I meant to ask about this during the convention, but somehow I forgot to.

I have, in an OLD book on tv technology,Partially written by Zworykin, a small article about a DEMOUNTABLE 31 inch BW CRT. It was an experiment by RCA, for a large-screen crt to be used in a group setting. It was NOT in a "normal" type of glass or metal housing that was sealed, rather, it was NOT sealed and hooked to a vacuum pump and such. I have a couple of pictures taken from the book--I know they are NOT too good, but it is from a page in a book, and at least it gives an idea of what I see in the book.

Does ANYONE know?? was this in any way successful?? and WHY would it be attempted at all?? it seems like a LOT of trouble to me, look at all of the "stuff' involved,. you can see the vacuum pump and drive equipment for the HV and such of the CRT in the one picture. The other pix shows the tube in "operational" condition.

I have seen mention of a similar setup in RCA literature regarding the development of early prototype color CRT testing. In that situation, it was used to test CRT screen configurations. I guess it was a quick way to evaluate early design concepts.

I know I've seen a passing reference to something like this; I remember wishing at the time that the writer would elaborate. I do recall seeing a website some time ago featuring a projection system made in more modern times and it apparently worked the same way, with a vacuum pump. The site had a photo of the setup displaying a picture outdoors, like a drive-in movie.

Eentarestink...Maybe they hadn't got the finer points of large CRT production down then...

I have the same book, plenty of ideals and research stuff in it.
Most of the practical aspects regarding mass production in the book considered obsolete today.