I've been playing around with the 2N5109 substitute NTE278. Solid State Inc is selling the 2N2219s via Digikey Marketplace for .50 each in 10 packs. They're a bit proud of shipping, but still. I got the Ebay transistors as a "while you were at it" item because I was getting some other parts from a seller so I got free shipping.
The NTE224s are available for .21 each and are rated as a 10W part. They were CB finals, the catch is you have to buy 50! I ordered a lot, curious to see what they do.
I think a lot of it is we are having to go to secondary manufacturers of these parts since companies like Motorola, Toshiba etc. have consolidated the lines. Solid State Inc. seems a lot along the lines of NTE, producing or having produced parts that are now more obscure and substitutes for other parts.
