THE NIXIE TUBE CLOCK

BY JOHN WOODLEY

The Nixie tube Clock displays pre-dated LED and LCD. These tubes were extensively used during the Apollo space missions.

Inside a glass tube, ten filaments are shaped to form the digits 0 - 9 which, when lit, give off an orange/violet glow.
With modern displays we have become used to straight lines forming the digit segments. A zero is displayed as a rectangle
Each Nixie tube digit has its own individually formed filament, curves are used, so the figure “8” is a figure of eight shape and not represented by a square on top of a square.
The tubes are over 30 years old.
The numbers in the tubes are stacked in front of each other so as the seconds increase the digits seem to jump from front to back increasing the animation of the display.

Because the tubes run cold, they don't burn out like standard light bulbs and consequently still function 30 years later.

The clock runs off its own internal quartz crystal for high accuracy and for safety are powered off a low voltage power supply.

A limited edition of the NIXIE TUBE CLOCKS are available for sale.

info@theluminaries.com

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