PreservedUpdated 10/24/2025
Bell Labs Point-Contact Transistor Prototype
Made by Bell Telephone Laboratories1948New Jersey, United States
An early point-contact transistor of the type developed at Bell Telephone Laboratories in late 1947–1948 by Bardeen, Brattain, and Shockley's group. Devices of this form inaugurated the semiconductor era. This example is attributed to the laboratory's internal replication program and was retained by a member of the technical staff.
Provenance
1948
Fabricated at Bell Telephone Laboratories, Murray Hill
attributed
1956
Retained by technical staff member at retirement
owner supplied
2003
Acquired by current collector
documented
2026
Digitally preserved in Relic
confirmed
Current Custodian
New England, United States
Access Matrix
- Digital viewingpublic
- Additional photographsby request
- Remote video inspectionby request
- Research visitowner approval
- Temporary research loannot permitted
- Museum exhibition loancase by_case
- Scientific samplingnot permitted
- Commercial licensingcontact owner
Record Metadata
CategoryScientific Instruments
MaterialsGermanium crystal, gold foil, polystyrene wedge, wire leads
Dimensions2.4 × 1.6 × 1.1 cm
ConditionFragile; leads intact, display-mounted
Digital Record
24 high-res images (8,192 × 6,144)
3D Mesh / Photogrammetry
Precise digital measurements
Doc. Score: 79/100Scanned 8/30/2026
Cite this object
Relic Archive. (1948). Bell Labs Point-Contact Transistor Prototype [Object record]. Relic Object RL-1948-000011.