The Crt Monitor Market: Who's Still Buying?

CRT monitors are no longer in production, but they remain popular among retro gamers and enthusiasts who appreciate their high refresh rates and superior contrast ratios compared to modern LCD monitors. The demand for CRT monitors is driven by nostalgia and the desire to experience older media, including games, films, and TV shows, as they were originally intended. Sony Trinitron is a well-known brand in the CRT space, and its monitors are sought-after for their quality and ease of finding. However, the market for CRT monitors is small, and they are primarily bought and sold through online platforms like eBay and Craigslist or sourced locally through classifieds, yard sales, and estate sales.

Retro gamers

CRT monitors have become popular among retro gamers due to the nostalgia associated with them. CRT monitors were commonly sold in 2001, but Sony stopped their production in 2006. They are no longer manufactured, but they are still available in thrift stores, dumpsites, or even one's attic or basement.

The most desirable CRT monitors for retro gamers are the professional-grade PVMs and BVMs, which were intended for broadcast use in hospitals or TV studios. These monitors are designed to do things that consumer TVs simply can't, especially in terms of color adjustment and scanline customization. Sony Trinitrons are among the most desirable consumer-grade CRTs. Other outstanding brands include Mitsubishi, Hitachi, LaCie, NEC, Iiyama, and Eizo.

While CRT monitors are no longer manufactured, there is a booming refurbishment industry for old electronics, including CRT monitors. Retro gamers can buy refurbished CRT monitors or learn to refurbish them themselves.

CRT refurbishers

CRT Repair and Replacement

Some companies, like Thomas Electronics, offer CRT repair and replacement services. They can refurbish CRTs from a variety of manufacturers, including Sony and Panasonic, and provide services such as re-lamination, repair of leaking cooling cells, anode and lead replacement, and high-voltage cleaning.

CRT Restoration

Restoring CRT monitors to their former glory is a meticulous process that requires special care due to the dangerous voltages and capacitors involved. One example of a successful restoration is Adam's refurbishment of an Acorn CRT monitor, where he replaced a defective power switch.

CRT Refurbishment

NIKTEC, INC is an example of a company that offers professional refurbishment services for CRT projector tubes. Their process involves recycling worn Cathode Ray Tubes and replacing them with new tubes from the manufacturer. They use industry-standard materials and high-calibre heat-transfer fluids to ensure sustained performance and dependability.

CRT Maintenance

To maintain CRTs, the phosphor coating needs to be refreshed periodically. Thomas Electronics offers a range of phosphors to suit different needs, such as long persistence phosphors for brief events and short-persistence phosphors for high-frequency events.

CRT Advantages

CRTs have several advantages, including cost-effectiveness, as high-value components can be refurbished and reused. They are also eco-friendly, as refurbishing and recycling reduce waste. Additionally, CRTs use tried-and-true technology that has been successfully applied for decades, making them a reliable solution.

CRT repairmen

There are several companies that offer CRT repair services, such as Thomas Electronics, which provides CRT repair, replacement, and overhaul services for various CRT designs, including Sony and Panasonic models. They offer a one-year warranty on most repairs and have facilities in New York, Illinois, Kentucky, and France.

Other CRT repair specialists include Steve from Retro Tech in Harrisonburg, Virginia, Savon-Pat in Los Angeles, and Keith Raney in Chicago. These professionals can be challenging to find, expensive, and often have a backlog of work.

The maintenance of CRTs primarily involves refreshing the phosphor coating, which determines the brightness, colour, and persistence of the illumination. CRT repairmen can address issues such as re-lamination, leaking cooling cells, anode and lead replacement, and high-voltage cleaning.

While CRT technology may be outdated for some applications, it remains a reliable and cost-effective solution for many industries. CRT repairmen play a crucial role in ensuring that critical equipment utilising CRT displays operates at peak performance.

CRT recyclers

CRT monitors are notoriously difficult to recycle due to their weight, size, and the fact that they contain hazardous materials. Many recycling centers charge a premium to take them, and some even stockpile CRT glass instead of recycling it because of the rising costs and limited return on investment.

However, several companies specialize in CRT recycling and can help you dispose of your old CRT monitors safely and securely. Here are some of the most popular CRT recyclers:

All Green Electronics Recycling

All Green Electronics Recycling is a trusted company that offers CRT recycling services. They can pick up your CRT monitor or TV for free, or you can drop it off at one of their nationwide locations. All Green has a large fleet of IT recycling trucks and can collect your old CRTs right from your building. They also offer data security services to ensure that your sensitive information is handled securely.

Data Recycling NE, Inc.

Data Recycling NE, Inc. is a Massachusetts-based company that provides electronics recycling services, including CRT recycling. They service municipalities, schools, and businesses throughout New England and also pick up computers and electronics from businesses and schools in Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire, New York, and Maine. Data Recycling NE focuses on repairing or reselling recycled units on the secondary market. They also provide data destruction services to ensure your sensitive data is protected.

Best Buy

Best Buy offers electronics recycling services at many of their stores. They accept a wide range of tech items for recycling, including computers, laptops, cell phones, and more. For a fee, they will also haul away larger items like TVs and appliances from your home. Best Buy works with licensed third-party recycling partners to ensure that recycled items are properly handled and repurposed into new products.

When choosing a CRT recycler, it is important to ensure that they follow federal guidelines for CRT recycling and have the necessary certifications to handle hazardous materials. Improper disposal of CRTs can have negative consequences for the environment and human health, so it is crucial to recycle them responsibly.

CRT manufacturers

Thomas Electronics is a CRT manufacturer that has been producing products for the Electronic Display and Imaging market since 1948. The company has manufacturing facilities in New York, Illinois, Kentucky, and France. They have a focus on obsolescence issues surrounding their main product line of CRTs and conduct extensive negotiations with vendors to ensure a continued supply of CRTs.

Thomas Electronics provides CRTs for a variety of industries, including lighting, communications, medical testing, and commercial and industrial heating. They offer a range of services, such as electromagnetic design and manufacturing, environmental testing, glass working, and high vacuum device processing.

In addition to Thomas Electronics, there are a few other manufacturers mentioned in online forums that may still be producing CRTs or CRT parts. These include:

• Videocon from India, which may have been the last tube remanufacturer for the mass market
• VTM, a smaller-scale manufacturer that may still be in operation
• MELZ (Moscow Electric Lamp Plant), a Russian company that was manufacturing special-order video CRT parts and other related products as recently as 2023

It is worth noting that the demand for CRTs has significantly decreased, and the manufacturing process is labour-intensive and costly. Retro gamers, for example, are not a large enough market to support the costs of producing CRTs, and environmental laws make importing them challenging.

Frequently asked questions