Average lifetime of a CRT?

[Electronic M]

Originally Posted by mbates14

Wow thats a shame. My zenith has an admiral tube in it.

Depends on the vintage. IIRC the bad admiral tubes were mid 60's to early 70's...Also check the EIA code. Many tubes were labeled as the brand that sold them NOT the brand that made them, but the EIA always tells the true maker.

Zenith CRTs were probably industry worst in the 90's (EPA regs changing materials they could use threw them off their game), yet were basically industry best in the 70's (some of their 70's tubes have had almost continuous regular service then till now and still can muster a decent picture). The longer-lived brands are like wine: there are good years and bad years.