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It does seem that most TV's listed on eBay are owned by people who have never owned or used a television before, and have no concept or knowledge of what a TV is capable of doing. This leads to things such as a set with no vertical deflection, no high voltage, or improper vertical height to be classified as "working". This is due to the mythical belief in the rarest and most sought after devices in existance - the antenna. This is a very complicated and powerful device, and a seriously precision instrument. It is capable of bringing a picture to a set with missing tubes, burned out flyback or rotted coils. Since we all know that these sets are working, since the tubes light up, and that if only an antenna were present, we'd be watching reruns of "Everybody Loves Raymond". Nobody owns an antenna _and_ a television set, these things simply do not happen. Such a powerful entity is rare and mythical, and has never been actually seen by an eBay seller. That, and the arcane wisdom and technical knowledge required to construct something able to serve as an antenna has been lost to time.
There are some, however, that are disbelievers in the powers of the antenna - they believe that a television can operate without it's influence, and that the only thing standing between a blank screen and glorious lollipop color, is a tube or two. Yes, in the back of a television live tubes. These are also very sacred things - so sacred, in fact, that they cannot be referred to by their true names by those of weak constitutions - and thusly have become commonly known as "bulbs". Bulbs are vital to a TV's operation, and if they light up, they are known as 'good'. Bulbs that light dimly, or that are unable to be seen through dirt, crud, spiders and RF sheilds, are 'bad', and must be replaced. Everyone knows that with a couple new tubes, a set will be just like new. Unfortunately, these hallowed tubes are no longer available anywhere, so finding replacements will be hard at best. 6GH8's are so rare, that people have killed for them. Or paid 29.95 plus shipping for them.
The antenna and the tube are believed in by many, but few believe in both. It is, however, very common for eBay sellers to ignore both beliefs entirely, opting simply to worship under the alter of the mighty bubblewrap - a single sheet of which can protect a fragile amplifier from a hundred gorillas wearing brown uniforms. There are some forces in this universe that are not to be trifled with - only believed in and worshiped silently.
-Ian
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