24) The Stars were "Transistor Girls"
Photo A: Working scene of packaging process in the Toshiba transistor factory
Photo B: Surface polishing process of germanium wafers
Photo C: Inspection of wafers
Photo D: Quality check of indium dots for an impurity diffusion source
Lee O-young, Korean critic and novelist named "Transistor
Culture" about the propensity of Japanese people to admire miniaturized
products.
The transistor fabrication was supported by young female workers, so-called
"Transistor Girls." Photo A shows working scene of a packaging process
in the Toshiba transistor factory. Female workers seating in a school style
are inspecting fabricated transistors in orderly manner. Their hardworking
attitude as well as skillful and careful manual work played a major role in
bringing Japanese semiconductor industry up to the forefront in the world
industry.
Indeed, eleven companies in Japan already started the production of transistors
in 1959 when the photo was taken. Number of transistors fabricated in this
year reached 86.5 million. The number exceeded that of the US, and Japan became
"Great Transistor Nation," even though it was only for one year.
All other photos presented here also show working scenes in the factory. Only
female workers can be seen here. Photo B shows surface polishing process of
germanium wafers. Photo C shows a worker inspecting quality of wafers. Photo
D shows a quality check work of indium dots for an impurity diffusion source.
(Photo: by courtesy of Toshiba Corporation)