Tektronix direct view storage tubes (DVST) were green when written and stored. Tektronix developed the CRT technology for orange to be displayed in refresh and writing. We wanted a color write-thru CRT for exhibit at the museum.

A GMA monitor in very poor condition was donated that had a color write-thru CRT. The museum had a non-working 4054 desktop graphics system and color write-thru was a standard option (31) for it. The volunteers chose to restore the 4054 and transplant the color write-through CRT into it. One of the issues they encountered was the color write-thru CRT had a different deflection angle, so images were not displayed full screen.

Volunteer Phil Lehwalder was able to increase the gain of the horizontal and vertical amplifiers to restore full-screen operation as seen in this video. As the image is written, you can see the orange before it is stored in green.

The 4054 has limited refresh-mode capability (inches of vectors) so option 31 was of limited usability without option 30, the refresh controller. This allowed significant graphics to be displayed without being stored which appeared in orange.

Chairman Bob Haas began working to add the Option 30 refresh controller. Other volunteers are now continuing this work.