Tin whiskers and other packaging problems

[Pat Pending]

As far as I can remember the original package used tinned Kovar??? leads which were thin and stiff

Thanks for your post Jim. The worst thing about kovar is that it work hardens, bend the 
lead more than once and it will likely facture. As for standardising transistors I said before in this topic the (ELEKTOR magazine) "tup & tun" system should have been adopted by manufacturers. Regards. Andy.