Tektronix CRT Manufacturing -- No Compromise with Quality

[@chaddentandt9868]

Great video, nice to see how these CRTs aer made.

[@analogdesigner-Jay]

When they switched to the mesh CRTs, the spot size was much larger. I still have my 454A as a reminder. The complexity of manufacturing a CRT was so complex however our modern flat panel displays are probably similar in their own way. Thanks for another excellent video!

[@Runco990]

I had a 485 that was incredible! I still have a 2465DBV and a 2232, as well as a 2247A, but they aren't nearly as sharp.

[@Runco990]

I really like these videos. Having worked with and repaired many, many Tektronix instruments, I always marveled at the precision of these tubes compared to others. 👍 Seems strange that we can't seem to do anything in the US any longer......

[@videolabguy]

Rest assured that the US is still the world leader in critical technology.

[@SmokeyWire56]

It's a shame to see manufacturing going overseas at the same time I do manufacturing and I hate it.

[@outsideworld76]

I have a couple of Philips CRT's that are also very well made. Those are made completely out of glass. The Tektronix MCP CRT is probably the pinnacle of CRT oscilloscoop technology.

[@marshmower]

In China, if you don't produce, you only get half a bowl of soup and no crackers. I bought a GE branded appliance bulb today for the old stove made with pride in Huangdong China

[@selastester1977]

I had a 465 I think it was. With a memory crt , basically burning one shot triggered signal on the screen . Could even zoom in. Amazing tech for that time.(and the clicks of tek-knobs is unmatched😉)

[@videolabguy]

My career would have been a lot different without Tektronix. I have three Tek scopes less than three feet away from me right now as I type. Maybe one of their tubes was in this video. Thanks for another winner Vintage TEK Museum channel!

[@hsnh]

Awesome video and high-tech engineering that's Tektronix.

[@SmokeyWire56]

Awsome i learned a few things. The aluminum coating over the phosphor i thought was only there to stop ion burn and decrease rf and even x-ray in high voltage sets, didnt know it also increases brightness through reflection.

[@SmokeyWire56]

What is the cathode coating?

[@hughgilbert390]

@@SmokeyWire56 It was usually a barium strontium calcium triple carbonate. When heated to about 1050C under vacuum, it decomposes to oxides.That is the first step in the cathode activation process.

[@swsuwave]

In my 4 decades as a EE, my tek was always there, but more importantly my tek probes with bnc outputs stayed with me to this day, feeding my digital scope. I can't believe how my old multi kv tek differential probes look compared to today's Chinese 3kv probes which I wouldn't use above 50vac. It's sad to see custom interfaces from probe to chassis used now requiring new probes with every upgrade. Bnc, N, or SMA should be a universal interface just like my 18ghz SA probes use.

[@FPVDIRK]

Nice video! 👍

[@stevewausa]

Hard to believe this entire field was made obsolete almost overnight by LCD.

[@gsestream]

flat crts? close to plasma tv's, but sideways electron source

[@davidweston9115]

3 problems. #1. factory located in USA; the bankers won't allow this. #2. factory employs far to many people; again, not viable: more profit could be derived using robots making much cheaper items such as lcd panels. 3. Products made are of high quality. Again not viable. Customers are liable to use the product for decades without replacing it. Better if it breaks every year. or better yet build in a software that shuts it off every month and requires a subscription to keep working.

[@marshmower]

People aren't held to ANY standards except for "just show up" anymore. Quality means 💩💩💩💩

[@chuckvanderbildt]

People forget how expensive these scopes were back then. And besides, there was plenty of crap on the market then too. If you want to compare, why not look at some of the high end test equipment available today? I think you'll find it isnt all doom and gloom.

[@RingingResonance]

@@chuckvanderbildt Modern test equipment is a marvel in semiconductor tech, although much more of it is automated for a multitude of reasons and it's not just cost but also quality. The manual processes of making these old CRTs are a work of art and required skilled labor. Not to say making modern semiconductors doesn't require skilled labor, it's just that it requires less fine motor control and more "Make sure machine does this, and don't press this button. If this light/indicator on the screen turns on then it means it's time to remove this panel and clean this mirror with a special procedure that if you screw up means you cost the company $100K for a new mirror." Actually, I have no idea, this is all my own speculation. The mirrors might not even be cleaned but rather replaced once they reach an EOL. Would be cool if someone in this industry could give us a rundown!

[@chuckvanderbildt]

Yes, what you say is undoubtedly true. They absolutely are works of art as well as technology, created by eminently skilled human hands. @@RingingResonance

[@RingingResonance]

@@chuckvanderbildt My biggest beef with modern tech and manufacturing is how cut-throat it has become to even work in the industry.