Abstract: A weight is placed on the electrical connection pins extending from the stem of a cathode ray tube having a funnel portion and a neck portion. The neck portion is circumferentially cracked completely through between the funnel portion and the stem. The stem and the neck portion are placed within a hermetic chamber which is evacuated until the stem having the weight thereon separates from the funnel portion at the circumferential crack in the neck portion. The separated stem trips a switch which terminates the evacuation and enables the admission of an inert dry gas in a gradual manner to prevent contaminating particles from being conveyed inside the open tube. When the pressure of the inert gas inside the hermetic chamber is substantially equal to atmospheric pressure outside the chamber, the open tube is removed for further processing.