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I think there is still a market for CRTs, esp. with retro-gamers. Vector displays in particular.
by Sunspark 3y ago
I think there is still a market for CRTs, esp. with retro-gamers. Vector displays in particular.
- Forgeties79 3y agoLove me some crisp scanlines
- dharmab 3y agoThere's certainly a market, but the process of manufacturing and recycling them is difficult to do in compliance with modern environmental regulations. In particular, the leaded glass is problematic to export for recycling.
- mrob 3y agoLeaded glass is not required for CRTs. In the case of color CRTs, it was only used for the backs and sides, because x-rays make leaded glass turn brown. The faceplates used barium-strontium glass, which I assume was more expensive. This sample chapter from "Image Performance in CRT Displays" by Kenneth Compton provides some details: https://spie.org/samples/TT54.pdf https://spie.org/samples/TT54.pdf I see no reason why you couldn't make the whole thing from barium-strontium glass.
- dharmab 3y agoThe existing regulations assume that all CRTs are leaded, so you'd have to lobby multiple governments to treat your product differently.
- rickdeckard 3y agoyeah, but I don't think production and sales of CRT-tubes could be called a "market" in an economically sustainable sense today. If someone would find a warehouse full of Trinitron tubes: Yes, a nice opportunity to cater to a retro-gaming market. Setting up the production chain to BUILD tubes at scale: Not really.
- Forgeties79 3y agoIt’s also not just about the economics of it, they’re actually kind of dangerous to produce and involve a fair bit of hazardous materials IIRC. Tinkering with them is a good way to stop your heart too.