the invention pertains to the achievement of improved lensing means employed in compact plural beam in - line crt electron gun assemblies resulting in small round spot sizes on the screen . such is effected by forming cooperating tapered apertures in a low potential lensing electrode and similar facing apertures in an adjacent high potential lensing electrode . the larger openings of the two sets of facing tapered apertures provide lenses of larger than normal dimensions . additionally , partial overlapping of the apertures permits even larger lenses in the available electrode areas , thereby effecting further improved lensing of the beams .