Offered for sale is a Texas Instruments NPN Silicon Transistor, 2N338, from 1959. TI was a major manufacturer of transistors in the 1950s and an innovator in the development of silicon transistors (vs. germanium) especially for military and aerospace uses. Silicon transistors virtually replaced germanium transistors by the early 1960s. The 33x series transistors from TI were used in the early space program and in particular the circuits for America's first satellite, Explorer 1, launched in 1958. So 33x transistors are historic devices.
This transistor is New Old Stock (NOS), never used, and in its original "matchbook" style packaging. It is painted black and has the RETMA number 2N338 and a date code of 923 (1959, 23rd week) printed on it in grey ink. It has the TI logo printed on the top of the can. The leads are the more rare and collectable gold plated steel. The transistor and package are in excellent shape. I have not tested the unit and it is not guaranteed to be a working device, sold as a collectable only.The package has a small ink stamp of some type on the lower left front corner. It looks like it is perhaps the letter "N" in a box with the number "4" under it, and the faint impression of an eagle next to it. see photo.Here is a chance to own a mint condition sample of this historic TI transistor. If you are going to collect one of these, invest the extra funds to get a vintage unit with original packaging; it's worth it, and you will not likely see it at a lower cost anywhere.