American RETMA system

The code comprises a group of figures, a group of letters including the letter P plus another figure or group of figures.

First Figure or Group of Figures (screen size)

For round screens: diameter in inches.
For rectangular screens: screen diagonal in inches.

Letter(s) preceding letter P

The letter(s) is (are) a serial code applying to tubes of the same diameter of diagonal and indicates the particular design of tube. (A, B, C . . . Z, AB, AC, etc.)

Letter P followed by a number (screen characteristics)

The suffix letter (A, B, C, or F, etc.), when used, indicates a later and modified version which can be substituted for any previous version but not vice versa.

The letter W indicates a military type and, when used, precedes any other suffix letters.

P1 - Green Medium Persistence (pre-war ‘scope tubes)
P2 - Blue-Green Medium Persistence
P3 - Yellow Medium Persistence
P4 - White Medium Persistence (standard TV tubes)
P5 - Blue Very Short Persistence
P7 - Blue-White Short Persistence, Yellow Long Persistence *Radar indicators
P10 - Dark trace Long Persistence
P11 - Blue Short Persistence, ultra-violet
P12 - Orange Long Persistence *Radar Indicators
P14 - Purple-Orange Short Persistence
P15 - Blue-Green + near UV Short Persistence
P16 - Near UV Short Persistence
P22 - Colour TV Medium Persistence
P31 - Green. Fast writing, used for oscilloscopes. 

European Type Designation (Old system)

The type number consists of two capital letters followed by two sets of figures, e.g. DG13-2, MW31-16.

First letter (method of focusing and deflection)

A - Electrostatic focusing and electromagnetic deflection.
D - Electrostatic focusing and electrostatic deflection in two directions.
M - Electromagnetic focusing and electromagnetic deflection.

Second letter (properties of the screen)

Phosphor type

First group of figures (dimensions of the screen)

Round tubes: screen diameter in cm
Rectangular tubes: screen diagonal in cm

Second group of figures (serial number) 

European Type Designation (New Pro-Electron system)

This codes applies to all patterns of cathode-ray tubes. It consists of one letter followed by two groups of figures joined by a hyphen and one or two letters.

First letter (application and/or construction of tube)

A - TV display tube for domestic applications
D - Oscilloscope tube, single trace
E - Oscilloscope tube, multiple trace
F - Radar display tube, direct view
L - Display storage tube
M - TV display tube for professional use, direct view
P - Display tube for professional applications projection
Q - Flying spot scanner

First figure or group of figures (screen dimensions)

Round tubes: screen diameter in cm
Rectangular tubes: screen diagonal in cm

Second figure or group of figures (serial number)

Final letters (screen properties)

The first letter denotes the colour of the fluorescence (or phosphorescence in the case of long or very long persistence screens) according to the regions of the Kelly Chart of colour designations for lights, where applicable.

A - Reddish-purple, purple, bluish purple
B - Purplish-blue, blue, greenish-blue
D - Blue-green
G - Bluish-green, green, yellowish-green
K - Yellow-green
L - Orange, orange-pink
R - Reddish-orange, red, pink, purplish-pink, purplish-red, red-purple
W - Standard white television display tube phosphor
X - Tri-colour screens
Y - Greenish-yellow, yellow, yellowish-orange

The second letter is a serial letter to denote other specific differences in screen properties.

Mazda (France)

Television tubes use the code letter C (for cathode ray tube), a number (indicating screen size in mm), then two letters followed by a number. The first indicates the method of deflection (M = magnetic, S = electrostatic) and the second the screen colour (B = blue, G = green, R = radar long-persistence, W = white). The numbers were allocated sequentially.

Miniwatt (France)

Television tubes use two letters followed by a number. The first indicates the method of deflection (D = electrostatic, M = magnetic) and the second the screen colour (B = blue, G = green, R = radar long-persistence, W = white). The numbers were allocated sequentially.

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