The early semiconductor industry in West Germany was very active, with several major manufacturers, notably Siemens, Telefunken and Valvo. There were also a number of interesting smaller companies that eventually disappeared.

I am seeking to buy germanium transistors made in Germany in the 1950's and 1960's. I am looking for transistors listed below and in the dedicated page for each German manufacturer. I am also seeking manufacturer data sheets for them, originals or scans.

If you know about these transistors, or have have some for sale or trade, please

Ich suche, die Germaniumtransistoren zu kaufen, die in Deutschland im Jahren 1950's und 1960' s hergestellt werden. Ich suche nach den Transistoren, die durch die Hersteller hergestellt werden, die nachstehend aufgeführt werden. Ich möchte auch ursprüngliche Leistungsblätter für sie kaufen.

Wenn Sie in diesen Transistoren auskennen oder haben, einiges für Verkauf oder Handel zu haben, in Verbindung.


ED704 radar diodes

The oldest German devices that I possess are these small radar diodes, left behind in Norway by the Wehrmacht. They date from 1944 and were made by Telefunken.

More information on Telefunken can be found further below.


wanted

The very earliest transistors and non-radar diodes from Germany were made by a somewhat mysterious company called Dr. Rudolf Rost, from Hannover, in 1952. These are described in their publication "Kristalloden Technik", W. Ernst & Sohn, Berlin, 1956. I am seeking any semiconductor device from this manufacturer. If you know about these or have any for sale or exchange, please


SAF logo

Other early transistors were made by the Süddeutsche Apparate Fabrik (SAF).

I have created a separate page for SAF.

I am very interested to obtain examples of SAF transistors. If you know about these, please


Valvo germanium devces

The manufacturer Valvo made many early types of germanium transistors and diodes. They were a subsidiary of Philips of the Netherlands, like Mullard in England and La RadioTechnique in France. The same classic OA and OC series of devices were made by all these companies, with minor differences in the device types that each company produced.

I have created a separate page for Valvo.

I am very interested to obtain examples of the Valvo transistors OC50 and OC51, OC10 to OC12, OC15 and 100.O.C. If you know about these, please


Intermetall logo

Another key manufacturer in Germany was Intermetall, founded by Herbert Franz Mataré, who invented the transistor independently of Bell Labs. Intermetall made several point-contact transistors and numerous junction types as well as diodes.

I have created a separate page for Intermetall.

I am very interested to obtain examples of the Intermetall GSN1 to GSN6. If you know anything about these devices or have any for sale or exchange, please


Telefunken logo

The manufacturer Telefunken also made many early types of germanium transistors and diodes, creating their own members of the OA and OC series.

I have created a separate page for them.

I am very interested to obtain examples of the Telefunken OC601 and OC602 in the original flat package. If you know anything about these devices or have any for sale or exchange, please


Siemens logo

The electrical giant Siemens also made many early types of germanium transistors and diodes, using their own series.

I have created a separate page for Siemens.

I am very interested to obtain examples of the Siemens point-contact types TS13 and TS33, which are packaged in the typical cartridge case. I am also interested in very early Siemens power types such as TF95, old audio types like TF70 or TF71, or any original data sheet.


TKD logo

Another interesting smaller manufacturer was TeKaDe, often shortened to TKD.

I have created a separate page for TeKaDe.

I am very interested to obtain examples of the TeKaDe point-contact types GST01 and GST02, which are packaged in the typical cartridge case. I am also interested in any original TeKaDe data book or sheet.


ECO logo

I'm grateful to a correspondent who has informed me about another little-known German company, Eberle Köhler & Co Elektronik KG of Nürnberg, abbreviated to ECO. They seem to have made only silicon diodes according to their Datenbuch 1964, which lists several ranges.

If you know more about this organisation, please


SEL transistors

One oddity that I have come across is a number of transistors and diodes as shown, with labels covering up the original markings. The labels bear the three-legged symbol shown on the rightmost transistor, plus a part number starting with WN. The underlying types are usually germanium devices made by Valvo, but a few are made by the English firm STC. The symbol/logo is that of Standard Elektrik Lorenz (SEL), who were in fact owned by I.T.T. I believe also that SEL absorbed the company SAF described above.

Why this company should have re-branded and presumably re-sold transistors and diodes from other manufacturers is a mystery to me.If you know about this, please