Cathode Ray Tube - GE/US Navy

Didn't really know where to put this but figured the tech geeks would find it here. This is a large General Electric 21" long cathode ray tube with a 12" diameter screen. It has what appears to be a US Navy stamp on it. Any idea of use? I see that some bring good money on ebay but there doesn't seem to be much rhyme or reason as to why. Those in working order obviously do better and I don't know if this works or not.

A friend gave this to me and I thought I might make it in to a lamp but am having second thoughts. Is this more valuable as-is? There is a second one I could purchase so maybe one to sell and one for a lamp ..... LOL! Also, anything dangerous in there if I decide to drill into it and make it a lamp? Any and all thoughts are appreciated!

 

That is P7 phosphor which is the classic old green fading radar picture

Had it been suitable for a black and white TV it may have some interest for restoring the earliest sets

It is lead lined like all CRTs, so considered hazardous waste these days

Here is a better project:
https://www.google.com/search?q=crt...xZXUAhWg0YMKHYEUCSsQ_AUICygC&biw=1280&bih=560

 

There's a high vacuum inside so drilling into it might get exciting, but I've never done it so don't know if the tube will implode with a bang or just fill with air and make a hissing noise.

 

I was carrying a giant one through a doorway and knocked the small evacuation tube on the door frame (it is inside the center lug of the plug). Took me a minute to figure out what the strange hiss was.

 

Thanks for the replies so far. How would you suggest drilling this if that is the route I decide to go?

 

Break the center lug of the plug with a pliars. It is brittle Bakelite. Inside is the small tube they used for vacuum when it was made. Break that to release the vacuum. The front glass may be pretty thick. I have never once been able to drill a nice hole in glass or ceramic without it breaking.

 

Thanks! Looks like that would be the way to go to release the pressure. I probably would not be able to put any wiring or lights through there. I have a glass drill bit that should be able to make a small hole in the side (wouldn't want to go through the front). I should, then, be able to enlarge it with a cone shaped grinding bit. Have had some success doing this in the past (Don't ask me why ) but it is a rather slow process.

 

be careful ......

 

http://www.radiomuseum.org/tubes/tube_12g-p7.html
http://tubedata.milbert.com/sheets/201/1/12GP7.pdf
From late 1940s. Most likely a radar scope display tube.(or oscilloscope) IF your going to dispose of it, follow the instructions mentioned before for breaking the vacuum. Any old vacuum tube should be disposed of this way. Would be nice to discover where it was used. WWII museum ships may be interested for parts. Being interested in the USS North Carolina BB55, old parts are searched for for various pieces of equipment. Part are scrounged and then equipment becomes inoperatable. They search for items to refurbish. It could be part of any Navy or Army radar apparatus.

 

https://www.asap-partsonline.com/about-us/
This is a company that actually sources old parts. They might be interested. For this or any other old parts.

 

Here's a tube Collectors Association....
http://www.tubecollectors.org/... someone may be interested in it.