Cheapish 10bp4 on some auction site
 

Kinda neat to look at the pictures, a factory reject:

http://cgi.ebay.com/10BP4-RCA-Televi...ht_3246wt_1141

you can see how the phosphor was sloshed around, but didn't quite "set" right. I just wonder how early it is? The quote from the card "this is the first tube" the first 10bp4?

The defect is far enough to the edge to be covered by the mask.
The note has the call sign of a Ham operator, possibly the person the tube came from way back when?

I was thinking of getting it but figured the chances of it making it here were slim.

Is it just me, or is the whole phosphor coating on the face not uniform besides the edge? I'm surprised this tube has survived..

I purchased a 10bp4 from this seller last week. It was well packed and got here in great shape. The tube I purchased was untested, but by the auction photos it looked as if it had never been installed. Had the original RCA box too, although in rther deteriorated condition. So I rolled the dice and bought it.

Upon examination when it arrived, it had obviously never been in a set. When tested it has 15 to 18 seconds on the life test and over 95 emmission on my Beltron. I am pretty sure it was NOS and had been stored by someone for many years.

The tube in this auction looks as if all the water was not drained out after the face of the tube was re-phosphored during the rebuild. AFter the phosphors settle in the tube, it needs to be tipped over and the water decanted, in a very slow and gentle manner. It looks like all the water was not removed and the tube was tilted back at an angle. The water then drained into the front of the tube making a small puddle which caused the phosphors to sluff off the tube where the water line sat. Somenow it got all the way tothe gunning stage and got evacuated and based and packed up before anyone cared to do any QC. Don't think I would have wanted to be a customer of that rebuilder with this quality of workmanship.

This is very close to me, and for a much lower price I'd probably get it for novelties sake. Would have to be pretty low, though. I wonder where he got it? I get selfish when it comes to local finds!

I'll alert Mike and Frank! No pickin' in Eastern Maryland!!! :no:

:D

So you're the reason I never find any old tvs around here...lol. I don't want that tube.maybe you'll get it if you try.

Aw, I'll make an exception for you, JC! I worry about missing out on some motherlode, though...once upon a time there was at least one CT-100 sold around these parts.