The Coketron

[pamphonica]

I remember that the late and much missed Brian Cuff dropped something on the neck of a pre-war CRT. The CRT failed the impromptu  impact test. Whoops!

I was there.
We were using the lathe together in his metalwork shop - otherwise known as the garage. Brian had the pre-war (fully working) CRT stored on the floor in the corner, neck upwards, sadly unprotected. As we were were working away we heard a clink, followed by what sounded like a sheaf of brass shim stock falling on the floor. Perplexed, we looked round and saw nothing. Until, that is, Brian looked over at the CRT. He really did go white, but no profanities passed his gentlemanly lips. There may perhaps have been an "Oh dear, Oh no." and a very deep sigh.
A section of 1/4" brass rod only a few inches long had rolled off a high cupboard, helped by the lathe's vibrations. It had pirouetted in the air and landed exactly end on, precisely in the middle of the tube base connector. The base would have protected the evacuation pip if the rod had landed in any other way!
On inspection, the CRT had a collection of bits of loose phosphor visible inside, and was clearly now open to air.
Brian was magnificent. He shed no tears, although clearly saddened and shaken, and simply suggested we break for tea. We soon went on with my lesson on the lathe.
I miss Brian a lot.
-Jeremy