Let's cut to the chase. I've been researching through numerous, reliable and unreliable, resources. According to the CRT official site and wiki, the first CRT( cathode ray tube (CRT) was invented by Carl Ferdinand Braun, year 1897. Yet undeniable proofs of CRTs being used in experiments in 1860s have been collected.
So this leaves the question unanswered. Noting that one of the fundamental progresses in chemistry ( discoverydiscovery of electron) is based on this useful tube, I will be thankful to anyone willing to share some info.