http://www.geofex.com/article_folders/fuzzface/fffram.htmIf you go to the link above there is an outline for a very simple DC tester that will give you both gain and leakage for the transistor. This is the method most people use for testing their Ge's because it is so simple and only really requires a DMM and a few resistors. That article also states some very general guidelines for picking the transistors based on what you find. I can generally use anything with gains of 50 and above. I've used devices with up to 700uA of leakage. Right, leakage is the unwanted current flow from collector to emitter which we usually measure with no voltage across the base-emitter junction.
Let us know what you come up with! I always love coming up on untouched or unappreciated batches of transistors like this. $3.50 is definitely not surplus pricing though; you may be able to get a deal for buying bulk which would be nice.
