Well, LED tubes are taking over from the T8 F32 tubes, I seen them in some shopping centers that the shop fixtures have LED tubes, in it, the stores I seen them are, Big Lots, Kroger, At Home (which is basically like a Garden Ridge), and Target. I miss those T8 fluorescents. 

You miss the T8s?  Ha.  We older folk miss the T12s!

Well I did seen T12s in some of the areas that I've been to. They were even T12 F96 Tubes that are one-pin.

That's more like it!!

Um ? There is less difference between real FL lamps of 2 different diameters, than between real and fake FL lamps

Was never really sure why people hated on T8 so much... from my understanding, T8 and T12 came out around the same time ...

Nope T12s came out LOOOOOOOOOOOOONG before T8s. 

Nope T12s came out LOOOOOOOOOOOOONG before T8s. 

If I recall correctly from historical literature, the very first fluorescent tubes were released in T8 format in April 1938, and that came as a result of the platform being first developed from GE's Lumiline incandescent lamps. T12 followed very shortly thereafter as a low-glare alternative.

If I recall correctly from historical literature, the very first fluorescent tubes were released in T8 format in April 1938, and that came as a result of the platform being first developed from GE's Lumiline incandescent lamps. T12 followed very shortly thereafter as a low-glare alternative.

I think you recall correctly, Max. The first two commercially offered fluorescent lamps were the F15T8 and the F30T8, the latter at first requiring 220V to run with a choke, and very soon after an autotransformer ballast became available. Then came the F15T12, the F20T12 and the F40T12, in that order I believe. All of those types came out within a couple of years of the first ones in 1938.

There is a grocery store here that is spot replacing F32T8 with LED tubes. Looks kind of weird...

If t8 was first one invented, then why later lamps were t12? Was there some benefit over the smaller diameter?

American T8 and European T8, are completely different technologies. European T8 have krypton starting gas, allowing wattage reduction and retrofit in existing T12 gear and have the same brightness as T12 they designed to replace. American T8 have argon starting gas, like the T12, but aren't compatible with the T12 gear, and are brighter than the T12 they designed to replace.

American T8 and European T8, are completely different technologies. European T8 have krypton starting gas, allowing wattage reduction and retrofit in existing T12 gear and have the same brightness as T12 they designed to replace. American T8 have argon starting gas, like the T12, but aren't compatible with the T12 gear, and are brighter than the T12 they designed to replace.

In Europe we do have T8 tubes with Argon! Don’t forget the very first electronic ballasts from Philips and Osram which were designed for these lamps. Osram quickly readjusted these EL ballasts for the Krypton buffered tubes while Philips still sells these TL-D HF tubes with Argon Buffer!

Wait, what about the T17 tubes? When they're made?

Wait, what about the T17 tubes? When they're made?

Yeah whats the word on the dawn of T17? I've always wondered that myself

What about T5s and T10?