Polymath wrote:

About 40 years ago, I recall as a teenager borrowing
a book from the local library that described how to
make your own transistor radio, including the manufacture
of the transistors themselves by point-contact
techniques. ISTR that it was published in Yankland.

Does anyone here remember this book?



Don't remember the book but I do remember instructions for taking a 1N23
or two
(many available as surplus) and opening one and adding another point
contact.
The extra point contact could be obtained from the second 1N23. At that time
the 1N23 was filled with wax so opening one up was doable.

Good luck
Bill K7NOM.