Monochrome "roundies" Still in Use?

[jr_tech]

I just came across this article in "English Russia" that shows the control center at Moscow Airport. Many of the displays are modern flat screen units, but the main radar displays appear to be P-7 "roundies", perhaps similar to the 22" DuMont metal cone P-7 that I have in my collection. (see page 75 of "The Cathode Ray Tube, By Peter A. Keller).

http://englishrussia.com/2012/05/28/...e/#more-101264

Could they still be building/rebuilding metal cone "roundies" in Russia to supply the needs of these airport installations?

jr

[ChrisW6ATV]

It is certainly possible. Less than 20 years ago, U.S. FAA control centers still had round-CRT radars when I had a tour of one location (and also worked in the SFO tower itself occasionally).

What I found quite interesting was the system where they did raster-scanning of small radar CRTs and sent this signal by radio from one control location to others (where the raster signal was displayed on round radar CRTs).

[Opcom]

It is likely that occasional runs of special CRTs are still made there and even in the USA.

More than once I have been contacted my an electronics company wanting price quotes on 12" round CRTs dead or alive. I happen to have some roundies in stock, a few 10SP4's, so that is why they called I am sure.

Their wish was to buy the 12" tubes, and then have the necks removed, refurb the bell with new phosphors etc, and install new guns. I can only imagine this level of effort where a contract demands a replacement device type or an old system to be supported/refurbished.

It seems more likely to find CRTs being built in Russia and China than anywhere else. Aside from Clinton, I don't know who would build/rebuild CRTs for us in the States.

My favorite round tube -in the FA-8968 display.

[Electronic M]

Someone should be doing rebuilding in the states at least for modern tubes. EVERY bowling alley I've ever been to uses CRT monitors(some even keep crappy, nearly unwatchable ones going) even alleys with equip only about three years old have them. There are enough places, just counting bowling alleys, that have good reason not to want to replace their fleets of CRTs when one dies that I can't imagine that no one does rebuilding in the states anymore.
There have to be folks that do modern CRTs, so why not convince one of them to do vintage ones. Aside from the pre-war pyrex tubes I can't see any difference between modern tubes and vintage ones except for the electron guns. And if we can source new or rebuilt guns then I'd imagine that all we need to do is convince the right rebuilder of modern tubes to help the vintage TV community out......