It's the same story with any vintage gear that finds a resurgent popularity... I built my first Nixie clock before they became 'fashionable' back when old test gear was pennies on the dollar. I think I got a Systron Donner counter timer for about $30 from a surplus shop with a compliment of 6 Burroughs 8442 nixies. And I distinctly remember surplus stores selling the big Z568's and NL7037's for a few dollars each - now try to even find a dead one. It's just the way things go.
That said - I suspect there is still plenty of inventory of small crt's from the Eastern Block and China. The 3RP1A's I just bought feel like NOS where someone imported a pallet for resale. On Wednesday, October 29, 2025 at 9:04:16 PM UTC-4 Instrument Resources of America wrote: Pilot Radio Company made a three inch black and white television in the late 1940's early 1950's. It was the first television to break the $100.00 price tag, on the low side. It's CRT IIRC was a 3RP4 with P4 phosphor. These sets are highly prized by collectors, including myself. I have one currently under restoration, with a good CRT. Unfortunately many of these sets do NOT have good CRT's. and the folks who have them have resorted to using the 3RP1's and this of course is adding to their shortage. Making clocks with them is also adding to their shortage, along with the collector crowd. Ira. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "neonixie-l" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/5b46f045-9b41-4f74-aed7-9bbb3eb21860n%40googlegroups.com.
