A few years back, sometime between 2015 and now, an article or comment to a similarly related article was posted on HN that showed a rejected transistor prototype. If memory serves me correctly someone commented that they new the man who built a non-silicon based transistor (ceramic I believe?) that was one of two finalists that the US Gov (or some dept) was testing as the "standard" for transistor production back in the very early days of silicon transistor research and development. The comment linked to a page with pictures and details about the "rejected" transistor. It was very neat and informative.

I should've saved it in my favorites, and have searched for many times over the years to no avail.

If anyone remembers this comment or article please share it with me.