I was looking through some really old Analog Dialogue editions found here http://www.analog.com/library/analogdialogue/archives.html#vol1 In Volume 1, Number 3 I found this golden nugget. It is amazing what you could get for 25$ back in those days. I will never complain about high prices at my local component pusher any more

 

You should have seen the op-amp my elmer showed me! He made it when he was attending college (66 years ago?) and it's gargantuan beyond measure; probably 1' by 2'! He asked me if I wanted it; but I can get an op-amp 1/16th the size and 100 times more efficient! In other words, I told him I didn't need it, but thanks anyway.

Austin

 

Imagine what one of Mr. Philbrick's op amps would cost to make today - http://www.philbrickarchive.org/app...l_plug-in_computing_amplifiers_1956to1961.htm

 

Put that 66 year old OP AMP in a museum, but first, post a picture in this thread.