|
Bryan- You made a sacrifice and chose your worst tube. Since it was gassy, there would also be the chance that it was going to air. And it would have been a poorer candidate for rebuilding if and when we may ever see that occur. I am a preservationist at heart but you chose wisely, Grasshopper!
You have also provided a valuable lesson to us by sharing what can happen even to a tube that is at atmosphere. As I have mentioned elsewhere I have a Zenith labled RCA coded 21FJ that has the dreaded PVA cateract and the heat method while having been successful (at times) is no doubt stressful on a tube under vacuum and a little more dangerous than I like. This has been a good thread!
On another note, except for the point of originality I wonder if it's really necessary to reinstall the safety glass face. Even though I'd prefer it, I do have a local jobber (in the day) rebuilt 21FJ that was supplied without the safety glass face, back in the early eighties that I purchased. Some rebuilders seemed to have stood behind that decision as well as claiming how much better the picture would look. Granted, the sharpness, contrast as well as the color look outstanding. The tube is in its second installation.
And think of it this way, a 21FJ without its safety glass is pretty much the same as a 21FB. How many times have we handled these tubes as well as older black and white types and have them in various places of storage and have not have not had any issues of them imploding on their own? We seem to understand that the safety glass front does not affect the structual integrity of the tube. However rare, other than from mis-handling or mis-use or an accidental situation does it seem that there will be an implosion.
|