Vintage Western Electric B828317,Issue 1, Ser No 00031,Geranium Transistors 1958 For Sale

Vintage late-1950s printed-circuit module, about 7.25 × 1.5 inches. Red board with gold-plated traces, pads, and edge fingers. Black edge connector on one end. Marked B828317, ISSUE 1, serial 0031.

Component side includes:

• Western Electric F-51618 NPN germanium alloy-junction transistor, date code 10-58 (October 1958). These were Bell Labs / Western Electric devices associated with late-1950s development work toward the No. 1 Electronic Switching System (1ESS).

• Western Electric can marked F.53094 and WE 820.

• Daystrom Pacific MOD 301-00 subminiature wire-wound Squaretrim potentiometer.

• Handwritten sticker (looks like “10 reg ?”).

Reverse side has axial capacitors and resistors, a small yellow inductor or transformer, and a black mounting plate with a hex nut. All electrical connections are gold plated.

This is a small discrete analog module (amplifier, oscillator, regulator, or similar), not a later digital logic card. Exact circuit function of assembly B828317 is not documented in public catalogs. Sold as an untested historical piece. No schematic, no power-up test, and no guarantee of operation. Cosmetic wear, oxidation on some solder joints, and age-related marks are present, consistent with a nearly 70-year-old board. See photos.

Interested collectors: Bell System / Western Electric, telephone switching, early germanium transistors, Daystrom, or gold-plated vintage modules.

Item specifics (suggested)

• Brand: Western Electric

• Model: B828317 Issue 1

• Serial: 0031

• Type: Circuit board / module

• Country/Region of Manufacture: United States

• Year: 1958 (component date code)

• Features: Gold-plated traces and edge fingers, germanium transistors

Ships in a rigid box secured so the cans and edge connector are not crushed. Please ask questions before buying; returns not accepted on untested vintage electronics unless the item is not as described.