Got a line on a 10BP4 and a 12LP4 CRTs.
What are they worth?

Carl

Condition?? is everything. They have to be tested first to give an accurate value. Good ones with emission well into the middle of the green area of the tester (maybe 600 microamps or so) and no scratches on the faceplate or neck should easily be worth a minimum of $75, and could probably bring much more than that if someone wants one badly enough.

Have not seen or tested them.
Was told that both have tape on the socket base because its loose.
So not NOS or even mint.

If they test OK, think $50/each are reasonable? How about $25/each?
I have no immediate need for either tube and would just store it away just in case I might need it later.

Carl

If they test OK, but the bases are loose, then whatever you can make a deal for might be OK if you just want them as spares. I wouldn't be willing to go more than $50 under those conditions, if you think you can get them for $25 that's even better as a gamble against ever needing one.

If someone actually needed one of these CRTs to complete a restoration project, a known good 10BP4 or 12LP4 would be worth $75 easily, with no regard for whether the base is loose. Loose base doesn't detract from the value in any way, in my opinion. Loose base is not uncommon for an old CRT, and is trivial to fix.

If you have no particular need for the CRTs, and just want to have them around in case you need them some day, then you might bear in mind that you can likely buy a whole TV (for example, one with a bad cabinet or missing parts) with a good used CRT in it for only $50.

$25 for a known good 10BP4 or 12LP4 would be a steal.

Harry Poster sold one on eBay recently, excellent emissions and life, it went for $135
http://www.ebay.com/itm/230726784373?ss ... 1435.l2649

I certainly wouldn't turn down a known good one if it was $100 whether I needed it or just as a spare.

Harry sold a 12lp4 this week for 172.00

When I bought a 12LP4, I paid $40 plus shipping, if I remember but it was probably 5 years ago.

The unavailability of rebuilding has changed my thinking about CRT value. Hawkeye already closed up shop and RACS in France recently disclosed that they will close soon. That leaves nobody in the world able to rebuild old CRTs for any price, until/unless the ETF project gets off the ground. In the not too distant future, as Tom noted, we may all be buying junker TVs in hopes of harvesting good CRTs, even if the rest of the set is only fit for the landfill.

Phil Nelson

The 10BP4, despite its age, is one of the most common crts out there. A few years ago I bought one for around $35 which seemed to be the going rate at the time. I've bought junker sets with good tubes for that same price or less. The 12LP4 seems to be a lot harder to find. If I stumbled upon these somewhere and had no way to do an emissions test, I would be afraid to pay much at all. If they are decent, though, you should grab them. Since they are small enough to ship without too much trouble, they could be a decent investment for the future.

One of my customers bought several off evilbay and paid 100 to 150.00 each for them.

Ultimately it's the competition between we collectors that drives the prices on these. Remember that not that long ago, folks were still paying disposal fee's to rid themselves of such items, some probably still are. So try not to panic over any apparent CRT shortage. Unless we create our own crises, I doubt there will be any shortage during our lifetime. After all, how many operational vintage sets does one guy need?

Need? or Want?



Carl

Definitely want. How bad do we want to fight over the remaining supply? Judging from the activity levels here and at VK, we’re a pretty small group. If ya'll want to drive the prices crazy high, then I've got a couple CRT's I'd be willing to let go. Or maybe I'll hold out a couple more years first.

Hmmm...maybe my like-new spare 16GP4 is better than the stock market....

yea ... i feel rich now with all my x-tras even a few unused rebuilt ones..


mike

Hate feeling like a "hoarder", but both those CRTs tested great - Emissions, Shorts, Life Test. Had to pick them up in case I might need them later.

Carl