> In the 1960s the pocket radios hit the market and were sold everywhere.
> I have not opened one of them in years, but I recall the transistors
> used in them did not look like more modern types. They had a small metal
> can. Just a straight sided metal can, shaped like modern capacitors, but
> bare metal. Some had colored dots on them to identify the leads too.
>
> First, I am thinking that they were geranium types. Is that correct?
germanium yes.
> Second, I have a very old GE transistor manual (edition 2) (PDF). No
> where in there does it mention the case style of them. What is the case
> style?
There was TO1, but there were others
> Seems those type of transistors came and went quickly. I assume they
> were the first generation of transistors.
no, just the 1st generation cheap enough to go into pocket radios
> Shortly after, I recall seeing a lot of metal cases that were shaped
> more like a hat, with a brim. Those too vanished. And I recall seeing
More than one case type, eg TO39
> some of the hat shaped types with a point sticking out of the top. I
> always wondered what that point was for???
to kill your opponents of course.
NT