I'm new. This seems to be the place to some old germanium transistors and diodes

[ColinT]

I found in a second hand shop, such as
Raytheon 57D1-90 / 8143
Raytheon 57D1-70 / 6139
RCA 2N578 /BG looks like silver tophat
RCA 2N581 silver tophat
JAKK IN538 / 042 black tophat
Westinghouse1N1169GE 1N64 brown
Sylvania 1N34 didodes, look like fuses
Hughes JAN / IN128 / CAPN (looks like milk glass)

I don't know much about these things, I know a little about tube amps. I'd like to build a rangemaster type box. These are indicative of the things in the bench drawers from a 2d hand shop. Tons of old cc resistors, old orange and putty drop caps, etc. I doubt that suff can be used, but are any of the above useful in stompboxes?

Thanks.
Colin

[RaceDriver205]

If any of those are germanium transistors, they're valuable. I don't know much about germanium fuzz faces so feel free to use the search button. Theres plenty of threads about germanium fuzz faces.

[ColinT]

If any of those are germanium transistors, they're valuable. I don't know much about germanium fuzz faces so feel free to use the search button. Theres plenty of threads about germanium fuzz faces.

Thanks for the reply. I searched here with some of the part numbers above, but came away empty. I have looked these up on the Internet in the past and yes, most if not all were germanium, probably from the early '60s.

[Unbeliever]

If any of those are germanium transistors, they're valuable.

Potentially .... a lot of Ge transistors are leaky, or of too low a gain, to be usable in the 'classic' circuits. If bought, be prepared for some sorting to separate the good from the bad ... there's heaps of info here in the forum or on RGs site.

[Mark F]

Hi Colin, Welcome to the forum. Click the GEOFEX link at the top of this page to get to RG's site. There is a ton of stuff about Germanium Fuzz Faces and Rangemaster etc. You will learn how to measure your Germ trannies as to usefulness Etc. Good Luck!