Product Overview
NOS 2N2048 PNP Germanium Switching Transistor - TO-18 Metal Can, Gold Leads, 15V 0.1A
Condition
Unused NOS. Evaluation: Visual inspection only. Function testing not performed. TO-18 metal can body with silver finish; markings on cylindrical surface consistent with 2N2048 identity; three gold-plated leads straight, clean, and free of corrosion or damage. Sourced from legacy electronics supply chains.
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Product Overview
Westran (Western Transistor) 2N2048 - a PNP germanium small-signal switching transistor in a TO-18 metal can package with three gold-plated leads. Rated 15V collector-emitter, 100mA collector current, 150mW power dissipation. Germanium construction gives this transistor the lower forward voltage drop and distinct leakage characteristics that define vintage analog circuit behavior - properties silicon substitutes do not replicate without circuit modification.
Key Features
- Type: PNP Germanium Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT)
- Collector-Emitter Voltage (Vce): 15V
- Collector Current (Ic): 0.1A (100mA)
- Power Dissipation: 0.15W (150mW)
- Package: TO-18 metal can
- Leads: Three gold-plated, straight, undamaged
- Manufacturer: Westran / Western Transistor (WT marking)
- Condition: Unused NOS from legacy supply chain recovery
Applications
- Replacing a failed 2N2048 in a vintage radio, amplifier, or test instrument where germanium characteristics are required for authentic circuit behavior
- Building or repairing a germanium fuzz pedal - measure gain (hFE) and leakage (ICEO) with a transistor tester before installing to dial in the tone a silicon part cannot deliver
- Restoring vintage computing or instrumentation hardware where the original PNP germanium device must be matched to preserve circuit operating points
- Experimenting with low-voltage analog switching circuits where the lower saturation voltage of germanium is an advantage over silicon
- Makers and hobbyists exploring vintage transistor circuit designs - oscillators, preamplifiers, and small-signal switching stages from the germanium era
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this a genuine germanium transistor, or a silicon substitute?
Genuine germanium. The 2N2048 is a PNP germanium BJT - not silicon. Germanium construction is the reason buyers seek this specific part number for vintage repair and audio applications where silicon substitutes alter circuit behavior.
What is the package type and lead configuration?
TO-18 metal can with three gold-plated leads. Leads are straight and undamaged on the specific unit being sold.
Will this work in a Fuzz Face or similar germanium pedal circuit?
The 2N2048 is a PNP germanium transistor with the voltage and current ratings consistent with classic germanium fuzz circuits. For pedal builds where gain and leakage values are critical to tone, measure hFE and ICEO with a transistor tester before installation - those parameters vary unit to unit and matter for this application.
Is this compatible with circuits designed for NPN transistors?
No. As a PNP device, the 2N2048 requires reversed polarity relative to NPN circuits. It is a direct replacement only in PNP germanium positions. Circuit modification is required to substitute it into an NPN design.
What does the WT marking indicate?
WT identifies Westran, also known as Western Transistor - the manufacturer of this specific unit.
Germanium transistors from this era never got a graceful retirement - they just got pulled and boxed when silicon took over. This one made it through. Whether it goes into a restoration bench or a fuzz pedal build, the circuit on the other end gets the real thing.
