Transistor ID. 2W1309

[McMurdo]

I have a large number of these as part of an estate sale.

Regular TO-5 can and marked only 2W1309

My chinese lcd tester shows them as a PNP germanium with a gain of 200 or so.

Any ideas, folks?




edit: Ive found some with number 2W1308, Ge npn

[AC/HL]

2N1309 seems likely, with 1308 as the complimentary. Switching transistors, but probably OK for general purpose.

[G6ONEDave]

I wonder if it's a 2N1309 in disguise. Towers shows the 2N type as TO-5, P-G, LO4, 30v VCB max, 15v VCE max, 25v VEB max, 300mA Ic max, HFE 80MN, HFE bias 10mA.

[G6ONEDave]

Last post crossed with AC/HL, there is also a 2N1308 in Towers and that is npn.

[paulsherwin]

I also thought it looked like a 2N1309. If so it's a useful transistor which will sub for AF11x transistors in IF amps and as mixers in AM only sets. You can also use them to replace audio types like OC71s. I changed the AF117s for 2N1309s in a TR82 and they were absolutely fine - looked the part too.

Apparently there is some demand for them from guitar fuzz box builders too.

The 'W' could indicate that they are specially selected, or be some sort of house code. They were used quite a lot in early American transistorised computers, and there are lots of surplus CV versions around suggesting that the MOD used them in lots of their kit (maybe Polaris related computers?).

[turretslug]

Quite a few '50s US valves had -W suffix versions, apparently standing for War (subtle, eh?)- maybe an extension of that theme?

[McMurdo]

Interesting, never considered a 2N anything. I've since found a bag of 2W404, also testing Ge. Wonder why they used a 'W' then. Thanks for the help!

[paulsherwin]

The 2N404 was also quite a common Ge switching transistor from the same era. The ft is 8MHz so they should be OK as AM RF/IF amps.

I'm sure people will offer some of these a home if you have a surplus The unconventional coding may make them difficult to sell to the guitar pedal crowd though.

[McMurdo]

sorry, these are for keep..at least now I know what they are

I have a small but growing collection of 50s/60's transistor radios that are beginning to pique my interest. I only listen to vintage radios at home and HWMBO is also a vintage transistor radio hoarder

[m0cemdave]

Aw Kevin, you know what to do...

Build a couple of fuzzboxes, get some tame guitarists to try them out and post rave reviews to the appropriate message boards, offer the transistors for sale in the usual place, bob's yer uncle (retire on the proceeds)!

[McMurdo]

I did once sell some mullard vintage transistors on ebay to a fuzzbox manufacturer in california. I'd cut them off a 1960's industrial computer from the local tyre factory. By the package, I assumed they were germanium. It was only years later I realized they were silicon. They never said anything!

[barrymagrec]

Originally Posted by McMurdo

I did once sell some mullard vintage transistors on ebay to a fuzzbox manufacturer in california. I'd cut them off a 1960's industrial computer from the local tyre factory. By the package, I assumed they were germanium. It was only years later I realized they were silicon. They never said anything!

OC200s?