[Boatanchors] Re Galena Vs Germanium

[J. Forster]

Certainly Galena was used pre-WW II. In the 50s, when cheap Ge diodes became
available, they replaced the Galena, except when Galena was used for nostalgic
purposes. I am not aware that a naked chunk of Ge was ever widely used. Si is a poor
choice, since it's forward drop is much higher than Ge. Nowdays, Schottkey junction
diodes are a better choice.

-John

> Does anyone know when the crystals used in early sets, Galena I think, were
> changed over to Germanium? I know that Germanium was used in a diode, later
> Silicon, but was Germanium used as a crystal with cat whisker prior to that?
>
> I am quite sure what I used in the early sixties was a piece of Germanium with a
> cat whisker, even though the diode may have been available then.
>
> Thank you.
>
> R.Alan Miller