End of Days

[Zebidee]

Having returned to this hobby after a break for a few years, some things became apparent to me: arcade monitors (new) are becoming hard to find, especially in the smaller sizes like 19-21" tubes.

I contacted Jomac in Australia to change a neckboard for my 20" Sharp Image chassis, and was told that they didn't have any new CRT chassis for sale any more, sold the last one 18 months ago, that the factory has "closed down", they don't make them anywhere in the world now. Nothing available in the smaller sizes, just some 2nd hand 25-27" Weiya chassis left.

I have since talked to three suppliers in China and heard the same story from each of them. One still had some 20" chassis in stock so I ordered some for my future projects. They have Chinese writing on the PCB, but fortunately electronics speaks the same language whatever country you are in. Another suggested I consider LCD monitors...

I've also noticed that many US-based suppliers seem to have either vanished from the CRT scene or vanished entirely. No more Billabs, 8liners etc. as far as I can see.

I've also seen a growth in popularity for people hoarding quality CRTs, and the RGB TV modding scene has exploded as people become desperate for affordable and accessible RGB CGA monitors.

Is it truly End of Days? Not sure, but I know one thing - I want to get a lot better at repairing CRT monitors and TVs.

[lilshawn]

even parts like HOT's and high voltage bi-polar caps are getting impossible to find because there is zero sense in companies continuing to make parts for something no longer made. I mean, I get it... nobody wants stock of anything that can't be sold ASAP and will slowly sell onesies and twosies over the next 30 years... but lots of stuff is dying with no way to fix them.

I have to take my chance with ebay to find CRT parts...and that is sketchy as hell with all the counterfeit stuff out there and it's only going to get worse.

at this point our company has been selling off CRT machines because they break...and it's a couple months before we can get parts from shenzhen sleezebay to fix it.

[Zebidee]

even parts like HOT's and high voltage bi-polar caps are getting impossible to find because there is zero sense in companies continuing to make parts for something no longer made. I mean, I get it... nobody wants stock of anything that can't be sold ASAP and will slowly sell onesies and twosies over the next 30 years... but lots of stuff is dying with no way to fix them.

I have to take my chance with ebay to find CRT parts...and that is sketchy as hell with all the counterfeit stuff out there and it's only going to get worse.

at this point our company has been selling off CRT machines because they break...and it's a couple months before we can get parts from shenzhen sleezebay to fix it.

There will always be a place for CRTs but, as you say, it will become harder and harder to find specialised spare parts and in many cases impossible.

That's the unfortunate commercial reality... CRTS get older & need more fixing, people buy LCDs more often as easy (not better) replacements, companies stop making/selling CRTs, getting spare parts & repairs get harder, more people buy LCDs, and so on and the situation will keep getting worse before it gets better. The industry seems to have gone past a tipping point after which it will be hard to come back. AFAIK there is only one real player left in making CRT arcade monitors, and that is Wei Ya, and I'm not sure how much longer they will stay in the game. Or even whether they are still playing.

Are there any other "survivors" out there?