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These tubes were in production for a long time. While replacements for the 15GP22 were only around from about 54 to maybe the very early 60s, there were variants of the 21" tubes on the replacement market from the late 50s until the early 80s. NOS tubes still show up from time to time. Someday we will no longer be able to have a dud rebuilt; there is a finite supply of replacement guns, and apparently Hawkeye is the only one left willing to tackle these at all.
We should all keep an eye out for spares. If we don't save them, who will? I have yet to find a NOS 21" color tube in my travels but you never know when some small tv shop somewhere might have one stashed in the back. I would not worry so much about having 2 spares, as I doubt you could wear out a replacement unless you used the set as a daily watcher for many, many years.
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Bryan
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