I just discovered this video on Youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXc1c31WB_k&NR=1

Except all the TCP's advertising stuff I found it quite interesting, so I posted here the link.
From the video this manufacturer seems to make good bulbs (despite being made in China), but I don't trust too much all the advertising stuff put in that video. So what's your opinion and experiences with TCP branded CFLs? Just curious

That's interesting, I've never used a TCP CFL but some of the stuff they mention in that video seems to make sense for example the pre coating of the glass which is what GE do to their long last tubes.

you should check this though for small scale production:

http://www.cse.org.in/dte_slideshow/cfl_motinagar_20090218/cfl_motinagar.htm#slidenumber

This is most likely where those cheap fire causing CFLs come from

@Eliot_240: I'm not surprised at seeing these photos...

I think this situation it's not too far from this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oE2_OANcyM

I'm curious around what time when spiral almost entirely replaced bridged tube design in self-ballasted screw-in CFLs.

non-integral ballast CFLs with the exception of some off brand ones are joined bridge design.

The design is credited to General Electric, where it was developed in the 70s, but GE was not the first to market the spiral lamps.  Lights of America claims to have introduced spiral CFLs in 1997, although an article I found says a Chinese company, Shanghai Xiangshan, began producing them as far back as 1995.  Here is the article on Ed Hammer and CFL history.