Seventy-five years ago this month, the November 1946 issue of QST carried this ad from Sylvania for the venerable 1N34 diode, which had only recently hit the market. Because of the low cost of the device, practically all postwar crystal sets relied upon one of these, rather than the old-fashioned cat’s whisker and chunk of galena. (The latter, however, has the advantage of being able to make at home.)

The ad also contained something called the 1N35, which was simply two matched diodes (probably 1N34’s) mounted together on a metal bracket.

For those wishing to source this part today, they are readily available, as shown by our crystal set parts page.