User: gar, Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
Asked on: Saturday, June 4, 2011 at 6:26 pm EDT
Answered on: Tuesday, May 14, 2024 at 6:12 am EDT
Question: 110604-1627 EDTI am currently trying to clean up my desk.In one of the piles I found a copy of "The Road to the Transistor". I had thought I had referenced this on this forum, but a search does not find any post.This chapter to a book is very interesting and I believe quite accurate. It can be found at http://www.jmargolin.com/history/trans.htmIn 1952 in my room at the Brooklyn YMCA I made a point contact transistor from a 1N34. It oscillated. It sits on shelf in my office and someday I may see if it still works.What a difference in the repeatability, quality, and functionality of semiconductor products today. There was no repeatability in the fabrication of point contact transistors in 1952. Also look back at the evolution of the vacuum tube from 1883 to 1950.Searching for information on Ford's WWI (call letters) radio station (not World War 1) I came across this http://books.google.com/books?id=_6...resnum=10&ved=0CDoQ6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q&f=falseSee Chapters 8, 9, and 10. It is a very interesting discussion of early radio. Eugene Donovan and William Gassett were fathers of classmates of mine, and Charlie Thomas was head of the department I worked in for a couple semesters and a summer. Gassett left Ford to serve in the Navy, and returned to Ford after the war. Two individuals in the group had been operators of WWI and sometimes played music on an acoustic record player into the microphone of the transmitter. They did not have electrical pickups. The three antenna towers were not torn down at the beginning of the war as stated but later, maybe into the 1950s. The radio station building still exists..
Transistor History- The author discovered a copy of "The Road to the Transistor" and believes it to be an accurate account of the history of the transistor.- The author built a point contact transistor in 1952 that still exists in their office.- The author notes the significant improvements in repeatability, quality, and functionality of semiconductor products today compared to the early days of point contact transistors.- They also discuss the evolution of the vacuum tube from 1883 to 1950.
Ford's WWI Radio Station- The author came across a book with information on Ford's WWI radio station (not World War 1).- The book contains chapters on the early days of radio, including discussions of individuals who were related to the author's classmates and colleagues.- The author notes that two individuals who operated the radio station during WWI played music into the microphone using an acoustic record player.- The three antenna towers were not torn down at the beginning of the war but later, possibly in the 1950s.- The radio station building still exists. Flag for review