The term "solid state" is used to describe
the circuitry, "solid state" as opposed to "tubes". In the days of
tube technology (1920's - 1970's), no term was use to identify the
circuitry because tubes was all there was. During the mid 50's,
transistor radios first hit the market. Many were in the in the form of small "shirt
pocket" transistor radios, by the mid 60's transistors were being
incorporated in all types of electronic devices (TV's, stereo's and
so on) but tubes were also still being used.
There were some TV's & radios that used
both, these were called "hybrids". Not only were there transistors
but later; "integrated circuits" (a so-called chip with
many components and transistors in one package) and later still; "large scale
integrated" circuits.
A transistor (much smaller and produced far less heat
than a tube) will usually do the work of a tube, an integrated
circuit can contain 100's even 1000's of transistors. A large scale
integrated circuit can contain millions of transistors on a single
chip no bigger that the tip of your small finger.
So first there was "TUBES" (later referred
to as "hollow state" but no devises have this term labeled on them),
then transistors (all early products using transistors had labels of "Transistorized"
proudly placed in a prominent place),
then when "Integrated Circuits" came along, the term "Solid
state" was coined.
More info on tubes, manuals, tube
testers etc:
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