I recall some articles many many years ago in some decent electronics magazines. Bending the end of the CRT was an interesting solution, and had the advantage that the image emitted from the same side the electrons struck, producing a much brighter picture (and they could add a heatsink to the back). But it made the physics of electron beam deflection very complicated. They decided that it was not possible to do three-beam colour that way. I wonder if anyone tried it with Sony's Trinitron technology.

Like a lot of mass-produced technology developed and consumerised in the middle of last century, cathode ray tubes are a bit "how they heck did they get that to work?!", really.

Wade.