Mystery transistor

[boogietone]

In reorganizing components, I have come across a batch of 15 transistors that I cannot identify. Any help would be appreciated. They are in standard TO-92 packages with the following markings: what looks like the National semiconductor approx equal sign logo, the numbers 505 above the numbers 811. They test out on my multitester as npn with hFEs ranging from 120 to 290. On the rounded side of the case are two colored stripes green over red. I have not found anything about them. An additional confusion of course is that the box I found them in is labeled pnp. They are likely at least 15 years old if not significantly more and could have been bought from radio shack.

Any thoughts?

[R.G.]

Assume they are 2N3904s, especially if bought from Radio Shack. Use them that way, and be prepared to snip them out mercilessly if their performance offends you.

Many circuits are tolerant of a wide variety of NPN silicon devices. Don't worry about it much.