Transistors

[Craig]

Transistors are as cheap as chips (ha ha) now. Looking at PW in 1970 a typical transistor (like a silicon BC109 or a germanium like an OC71) were about five bob each - which is about £3.80 each today. I'm pretty sure that is why the Quad 33 preamp, released in 1968, only had six (BC109) transistors per channel.

Compare that to Jeffrey's BC548 at 4p each in 200 off (so £8 for 200). An effective price reduction of 100 fold as compared with 1970.