 PSI Pacific Semiconductors Memorabilia Company: Pacific Semiconductors, Inc. (PSI) Based: Lawndale, CA. Founded: 1954 (became TRW Semiconductor Division in 1965) Founders: Simon Ramo & Dean Wooldridge (Ramo-Woolridge Corp.) & Harper North Specialty: Semiconductor & Electronics component developer & manufacturer for advanced military & space applications including silicon diffused-junction high-speed computer diodes, "Varicap" voltage-variable capacitors, power transistors, & high-voltage rectifiers for commercial computers and television equipment. Invented TTL circuit technology. |
Simon Ramo & Dean Woolridge, Time magazine (1957)
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Pacific Semiconductors (PSI) Military / Aerospace Semiconductor Components
(early 1960s)
One of our visitors sent us images of this unique item. It is filled with transistors, silicon wafers & various other solid state, gold-plated, military grade electronic components. Included are power transistors and other components from Pacific Semiconductors, Inc. (PSI) of Culver City CA.
Pacific Semiconductors was formed in 1954 by the Ramo-Wooldridge Corp. under the direction of Harper North (previous head of Hughes Electronics). Their specialty was glass encapsulated junction diodes, voltage variable capacitors, high voltage rectifiers, and high frequency power transistors.
In the late 1950's to early 1960's Pacific Semiconductors supplied computer diodes and other high-reliability electronic components to the U.S. ARMY for military projects including the U.S. Minuteman missile program.
In 1965, PSI would become TRW Semiconductor.
"My late uncle worked in the electronics in the Los Angeles area from the 1950's to his retirement in the 1970's.
I remember him showing cufflinks and a tie clip that he told me we made from the chips used in the first air to air heat seeking missiles.
The cuff links and tie clip went missing but I was given a rather large half cylinder Lucite casting with at least 70 separate electronics components embedded in it. I have attached photo's showing the company which looks familiar but I can't ID it and the other showing the Lucite piece itself.
Was hoping you could help identify the company and the history of the Lucite piece (I think it's too large to call it a paperweight)."
Pacific Semiconductors product ad with various types of transistors (1960)