-=> Roy J. Tellason said to Greg Mayman
 -=> about "*BIG* TRANSISTORS" on 01-22-04  04:07.....

 RJT> I can still remember the first radio *I* built,  used a 2N107 or
 RJT> somesuch.  On a board,  which I'd painted blue...

On a board... hmmm... I seem to remember a system of using brass
nails driven into a board and the components soldered to them.

I have a radio, vintage about 1960, that has all the minor
components soldered onto insulated pins pressed through a metal
panel. The major components, tuning gang, coils, IF and audio
transformers are bolted to the panel in the old way.

A total of 5 transistors in the whole thing, and it still works,
although the 9 volt battery it was designed for has long
disappeared from the market!

 RJT> I guess.  But these days I'm satisfied with a lot more modest
 RJT> operation of things than I would have been years ago.  A few watts of
 RJT> audio power is more than enough for me.  :-)

15 watts was *B*I*G* power for transistor amplifiers in the era I
was talking about.

OTOH I found that a 500mW output stage in a portable radio would
make a surprising amount of sound, and quite reasonable quality,
when fed into a decent loudspeaker.

From Greg Mayman, in beautiful Adelaide, South Australia
   "Queen City of The South"    34:55 S  138:36 E

... LOSE WEIGHT: This appliance will reduce your hips, or bust.
___ Blue Wave/386 v2.30

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