-series included my CV425.
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History
“United Motors Corporation” purchased the “Dayton Engineering Laboratories Company (DELCO)”  and “Remy Electric Company” in 1916. Two years later United Motors merged with “General Motors”. Delco advertised in early 1956 that they were already utilizing their power output transistors in some of the GM 1956 models, like the Corvette.  Delco had wanted something more powerful than the then 25-30 watt rating of the brand new TO-3 devices coming out so they developed a new TO-6 type device which was then rated at 55 watts dissipation. Delco Radio Division of General Motors developed the first Hybrid Transistor Car Radio in 1956, which was also used in the 1956 Chevrolet Corvette (Delco model 3725156). The first All Transistor Car Radio is developed by Philco and Chrysler in 1955.

Devices
Earlier Delco transistors in TO6 case where the A03 (1955), 2N173, 2N174 (1956), 2N277, 2N278 en 2N290 (1956). Also the DS-501 in 1958, this was a silicon device. The 2N553 was a TO3 case device.
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History
General Electric Company of England (GEC), which is no relation to GE USA was a brand name from England's MO Valve, Ltd. (Marconi-Osram).The company was born in the mid 1800's as the English branch of Siemens operating under that name. Through several purchases, mergers and name changes they are now known as GEC and have no tie-in other than historical to Siemens.

Devices
GEC also made experimental types in the 'experimental Wembley' EW series, so named because the lab was in Wembley, north London. Like the EW51 Point Contact Germanium Triode
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History
General Transistor was formed in 1954 by Electronics Engineer Herman Fialkov, 36year, with a starting capital of $105,000. He disregarded the advice that only the giant firms could hold a market, specialized in computer transistors. He sold $1,100,000 in 1956 and $8,000,000 in 1958. Like Transitron they where leading in the high-quality semiconductor market at that time. Unfortunate most of the new manufactories didn’t survive this rough transistor period only a few continue to exist, like RCA, Motorola and Texas Instruments. In 1960 General Instrument bought General Transistor Corporation and the story was over. Detail: General Transistor’s logo consists of their initial GT letters in combination with a PNP transistor symbol. The transistor numbering was done by the GT followed by the transistor number. Packaging was a combination of orange/black/white cardboard, late fifties.

Devices
A special device derived from the Radio Receptor photo transistor “RR-66” was the GT-66 later renamed as the 2N318 (1958). Other earlier transistors where the GT-34N, GT-74, GT-81, GT-82, and the GT-222, the last one could been seen in my collection. These are hard to find items especially with their original packaging. With a little bit of luck I've found the logo on the site of Andrew Wylie: Mister Transistor's Historic Semiconductors and I'm very pleased with the GT222 from 1957.
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History
GPC, “Germanium Products Corp” was a subsidiary of Radio Development & Research Corporation. This company belong to the 35 original licensees of Bell Labs. GPC, started their business (producing transistors) in the earlier 50s. The first germanium transistor produced GPC was in 1952. They started with producing transistors like the “TN-10” for hearing aids in the Sonotone 1010. The first transistors where from plastic and not hermetically sealed, later they produced metal cases and they were hermetically sealed. The company ended around 1956/57.

Devices
Earlier GPC devices were: TN-10, RDX 301 a high frequency Tetrode Transistor (proto type), 2N23A high frequency Tetrode Transistor. Grown Junction NPN devices were the RD2517 (1952), RD2520 and RD2521 from 1953. Also the 2N98 Germanium Grown junction NPN Transistor from around 1957.
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Earlier
I’ve one device in my collection, this is an 1N1530A, General Purpose Regulator Diode in original package, see my website. I don’t know if they have produced transistors, maybe someone could help me with that?
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Earlier
The first Honeywell transistor commercial product was the 2N57 Power Germanium PNP transistor (1954), followed by the 2N538, 2N539 and 2N540 in 1957/58. The last three items where all 10Watt devices.
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History
In 1952 a german physicist, Herbert Mataré founded a company called “Intermetall” and in 1953 he demonstrated world’s first transistor radio built around four Intermetall point-contact transistors, more than a year before Texas Instruments claimed that milestone. See picture below.

Devices
Earlier devices of Intermetall were the GSN1 and GSN2 from 1953 all Point Contact Transistors. Here below an article about Intermetall and mr. Mataré: http://www.pbs.org/transistor/materials/how-europe-missed-transistor.pdf
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History
ITT (International Telephone and Telegraph) was formed in 1920, as the Puerto Rico Telephone Company by Sosthenes Behn. During the 1950s, ITT purchased Philo Farnsworth's television company to break into the market. At that time Farnsworth was also developing the Fusor. In 1951, ITT bought a majority interest in the Kellogg Switchboard & Supply company and bought the remaining shares the next year. ITT changed the name to ITT Kellogg. After merging Federal Telephone and Radio Corporation into ITT Kellogg and combining manufacturing operations the name was changed again to ITT Telecommunications. In 1989, ITT sold all international telecommunications products business to Alcatel, now Alcatel-Lucent.

Devices
Earlier ITT semiconductors where the four-layer (Shockley) diode, 4E50 M-28
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History
The first Mitsubishi company was a shipping firm that Yataro Iwasaki established in 1870. In 1873 it took the name “Mitsubishi Shokai”. The name “Mitsubishi” has two parts: "mitsu" means three and "bishi" means water chestnut. Another translation is "three diamonds". In 1923 Mitsubishi makes an technological agreement with “Westinghouse Electric International”. In 1946 Mitsubishi companies fragmented into hundreds of independent enterprises, later in 1962 Mitsubishi and “TWR (Thompson-Ramo-Wooldridge Corporation)” started a joint venture of producing and selling semiconductor products.

Devices
Earlier Mitsubishi transistors were; 2SA141, 2SA142, 2SB134, 2SB135, 2SB138.
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History
The manufacture of both point contact and alloy junction transistors began at the “National Union Radio Corp”, Semiconductor Division at the Hatboro Pa. Facility in 1952. NU products have been discovered by collectors in some early Sonotone transistor hearing aids. A joint venture project between National Union Electric Company and the Eureka Williams Company resulted in the worlds first modern (transistor regulated) electric car in 1959, the Henney Kilowatt. National Union and Eureka Williams Company merged in 1960 to form the Eureka Williams Company.

Devices
Earlier transistors where the 2N39 PNP junction type from late 1953, 18-B point contact type 1953, PNP Junction Transistor 2N34, Point Contact Transistor T18A, Point Contact Diodes 1N64 and the 2N40 PNP-fused transistor. The type 2N42 PNP-fused transistor was one of the very few made by National Union Electric.
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History
“Nippon Electric Limited Partnership” was established in 1898 by Kunihiko Iwadare and Takeshiro Maeda. In 1899 with Western Electric, they become the first Japanese joint venture with foreign capital and started in 1950 with Transistor R&D design. In 1959 NEC demonstrated their first transistorized computer, the NEAC-2201.

Devices
Earlier transistors are; NEC ST161 NPN Grown Junction types equivalent to the American TI 2N147 from 1957. NEC ST301, 2SA21, 2SA26 etc.
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History
The original company "The Transistor Development Company" was started in 1953, manufacturing germanium devices and a was a subsidiary of Pye Ltd. In 1957 the company was renamed into "The Newmarket Transistor Company" and later in 1958, it was changed into "Newmarket Transistors Ltd". Newmarket Transistors also used the brand “Goltop”, and was associated with the “Pye Ltd”, electrical company. Pye Ltd was in its entirely owned by Philips.

Devices
Earlier devices were: V6 and V10 from 1956, Earlier devices were: NKT series, like the NKT11, NKTSER21, NKT125 etc. More info: http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~wylie/NKT/newmarket.htm
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Devices
A big mistake was the V14 tuneable television in 1954, this machine was technically very unreliable and damaged the company almost complete. From that time they now sold electronics under a subsidiary brand: the Pam 710, with labelled Newmarket Transistors (another subsidiary). Philips attempted to buy out the ailing Pye in 1966 for 60% and bought them out completely in 1976. Earlier transistor could be found under the brand Newmarket. I’ve one Transistor V10-50 made under the name PYE in my collection.
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Devices
Some early devices I've found are: RD2517 and the 2N99. The logo is from a radio build in a bottle, Magic-Tone model 504, see website: http://www.militaryradio.com/spyradio/rdr.html
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History
In 1922 Radio receptor started manufacturing radio’s. In the late 40s they where producing Selenium Rectifiers. In 1952 Radio Receptor bought licenses from Western Electric and RCA, and began to produce germanium transistors and diodes. Radio Receptor exited the transistor business in 1955/56 and the entire company was sold to General Instrument in 1957.

Devices
Earlier Germanium Devices were the RR20 PNP Junction Transistor (1953), RR122 PNP Germanium Transistor and the RR66 Germanium PNP Alloy  Junction Photo Transistor from 1954. The I could found is the 1N51 Germanium Diode from 1954.
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History
In 1884 Frank Julian Sprague, formed the "Sprague Electric Railway and Motor Company", which built the first large-scale electric streetcar system in the United States, in Richmond. "Sprague" as we known started with producing aluminium and tantalum electrolytic capacitors in 1942. The physicists, chemists, electrical engineers, and skilled technicians where deployed by the government during World War II to design/manufacture advanced high-tech weapons systems, including the atomic bomb. Sprague was a major research and development centre at that time for conducting studies on the nature of electricity and semi-conducting materials.

Devices
From the post-war years to the mid-1980s Sprague produced electrical components for the consumer electronics market but also for the Gemini moon missions 1961-1968. Sprague famous product over the time where the “Orange Drop Capacitors” but they also made transistors, like the Surface Barries Transistor (SBT) 2N501, see Philco and the TD101, TD401. I''ve a MA-4 in my collection, it looks like a 2N501 of Philco but it's a Sprague device.
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History
Two companies Mix & Genest and C. Lorenz were started in 1879. In 1875 Mix & Genest was merged with Standard Elektrizitäts-Gesellschaft (SEG) and in 1929 SEG was taken over by  International Telephone and Telegraph Company (ITT). SEG was renamed in Standard Elektrik AG in 1956 and in 1958 Standard Elekrik AG was merged with C. Lorenz AG in Standard Elektric Lorenz AG (SEL). C. Lorenz was a manufactory of  communication equipment and build radio in the 20-30s. Later 1960-1970 SEL has specialized their self in  satellite and space electronics. In 80s they had take over Graetz KG and moved a part of their business into the audio/video branch. In 1987 Nokia take over SEL.

Devices
Standard Elektric Lorenz re-labelled several transistors like Valvo’s OC series, STC TK series in their own WN types. WN5444, WN6417
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History
“Semiconductors Ltd.” owned by GEC Plessey Semiconductors. Semiconductors Limited was an British semiconductor factory in the end fifties. The company was owned by GEC Plessey Semiconductors. It was a semiconductor manufactory that produced transistors under a licensing from Philco in the US. The name on the transistors was always stamped with “Semics” included a type number but not with the name of the mother company Plessey. I think that the name Semiconductors was to long for printing on small devices.

Devices
The SA495 is a PNP Surface Alloy Silicon Transistor produced in 1961 by GEC Plessey Semiconductors. I didn’t discover the difference between the SA495 and SA495A.  This type has a full gold plated encapsulation, other devices could be different like metal colour or a combination of these two colours.
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History
William Shockley was one of the three scientist at Bell Telephone Laboratories in Murray Hill who invented the transistor in December 1947. In 1950, Shockley Semiconductor Labs (later known as Shockley Transistor Corporation) was established by William Shockley. This company was not very successful but delivered a lot of good scientist who  started their own company like, Fairchild (Sherman Fairchild) and later from Fairchild, Intel (Robert Noyce and Gordon E. Moore). The main core business of STC was the Four-Layer diode. This device acted as an rectifier and able to turn alternating current into direct current and could be switched on/off when the voltage was reach his break over point. This device was used in the telephone industry. Shockley Transistor Corporation was sold to Clevite in 1960.

Devices
Early devices: 4-series like the 4D80M-3 four-layer diode, see my photo gallery; BND26 Noise diode see my photo gallery and many more like the 4N20-8, 4E30-8, 4E200. The last series where sold by Clevite in 1963, the company that bought STC.
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History
Sinclair Radionics Ltd was founded by Clive Sinclair in 1961. Sinclair's very first commercial product was the Micro-Amplifier, launched at the end of 1962. For that time it was the smallest amplifier in the world. In 1972 Radionics launched its first electronic calculator, the Executive. In 1974, Radionics launched the DM1 digital multimeter, many more exceptional products follows. In 1979 Radionics was sold to Binatone and Clive Sinclair resigned. In 1980 Sinclair Electronics Ltd, was changed to Thandar Electronics Ltd. We all know the Sinclair ZX spectrum computer, launched in 1985 with his rubber keypads.

Devices
In 1958 Fairchild marketed their first silicon diffusion mesa transistors to RCA, and then planar transistor in 1959. In early 1960s the epitaxial growth technology is invented and adopted by many other semiconductor manufactures. The ST140 is a NPN Silicon Epitaxial Planar Transistor from Sinclair, although this company didn’t produce transistors but applied them in their own products. I think  they brand labelled these devices from Motorola and Philco the same that Van der Heem from Holland did with their semiconductors. More devices were; MAT100 (1965), MAT101, MAT120 and a MAT121, these last four were used in the Sinclair’s Micro-Amplifier.
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History
In 1912 merged “Felten und Guilleaume (F&G)” from Nürnberg and  a south German company “Telefon-, Apparate-, Kabel- und Drahtwerke AG” to the new company “Telephon, Kabel, Draht (TeKaDe)”. Around the 20s they produced tubes and headphones in mass production. In 1955 TeKaDe started with producing Point Contact Germanium diodes and in 1956 with Germanium transistors.

Devices
Earlier TeKaDe devices were GFT43A in 1957, GFT2106760H
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History
"Telefunken" was founded in 1903, originally it was a joint venture of "AEG" and "Siemens AG", until Siemens left in 1941. In 1967 it was merged with AEG, which was then renamed to "AEG-Telefunken". When AEG was bought by Daimler in 1985 the addition "Telefunken" was dropped. The brand name "Telefunken" is still marketed by DaimlerChrysler.

Devices
Earlier Germanium transistors of Telefunken where the OC603, OC604, OD604 from 1955 and OC613, OD605 from 1957, the last one is a power version of 15Watts.
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History
Company started under the name “Kawanishi Machine Works” in 1920 and produced car radio for Toyota Motor Corporation's Crown in 1955. In 1959 they developed Japan’s first all-transistor car radio. In 1967 “Ten Onkyo Co., Ltd.” established. (now Tochigi Fujitsu Ten Limited). In 1968 Kobe Industries Corp. merged with Fujitsu Limited, and the car radio and car stereo department belonged to the Kobe Industries Division of Fujitsu Limited. In 1972 The car radio and car stereo department was separated from Fujitsu Limited, and established as “Fujitsu Ten Limited”. In 1987 “Nakatsugawa Ten Ltd.” merged with “Fujitsu Ten Limited”. Fujitsu as well Ten produces transistors under their own name.

Devices
Earlier "TEN" devices were: PNP Germanium devices were : 2SA30, 2SA31, 2SB120 and 2SB121, NPN Germanium devices were; 2SD33, 2SD37 and PNP Germanium Power device was the 2SB151. Earlier "Fujitsu" devices were: PNP Germanium transistors: 2SA32, 2SB17A, 2SB18A and a PNP power transistor 2SB20.
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(Fujitsu Ten Limited)

History
Toshiba was founded by the merging of two companies in 1939. The first company, “Shibaura Seisakusho” (Shibaura Engineering Works) and the second “Tokyo Denki” (Tokyo Electric). The merger in 1939 of Shibaura Seisakusho and Tokyo Denki created a new company called “Tokyo Shibaura Denki”. It was soon nicknamed “Toshiba”, but it wasn't until 1984 that the company was officially renamed “Toshiba Corporation”. About 1952 the company was renamed as “Tokyo Electric Co. (TEC)”. The company was responsible for a number of Japanese firsts, including radar (1942), the TAC digital computer (1954) and transistor television and microwave oven (1959).

Devices
Toshiba first transistor radio was the 6TP-309 (six transistors) in 1959. One of the first Toshiba’s Germanium transistor were the: 2S53, 2SA230, 2SA28, 2SA29, 2SA45
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History
Transistor Products Incorporated (TPI), later Clevite was a small company that have tried to produce transistors, with less success. They were one of the few companies to produce point contact transistors with exactly the same style "type A" case that Bell Labs originally introduced. Clevite bought out Transistor Products Inc. in 1954. Info regarding TPI is rare and difficult to find on the internet. If somebody can tell me more, please contact me, info@transparentsound.com

Devices
Earlier TPI devices; a hand-made experimental Power Device version X-78 (2Watt), from mid-1953. Prototype X-102 (0.25Wat), production early/mid 1955. More info. See http://www.semiconductormuseum.com
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History
The Hungarian company TUNGSRAM was registered in 1909 and the letter "T" embedded in a circle in 1938. The word "TUNGSRAM" is originated from the English and German names of tungsten (TUNGSTEN + WOLFRAM). With this name the Company wanted to emphasize that it was the owner of the tungsten lamp patent granted first in the world and the fact that it engaged itself with the lighting business. In 1989 General Electric (US) purchased 50% of the shares of Tungsram Rt and is now a subsidiary GE (US). British Tungsram Radio Works was subsidiary of the Hungarian Tungsram in pre-war days.

Devices
Transistors made by Tungsram where: AD-series, OC-series, AF-series. It seems to me that they produces the same transistors as Philips and Mullard did in that period. You welcome to supply me with more essential information about the Tungsram history and transistors. I've one AD149 in original carton box in my collection, see Tungsram link of this site.
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History
"Tung-Sol Electric Inc." was started in 1907 in Newark, New Jersey as a manufactory of electrical headlamps. In 1951 “Tung-Sol Electric Inc.” merged into “Wagner Electric Corp.” and later in 1967 the “Studebaker Corp.” (Mich.) merged into “Studebaker-Worthington, Inc.” Tung-Sol in the year 2007 will be turning 100 years old and is therefore one of the oldest manufacturers of lamps, and electron tubes, over the world. They developed the famous 6550 tube in 1955 for Hi-Fi purposes and  is still famous today. Tung-Sol transistors where easily to recognized because of their baby blue colour.

Devices
Earlier Germanium devices of Tung-Sol where the: Germanium Diode; the silvery TS117 used in the TR1 Regency Radio!, DR126, DR128, DR129, DR130, DR154  PNP Germanium transistors and the 2N307A, 2N375 Power Germanium PNP Transistors
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History
The "Transitron Corporation" was one of the original Bell Labs licensees, started by David & Leo Bakalar and was a pioneering first generation transistor manufacturer. This wasn’t the success they hoped and the company ended their business in 1955. The Bakalar brothers where “famous” about their strange philosophy; Coping TI semiconductors by reverse engineering. What they did is every time TI came out with a new transistor they reverse engineered that device and built the almost the same transistor. It must be told that they were the first company to manufacture silicon rectifiers commercially in the earlier 50s.

Devices
Earlier Transitron Germanium Transistors/Diodes where, 2N85 “power transistor”, 1N54A Germanium Diode 1953 and a SV3173 Reference diode.
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History
“Valvo Radioröhrenfabrik GmbH”   started the company at the first of April 1924 in Hamburg, one year after the introduction of the radio in Germany. In 1927 Philips bought out Valvo but uses her name to get settled in Germany and France. Later in the 50s Mullard, Philips and Amperex where all producing semiconductors often with the same prefix.

Devices
Earlier PNP Germanium Junction Transistors were the OC70 & OC71 from 1954, The first Germanium Power Transistor was released at the end of 1954 with the OC15 (4Watts). The OC72 in 1955 and the OC45. Also the OC44 RF germanium Transistor in 1957, the last one is still used in pedal effect boxes! Especially the glass and Gain selected types.
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History
Van der Heem was a Dutch radio manufacturing company, with factories in The Hague, Rotterdam and Hilversum (my home town). They produced radios for “Erres” (from the founder R.S. Stokvis) in 1926, radios for the brand Aetherkruiser and for Philips several radios. In 1930 Philips takes a interest in Erres, but “VDH” still manufacture radios based on Philips components. Later in the 60s Philips bought Erres totally and the company was over. Van der Heem did more than manufacturing radios and re-labelling transistors, they were also active between 1948/69 in producing (under licensing) Solex mopeds for “R.S. Stokvis & Zonen” and manufacturing electric drill’s.

Devices
One peculiar fact was the brand labelling of several international transistor types from all over the world by Van der Heem, they were sold under the name “Van der Heem (VDH)”. Famous transistors were the OC3 (LF preamp devices), OC4 (LF devices) and OC5 (HF devices) types. See website: http://www.hilberink.nl/vdheem.htm . Japanese transistors relabelled by "VDH" were the 2SA12 and 2SB77 from Hitachi and used in the 50/60s.
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 VDH1

History
In 1872 Enos N. Barton and Elisha Gray started their company in Chicago, Illinois under the name “Western Electric Manufacturing Company”. They manufactured a variety of electrical products and had a close relationship with the telegraph company Western Union. In 1875, Gray sold his interests to Western Union. In 1899 WEC was the first company to join in a Japanese joint venture with Nippon Electric Company, Ltd with foreign capital. WEC held 54% of NEC at the time. All of the electric components for AT&T were designed and built by WEC. WEC merged with AT&T in 1899 and in 1925 WEC was turned into Bell Labs, a world-famous research lab.

Devices
Earlier devices were: 1698 "type A" developmental point contact unit (1952), 1729 "type A" point contact from 1953, 2N23 point contact from 1954, 2N21 point contact device (1955), 2N110 point contact device (1956) and a 3N22 tetrode from 1954-57.
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History
George Westinghouse started his company in 1884 as the Westinghouse Electric Company in 1884, later known as the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company. For Europe the transistor history became a different way. Two German physicist, Herbert Mataré en Heinrich Welker working in Paris for a German radar program,  discovered the principles of the transistor. They call their invention the “Transistron” XE "Transistron" . But after the World War-II, the French government and Westinghouse, “employer of the two inventors” concentrated themselves on nuclear technology and their weren’t interested in the invention of both German physicists.

Devices
In 1952 Mataré founded a company called "Intermetall" and in 1953 he demonstrated world’s first transistor radio built around four Intermetall point-contact transistors, more than a year before Texas Instruments claimed that milestone. See picture below. Early Westinghouse transistors are the WX3347 Point Contact Transistor and WX4813 PNP Junction transistor both prototypes. More details on the site. Production transistors were the 2N54-2N57 and 2N73-2N75 all from the mid fifties.
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History (NEW)
They were Z & I Aero Services, London W2. Their main retail outlet was in Tottenham Court Road, Westbourne Grove, W2, (Telephone, Park 5641). They were started by two German /East European/Russian (?) guys just after WW2. At first, they bought ex-government valves, tested, labelled, and packed them in their own boxes. Then they bought manufacturers surplus, or imported, mainly from Eastern European manufacturers. Thanks to Alan Stepney from the UK for this historic information!

Devices
Unkown.
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History
Zenith was started in 1918 under the name “Chicago Radio Laboratory” and in 1920 the first radios where born under the name “Z-Nith”. The name was derived from the call letters of the founders amateur station 9ZN. Zenith Radio Corporation was incorporated in 1923. One historic fact was their development on remote control in 1950 with their “Lazy Bones” and later with the “Flash-Matic” in 1955 and the commercial version “Space Command” in 1956. The first Zenith transistor radio was the “Zenith Royal 500” in 1955.

Devices
Earlier Zenith transistors where the 121-6 (2N94) NPN Germanium transistor, 121-7 (2N35) NPN Germanium Transistor and the 121-8 (2N35) PNP Germanium Transistor. More info: http://www.transistor-repairs.com/
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Remaining items