Leaded 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 fac

Leaded 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.