During the same year the first germanium transistrons manufactured in France, left the Laboratories. In French we could call this device "transistance" which is the literal translation of the American term "transistor. A page dedicated to the Transistron, the first French transistor, has been established here on this site. Readers should also follow the Radio Museum thread dedicated to this subject.
The forum moderated and encouraged by Christian Adam on Radiomuseum. Jean-Marie Birsinger has provided the author innumerable relevant copies of the popular electronics journal of the day, Toute la Radio and other similar publications.
Since beginning this article I found that Christian Adam was writing several articles on the history of French transistors and we agreed to collaborate by pooling information. Collaboration has enriched both endeavours. I am indebted to him for providing additional references and information. The purpose of this history is to provide new information for English readers regarding the development of transistors in France. The story of the first French transistor, the Transistron is well told in English.
The Radio Museum provides comprehensive information on tubes, transistors and receivers and is worth joining to obtain maximum benefits from its database.
Useful additional resources have been posted on this site to supplement those available at Radiomuseum. Both organizations carefully orchestrated their publicity and secured newspaper and electronic press coverage. Both exhibited applications for the new devices: in the case of SRCT an in-line telephone repeater, a three transistron AF amplifier, a four transistron telephone repeater, a m transmitter and a six transistron receiver that could drive a loud speaker shown here.
