germanium diode

[Andy Le Blanc]

Any one got a source for general germanium diodes?

like the old radio shack ones, looking for an ammo pack.

[Cliff Schecht]

Yeah, I can probably get you quite a few. Any particular model you are looking for? They may not be 1N34's (I'm low on these myself) but they'll most definitely be old and germanium!

[Andy Le Blanc]

I tried to say general purpose....

Prv around 100v

1n270, 1n272, quite literally the rat shack ones ,1n60?

no need to be matched, playing with clippers, after a couple tube gain stages.

Looks like there only a couple chinese manufactures and the min. is 10,000.
tubes and more has them but the price is up there.

[Cliff Schecht]

It'll be Monday before I know what I can get but depending on how many you want, they will be cheap or free. How many were you looking for? Enough to get into some trouble I assume ..

[Andy Le Blanc]

sounds good....

as few as a dozen, up to 1000.... I'm a little surprised they're hard to find.
seems like it wasn't that long ago they were in all the teaching and basic
electronic kits, but I grew up never imagining there would be anything beyond
LP's and radio.

[Cliff Schecht]

I'll see what I can scrounge up. I don't think anybody is making real straight-germanium transistors anymore and I doubt the high speed SiGe diodes will sound very good, and I think they are still forbiddingly expensive anyways. The prices on Fleabay vary from about $0.25 a diode to over $1 a diode which is absolutely ridiculous for a penny part IMO!

[Wayne]

Here, too, but the price is rediculous

http://ca.mouser.com/ProductDetail/NTE/ ... oI9xxFM%3d

W

[Sonny ReVerb]

I would buy them here: http://www.futurlec.com/DiodesGen.shtml#General

They're a nickel apiece and shipping is reasonable. I've ordered from them many times. Shipping can be slow, but the price is right. Not quite American, tho...

[Andy Le Blanc]

those nte are $ 1.80 at allied

5 cents is getting there cheapest I've seen so far. Thank you.

still would like to find an ammo box or reel

those germanium based devices do have a sound even in a basic clipper circuit.

[Wayne]

I have a grand total of 1 Ge transistor that I inherited in a box of junk. I plan on doing something with it some day to further investigate that unique sound.

I'm a bit surprised at your trouble finding diodes. Not that many years ago, I remember buying them at Radio Shack like many others here do. I assumed they would still be a common item. If you can find them, maybe you should buy a reel, or a few reels, to ensure future supply.

W

[Andy Le Blanc]

The same thoughts have crossed my mind, They're still made in china
but the min. quote is 10,000. Those are the ones at tubes and more
probably purchased at half a cent bulk then sold in N America at market value
$1.80 each.

[Andy Le Blanc]

I found a selection here;

www.americanmicrosemi.com/OnlineStore/Diodes/gsd/gd/

crazy $ on some....

[Wayne]

But for others, like the 1N34A and the 1N60, prices seem quite reasonable.

When I first got involved in ham radio, I needed a couple of Ge diodes for something. I got them from an older local guy - he had bought a 1 lb bag years ago at a surplus place for a buck. I wonder if he realizes he's sitting on a fortune?

W

[Structo]

Hmmmm, I see they have quite a few Germanium transistors as well.
Some of those are crazy expensive.

There are even counterfeit Ge transistors going around now.

$10 ea?!

http://store.americanmicrosemiconductor.com/2n293.html

[Andy Le Blanc]

here's another

www.batescomponents.com/index.html

A bit more serious. Minimum order is $300

I can find them in china, but jeeez....
such a basic component.