[Jeffhs]

I would disable the instant-on function and be done with it. This was incorporated in color TV sets of the 1970s as an energy-saving feature (remember all the hubbub over energy conservation, not to mention the so-called energy crisis, in those days?) and practically eliminated warm-up time in TVs of the time; just flip the power switch and the picture came on almost instantly. The electricity savings could be debatable, however, since the TV's tube filaments were left on constantly, with only the B+ voltages being removed from the tubes when the set was switched off. Most TVs having instant-on had a defeat switch, either on the front panel or on the chassis rear apron so the feature could be disabled if desired, say if the TV was not to be used for an extended length of time (if the owner were on vacation, for instance, and did not want to leave the set plugged in).

If the instant-on diode, which was connected directly across the TV's main power switch, would short for any reason (say a lightning strike near the power line serving the TV), the set would remain on, regardless of whether the power switch was on or off. TVs which had this kind of damage were usually restored to normal operation simply by removing the shorted instant-on diode; however, this permanently disabled the instant-on feature, if the diode was not replaced.