Did Orion make picture tubes?

[CRTguy]

This is something I've been confused about. I've owned quite a few CRT TVs that were made in the '00s from JVC and Toshiba that used tubes that had an Orion sticker on them. I assumed these tubes were actually made by Orion but some sources that I've come across (primarily the CRTgaming subreddit and the "CRT Collective" group on Facebook) claim that Orion designed and made the TV boards but that they never actually made picture tubes and that the actual tubes in TVs that used Orion boards were made by other companies such as Toshiba and Panasonic. What I'm confused about is, in CRT TVs that used boards that were made and designed by Orion, did the other companies design the tubes and then Orion built them in an Orion factory or did the other companies design the tubes and make them in their own factory?

To give you an example, one 27" CRT TV I owned was a Toshiba 27A33 that used Orion circuit boards but had an Orion sticker on the tube and the tube model # was M68LWF088X. This tube looks very similar to a Panasonic tube and I know that Panasonic often used "M" tubes in their CRT TVs which makes me wonder if this tube was made by Panasonic.

[zeno]

Yes Orion was a CRT & TV builder. They were most often labeled Emerson
but not related to the old Emerson or Emerson Quiet Cool. So your
Toshibas are not really Toshiba. The 20" & 27" combos were common
and found in other brands.
The sets were surprisingly good runners but susceptible to
surges so dont leave plugged in when not in use. When ever a T-storm
came through a few would show up. Other downfall is they a misery
to work on ( physically ).

73 Zeno
LFOD !

[vol.2]

Orion was one of the last-man-standing manufacturers of tubes, so a lot of the big brands leaned on them towards the end of CRTs existence, especially for lower end sets. I don't think Orion ever got into the true-flat tubes and those were all generally made in house. Though I could be wrong, just never seen one.

[CRTguy]

Originally Posted by vol.2

Orion was one of the last-man-standing manufacturers of tubes, so a lot of the big brands leaned on them towards the end of CRTs existence, especially for lower end sets. I don't think Orion ever got into the true-flat tubes and those were all generally made in house. Though I could be wrong, just never seen one.

I own a few sets that have flat tubes with an Orion sticker on them. One is the JVC I'Art 24" CRT TV (Model # F24703). This tube in this set was also used in Toshiba 24" CRT TV (Model #24AF42) and all of the flat screen standard definition Toshiba CRT TVs use Orion tubes. The RCA Tru-Flat line of CRT TVs used Orion tubes.

[vol.2]

Interesting. I didn't realize they moved on to flat tubes. I guess I wasn't really buying new sets by that point and time, and you could still find flat 27" and 32" major brand CRTs on the side of the road and in thrift stores in the 2000s

[Electronic M]

One thing that may also work to confirm origin of a component is it's EIA number.... Smaller parts like capacitors often lack it but big/expensive parts like CRTs usually have an EIA number.

[radiotvnut]

Originally Posted by zeno

Yes Orion was a CRT & TV builder. They were most often labeled Emerson
but not related to the old Emerson or Emerson Quiet Cool. So your
Toshibas are not really Toshiba. The 20" & 27" combos were common
and found in other brands.
The sets were surprisingly good runners but susceptible to
surges so dont leave plugged in when not in use. When ever a T-storm
came through a few would show up. Other downfall is they a misery
to work on ( physically ).

73 Zeno
LFOD !

Two common problems I remember on that "last gasp" Orion chassis was a 100uf cap in the vertical that would cause top foldover/lines and destruction of the vertical IC if the owner kept using it. The other problem was the switching regulator transistor that would fail, due to lightning/power surge, but the ones I encountered always failed open. I'd stick a new one in, and the set would fire up.

[TV-collector]

Hi folks!

Yes, Orion was a radio, TV and CRT bilder.
I talk about the hungarian company!

Regards,
TV-collector

[kf4rca]

The label says Korea. Also there is some German there.

[vol.2]

Originally Posted by kf4rca

In the USA, Orion is a production and film distribution company.

Very poorly managed company that tanked and went bankrupt even as they had a strong roster of good quality films throughout the 80s and early 90s. Many of their lowest performing films had a very healthy run on VHS, and yet they still managed to completely biff it and got swallowed up by MGM in 1996.

[dishdude]

Originally Posted by kf4rca

In the USA, Orion is a production and film distribution company. Our station aired one of their releases and was told it was ready to air right off the one-inch videotape. Timing sheet supplied. Little did we know it was un-edited and contained "shit, fuck", and other assorted vulgarities. It made for good reading in the local paper the next morning. Our GM said it was good for the ratings. (We only had about a 2 share. You need an 8 share to be profitable.)

AM radio seems to be alive and well in America with conservative talk radio format.

Orion Pictures has nothing to do with Orion Electric.

For cheap TVs and VCRs, I always thought the Orion stuff was better quality than Funai.

[Telecolor 3007]

Originally Posted by TV-collector

Hi folks!

Yes, Orion was a radio, TV and CRT bilder.
I talk about the hungarian company!

Regards,
TV-collector

Dind't they used the name "Videoton" too?
Some Romanian tv sets from the '60's, at least the ones where had Hungarian parts (like 'Cosmos' 3) had "Orion" picture tubes.

[vol.2]

Originally Posted by dishdude

Orion Pictures has nothing to do with Orion Electric.

Don't think anyone suggested it did?

For cheap TVs and VCRs, I always thought the Orion stuff was better quality than Funai.

Definitely better quality. Orion is okayish. Funai is hot garbage.

[jhalphen]

Hi to All,

i have this Orion Electric (Japan) CTV-5X 6" color TV, PAL B/G.
it's very well built.

Best Regards
jhalphen
Paris/France

[MX70]

My Toshiba 30HF85 has an Orion tube. Not only flat face but 16:9 as well