Re: CK722 transistor

Posted by ronCK722 on Feb 25, 2013; 2:14am
URL: http://elecraft.85.s1.nabble.com/CK722-transistor-tp6408893p7570325.html

Hi John,

Sometime around 1952-53, CK722s were $3.50 each. A lot of money for an 11 year old who was just weaning himself off vacuum tubes. I broke a Base lead off my last remaining CK722 and decided "Why not? You have nothing to lose." and cut it open. Much to my surprise, I discovered this perfect tiny silver hermetic transistor inside. Since then, it was a joy to cut new ones open so I could enjoy my favorite hobby of building 2 and 3 transistor regenerative AM receivers in ball point pens and tiny swimmer's ear plug cases.

I didn't find the reason until today, 60 years later. It was a way for Raytheon to sell their less-than-perfect hearing aid transistors.

My other favorite CK722 story - I'm no longer sure whether I'd lived or dreamed this - a year later I was at a Boy Scout exibition with my last two burned out CK722s in my pocket, There was a breadboard radio with two CK722s mounted in Fanestock clips. Since CK722's were like an expensive drug habit, I swapped mine for his, hoping he had others. In reality, I went on to enjoy a 40 year career as a physicist and analog medical equipment designer. If he's real, I often thank him and sadly wonder if I'd derailed his career path and he became an auto mechanic or Greek Mythology major.