Alibaba RFP for tubes?

Aniraf

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Donor 2016-2017
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Is it completely stupid to attempt to find a CRT manufacturer to reproduce some of the classic tubes we all have? Has anyone ever tried to create an RFP on Alibaba, or subsequent site?

I can't help but think that there is someone out there who would make 100-1000 brand new tubes, should you hit the right price/unit. Maybe I'm a dreamer, but I know there are companies still producing CRTs.

What would you pay for a brand new, never used tube? I would think that there are enough classic collectors to make an RFP with one of these companies worth while.

Anyway, I wanted to know if anyone had ever tried this.
 
If I recall correctly, I am pretty certain nobody is manufacturing CRT tubes anymore, but I could be wrong. But still, there are hundreds of thousands of suitable donor TVs out there if you keep looking, most of them free nowadays.
 
I feel like the donors are a myth! I've never seen one of these tubes, and I've been casually looking for six years or so. Maybe I'm not doing it right.

Also, I'm certain that someone in China is making CRTs. Someone in China is making everything that has ever been made! :)
 
there are some threads on here about suppliers of crt's that i have seen over the years but not sure who started it but some searching i am sure will pop something up or maybe someone seeing this will remember the thread details.
 
That would be interesting. I'm really out of the loop as far as CRTs go, and Google searches turn up nothing but worthless matches.

If someone sees this, and knows how to get non-burned tubes, I'd love to chat.
 
I thought only Sony CRTs contained lead. Furthermore, I don't know that lead is anything illegal or controlled. I mean, I have tons of solder to prove that :).

I wouldn't be surprised if you told me that they are no longer "allowed" to be manufactured. There were quite a few unsafe manufacturing processes from that time period.

To touch on what TheDrewster said, I almost feel like there should be a landfill with 50 perfectly find MGA/Mitsubushi CS-1902Us sitting near where I live. I can't quite understand why I've never seen one of these considering they were so extremely popular.
 
This has been discussed before mainly as there are those of us wishing for various VECTOR tubes to be reproduced - i.e. for K6100 and AMPs.

For RASTER, there are still many options available. And thus, no incentive to make new CRTs (even if that was possible).

As I see it, there are many sizes, impedances and other specs for CRTs. If you want to reproduce only one, then it won't be compatible with what "everyone needs". Ideally, a universal solution is required that adapts itself to various "available" tubes etc.

Some interesting links ->

http://ionpool.net/arcade/tech/CRT_Cross_Reference_Chart.pdf

http://www.crtsolutions.com/
http://www.videodisplay.com/
http://vdc.mybisi.com/products/monitor-crt
http://www.cathoderaytubes.com/index.html
http://www.cathoderaytubes.com/html/catalog_list.html
 
OMG! These LINKS are amazing!! Google FAILS hard on this!

I think creating an "omni-tube" would be amazing, but I fear that these games may have had very specific logic to address refresh rates, etc. I certainly don't know enough about CRTs to have a good suggestion on how to create a single tube to replace everything.
 
Come up with the answer to your question of finding a Chinese supplier at a reasonable price and become immortalized amongst the arcade crowd. Many have tried and failed but perhaps you'll have better luck.

Sent from my Pixel XXXL
 
$300 is tough pill to swallow when you can find TVs at yard sales for $5, and until recently goodwill for $1 -

either way you will still need to get a chassis for it - which is another $100 - $150
 
lol...I said it was the wrong tube!

I think I would gladly pay $300 for a perfect non-burned G07.
 
Ouch! OK, then I'll continue my search for MGA/Mitsubishi CS-1902Us :). There are probably 100s of them trashed every day, and I can't even find one!
 
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