Ive been wanting to get a CRT tester, any advice on which ones to look for? Mostly for B&W, but color capability would be nice also, since i have a late 60s Zenith 25" color set with a dim CRT, and was hoping it might respond to rejuvenation, or to test potential CRT donor sets before purchase.
Theres a guy in Kenosha with a basement full of test gear for sale, he had several, but I didnt know which ones were decent, or which to avoid.

If all you wish to do is test '40's through early '70's CRT's, something like a B&K 465, an older Heathkit, Sencore, or RCA will work for you.

If you want something that will test most any CRT from the '40's until the present, get one of the newer B&K's (467 or higher model), or a Sencore CR70. These newer models also have a better rejuvenate function that will stand a better chance of helping the CRT, instead of torching it.

Beltron is another well regarded tester for rejuvenation; but, I'm not sure if adapters are available for the newer inline CRT's.

Thanks, i would be using it for older stuff, b&w and delta gun color tubes.

If all you wish to do is test '40's through early '70's CRT's, something like a B&K 465, an older Heathkit, Sencore, or RCA will work for you.

If you want something that will test most any CRT from the '40's until the present, get one of the newer B&K's (467 or higher model), or a Sencore CR70. These newer models also have a better rejuvenate function that will stand a better chance of helping the CRT, instead of torching it.

Beltron is another well regarded tester for rejuvenation; but, I'm not sure if adapters are available for the newer inline CRT's.
I see a lot of you guys like the Sencore CR70. I picked up a Sencore, Big Mack CR158???. The main reason I bought it is, it has all the sockets for all the CRT's common at the time, including the all important Ge Porta-Color sockets. :yes:
I bought an old Precision CRT tester, from the early 50's. It'll even test 7JP4's.
Test only, no rejuvenation. :sigh:

Try to find a Beltron. Best tester/rejuvanator out there. Mine has the adapters to test almost any CRT.

I like how the Beltron provides all gun emission readouts at once. With Sencore I reckon you're mostly paying for the name.

Take a look inside a Beltron one and you'll see there's almost nothing to them. Looks like just a brute force rejuvinator while the Sencore CR-70 uses regulated, controlled voltage and current pulses.

http://www.radiomuseum.org/images/radio/appleway_electronics/beltron_system_2972_e_1447869.jpg

Sencore CR70
http://www.cerant.com/Sencore-CR70/Bottom-800.jpg

Not too difficult to find CRT subs for any sets I might want to get going, and I would want to use them regularly, so the Beltron ought to be just fine for me and anyone else who doesn't care about rejuvenation.

I own A Sencore CR70, a Beltron and a B&K 467..

I use the Beltron and B&K 467 to test color tubes seeing how there is no having to set and retest for each gun, as they both have a meter for each gun.. When waking a tube up, I like to see all the meters slowly move up, instead of having to constantly switch guns.. The Beltrons seem to show lower emissions than what the Sencore or B&K reads on the same tube with most I've tested, but I've also had the opposite readings on some tubes.. If I were ever to rejuvenate on any tube.. I would use the Sencore CR70, or possibly the B&K 467.. The Beltron is questionable.. Though it does have the cleaning function which is suppose to be less brutal, but the Sencore and B&K have more options to rejuvenate..

Take a look inside a Beltron one and you'll see there's almost nothing to them. Looks like just a brute force rejuvinator while the Sencore CR-70 uses regulated, controlled voltage and current pulses.

http://www.radiomuseum.org/images/radio/appleway_electronics/beltron_system_2972_e_1447869.jpg

Sencore CR70
http://www.cerant.com/Sencore-CR70/Bottom-800.jpg
You have to admit one thing. The Beltron is really built neatly.
It must be a really old model. I never seen one with a two wire, non grounded line cord.
BTW, what is the difference between the Sencore CR-70 and the Big Mack, CR168.
I think it has a controlled rejuvenation function. :scratch2: