Product Overview
Philco 2N2280 Vintage Germanium PNP Transistor - TO-5 Metal Can, Gold Leads, NOS
Condition
Unused NOS. TO-5 metal can body with long gold-plated leads intact and unclipped. Markings legible: 2N2280 on metal cap crown. Red dot visible on some units. I'm calling this a Philco since it resembles one, but I can't spot a logo to be sure either way.
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Product Overview
Philco 2N2280 - germanium PNP switching transistor in a hermetically sealed TO-5 metal can. Built using Philco's MADT (Micro-Alloy Diffused-base Transistor) or alloy-junction process, this is a 3-lead discrete component rated at 30V collector-base voltage and 100mA collector current. Gold-plated leads are long and unclipped, ready for hand installation or socketing. Photos show the specific units you will receive.
Key Features
- Germanium PNP bipolar junction transistor (BJT)
- Maximum collector-base voltage (VCBO): 30V
- Maximum collector current (IC): 100mA
- Package: TO-5 / TO-39 hermetically sealed metal can
- 3-lead configuration
- Long gold-plated leads, unclipped
- Manufactured using Philco MADT or alloy-junction process
Applications
- Desoldering a failed transistor from a vintage 1950s-60s computer board and dropping in a matching germanium part to restore original circuit behavior - no silicon substitution compromises
- Replacing a failed switching transistor in legacy aerospace telemetry or military communications gear where germanium characteristics are baked into the original circuit design
- Restoring a vintage HF transceiver or shortwave receiver to factory-spec performance using the correct germanium device
- Building or restoring a germanium fuzz or overdrive pedal where the lower forward voltage and soft knee of a PNP germanium transistor defines the tone
- Breadboarding low-voltage PNP switching circuits for retro computing projects or vintage electronics experiments
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this a silicon or germanium transistor, and does that matter for my circuit?
Germanium. It matters significantly. Germanium transistors have a lower base-emitter forward voltage and higher leakage current than silicon devices. Circuits originally designed around germanium - especially vintage computers, early aerospace electronics, and germanium fuzz pedals - rely on these characteristics. A silicon substitute can alter performance in ways that range from subtle to circuit-breaking. If your application was designed for a germanium PNP, this is the correct device type.
What is the pin configuration for the TO-5 package?
The TO-5 is a 3-lead round metal can. Lead assignment (emitter, base, collector) follows the JEDEC TO-5 standard for the 2N2280. Confirm the pinout against a period datasheet or reference for your specific application before installation.
Can this substitute for other PNP germanium transistors like the 2N404 or 2N1303?
Cross-substitution between germanium PNP types depends on matching VCBO, IC, and leakage characteristics for the specific circuit. The 2N2280 is rated 30V VCBO and 100mA IC. Whether it substitutes for another part number depends on your circuit's requirements - confirm the ratings align before installing.
Is a datasheet available for the 2N2280?
No datasheet is included with this part. The 2N2280 is a JEDEC-registered part number and period documentation may be findable through transistor history archives and vintage component databases.
A Philco germanium transistor with unclipped gold leads and the original markings still crisp - this is the kind of part that sits in a vintage machine's circuit board for decades and finally gets a second chance. Put it where it belongs.
