Well, turns out I'm getting some unexpected readings. (Although I haven't had much experience with germaniums)
When plugged into the HFE reader on my meter, set for PNP, they both slowly rise before settling in on an HFE reading.
One settled in at about 200, the other 500.
Much higher than I was expecting.
My silicone NPNs don't behave this way, they settle in quickly.
For comparison, using the NPN setting, a 2n5088 read around 350, MPSA18 and 2N5089 about 550/575.
The NTE158s are probably 20 years old, maybe they were never good to begin with and that's why they ended up in the junk box
1978 Gibson Les Paul Standard, Cherry Sunburst