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** You have never revealed the transistor's number.The OP describes it as being a "TO8 in a tin can" which makes no sense.
A CRO sweep amplifier is not a small signal circuit, it is large signal.
Maybe you meant a TO5 round metal pak like this ?
The case would glow in the dark at 10 watts.
FYI:
I've seen hundreds like the above with shorted C-E - due to over current, over voltage or over temp.
Ones with low C-E resistance got lucky and were just cooked a bit.
Doped silicon is wacky stuff.
Few texts describe all or even any the failure modes.
..... Phil