The suggestion that a "crystal combination... can probably also amplify" which "will quickly relegate valve..." was made by W. T. Ditcham in the Wireless World of May 15, 1920. An excellent reading list covering early solid-state is given in Early Transistors Bibliography by Andrew Wylie. For another insight into the 1950s' developments, there's an interview with Paul Penfield Jr. Another 'journalistic' view is given by The Versatile Midgets - TIME. The first solid-state hi-fi component was the Fisher TR-1 phono and microphone preamp. Steve Reyers' excellent page on the first commercial transistor radio, the Regency TR-1 is interesting also.

A good source for datasheets can be found here, less obsolete types, and for those daunted by math, the liberty has been taken to create a zipped Excel file that includes useful conversions and formulae, which can be found here. Any functional errors, as with those in these pages and any correspondence, are entirely mine as I am human too.

All the designs featured have been built and tested, if not by the author, then by others whose experience is attested. This has been a very interesting but, by necessity, specialist project ('audiophools' beware) that has grown beyond expectation (some 8 years later to 6 floppies with 674 files, some 608 of these being gifs, and 69 web pages - more than 500 printed ones) as the first index page shows. A zip-file of all the above is available for those who require no banner ads, glitches or faster access to the files offered.

The feedback has been excellent and I am grateful for it. If any philosophical point can be raised by the exercise it is probably that there is more than one way of achieving the same goal, the simplest and most succinct solutions usually being the most successful, as there is with other subjects and most of life. The sheer diversity of means by which it is possible to fulfill a function, each with its' own attendant miriads of details, impresses.

In keeping with the original concept, some designs suggested for inclusion have been omitted since it was felt that sufficient online resource already existed that in effect would have been duplicated, although it has been noted that when and where there was previously little (or none at all), now a resurgence in interest and additional material is evident. On a personal level, it has been satisfying and encouraging to see the hundreds of links that have been made to these pages and the many e-mails (estimated 100:1 visitor / e-mail). If it has been at all possible to encourage others to 'spread the wealth' by providing a much needed source for particular information that couldn't be found elsewhere, or to have shone some kind of light into a previously dark corner then I will have achieved what I intended to do when I first dipped my toe into the 'interweb' in the mid '90s. A newer and excellent site has been set up by some techs and is well worth a visit. Thank you all, especially to Peter Edwards who planted the original seed. Is there another area I should cover?

© Copyright Notice. These articles, including but not limited to all text, images and diagrams, are the intellectual property of Paul Kemble, and is Copyright © 1996. Reproduction or re-publication by any means whatsoever, whether electronic, mechanical or electro-mechanical, is strictly prohibited under International Copyright laws. The author (Paul Kemble) grants the reader the right to use this information for personal use only, and further allows that one (1) copy may be made for reference while constructing any project described. Commercial use is prohibited without express written authorisation from Paul Kemble.

Contact me at paulkemble@hotmail.com
especially if you want additional content to this page
or if you find any links that don't work. Don't forget
to add the page title or URL. Take care!

home