INTRODUCTION TO THE TRANSISTOR ENIGMA
by Dr. Robert Adams, New Zealand (December 2000).

This is a narrative of some gravity pertaining to an important scientific matter which, due to history misrecording information, and people refuting certain innovative claims, has resulted in serious dilemma and subsequent contention to this day.

The story/narrative begins in 1947/48, but also relates back to the early 1920s. One of the most serious factors I highlight in the beginning is that of the massive difference between some people, working together in a mutual environment, who obviously set out to invent some kind of "pseudo" device and in so doing during their experimental work "stumble" on a certain discovery that suddenly makes it work and claim it to be an "invention" per se (which it is not) and those other people who actually do "invent" a device that is specifically "conceived" by the mind in the first instance to work! Revelations, in relation to misinformation, and investigative research into the "true" history of the transistor will unfold and come into focus here and, because of its significance in the field of electrical science, will, without doubt, create an unparalleled dimension of interest in the minds of electrical engineering scientists worldwide.

It is also a story of intrigue, ignominy, professional jealousy, ambitious claims of extra-terrestrial involvement and more.

The story surrounds the mighty crystal and a claim/s by a group of people involved in a laboratory in 1947 for the purpose of "inventing" a "transistor"?? Never mind the fact that the very word "transistor" itself had not yet been born! Crazy? I think so.

I refer to an international authority on electronic terminology, one Ralph Stranger who authored the 'Dictionary of Radio and Television Terms' U. K., 1941 and also 'The Outline of Wireless' U. K., 1932-37. I also refer to 'Practical Radio Communication' by Nilson and Hornung, U. K. 1943; 'Receiver Circuitry and Operation' by Alfred A. Ghiradi, USA, 1951/56 and 'The Modern Electrical Engineer' by Caxton, U. K., 1927-51.

The term "transistor" does not exist in any one of the above authoritative references. Therefore the foregoing provides more than enough evidence that even the word "transistor" had, itself, not yet evolved into the language providing yet again copious evidence to shatter the entire recorded history of the device. Yet again there are other factors in this story which will come into focus and reinforce the above stated evidence.

Further references are (which do quote the term 'transistor'):

Britannica Encyclopedia 1973:
(Nobel Prize awarded William Shockley, Dr. Bardeen and Dr. Brattain collectively 1956 UK). No other comments or credits.

Encyclopedia of Electronics 1962, USA:
Charles Susskind, University of California. page 881 - "The junction transistor was invented in 1948 by Shockley from a theoretical consideration of the electronic process taking place at a PN junction in semiconductors". Note: (From a 'theoretical consideration') No mention of Nobel Prize.

McMillan Encyclopedia 1983 - 1996 USA:
TRANSISTORS - "They were first developed in 1948 by Shockley and his co-workers at Bell Telephone Laboratories USA." Note: ('Developed' by, not 'invented' by). No further credits; no mention of Nobel Prize.

D. Van Nostrand SCientific Encyclopedia, Canada, 1947 and 1958:
Section/chapter on transistors is extensively covered including many descriptive drawings of physical structures and circuits. No mention of the history or of any credits.

Funk and Wagnalls Encyclopedia 1973, page 8617, Book No. 23:
"The transistor was developed at Bell Laboratories by the American physicists William Shockley, Walter Brattain, John Bardeen. Shockley is noted as the initiator and director of the research program in semi-conducting materials which led to the discovery of this group of devices; his associates Brattain and Bardeen are credited with the invention of an important type of transistor." No mention of Nobel Prize.