Last Of The First - NIMO Tube Prototypes!

Thanks again to Joe Velas for the impossible chance to show these last-of-their-kind relics to the history of display technology. Perhaps the last NIMO tube video I will make, but what a series it has been indeed. Enjoy!
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[@Bisqwit]

That is some very pretty one-digit display.

[@jamesharris9352]

Wonder How Perfect The Display Had To Be? It's Very Legible In My Opinion... Love Your Project Builds Fran... Do Another! 😉👍 Blessings James 🌈

[@gork42]

Joe Velas thanks for sharing these with us by way of Fran, and thanks for your work. These are truly splendid devices!

[@markpitt5248]

What I like about this video is that it gives a little insight into probably why Nimmo tubes didn’t take off. They have manufacturing difficulties with gun alignment that means expensive rejects and the round form factor was becoming old hat for numeric display systems.

[@SuprSi]

Thanks Fran, and Joe Velas for his high quality unobtanium donation. It was really cool to see these working!

[@7head7metal7]

"You never know, what's gonna be on the bench in the FranLab" This is more than enough to get my inner child's curiosity going. Let's explore funky electronics! I wish there was something like this on TV when I was a kid. This could inspire so many more

[@frankowalker4662]

It's a pitty they stopped Telefunken prodicing the rectangular Nimo's, there could be quite a lot around by now.

[@gregorythomas333]

"Please don't blow up!" This is my mantra ever time I turn on a project :) Disassemble? No disassemble!!!

[@Kalvinjj]

Oh that apprehensive feel on the 1st smoke test! I always keep on the edge with one hand on the power supply that I don't take off until I see it actually working. Usually even turning it right off if it doesn't work right away, who knows if it's a short just beginning to heat up before blowing up stuff or if it was just a lose wire.

[@TatsuZZmage]

No disassemble number 5.

[@ethanpoole3443]

Reassemble, Stephanie!

[@aserta]

Classic case of tunnel vision. Whilst Telefunken lifted the design, IEE really should've just told them to pay royalty and produce under their license. Everyone would've benefited from this. I'm pretty sure tho, this might have to do with the lawyers and their usual advice. One of the reasons i dislike predatory folk in that branch of work. Their actions destroy quite a lot of things.

[@andygozzo72]

maybe they gave TFK that option? but they refused??

[@UpLateGeek]

These are so cool! I definitely think you're right about the rectangular nimo tubes, the round ones look so much more clunky in comparison. The picture showing the array of rectangular tubes makes them look much more efficient, and I'm gussing it's easier to read when they're not as spread out as they would be with the round tubes.

[@michaelardai9703]

I just checked my pile of stuff; I have an IEE rectangular NIMO (6100-31-0006) with the IEE driver board, so there are a few out there...

[@Dark_eVader]

Does it still work good?

[@loukashareangas4420]

Well, you know who you can send it all to...

[@cgoad]

Hi Fran. Wow! TWO amazing pieces of unobtainium. AND they both still work! A big thank you to Joe for sending these to you, and a big thank you to you for daring to power them up. You've got a real, living museum in the lab. Thank you for sharing these treasures.

[@jensschroder8214]

If Telefunken had come to an agreement with IEEE and paid license fees then this type of display tube would have been a success.

[@andygozzo72]

yep, dunno why they didnt have this option, or did they but refused to pay ?

[@derekaggs11]

I’m imagining Fran building a clock with a row of tiny B&W camcorder viewfinder CRTs.

[@keithyinger3326]

That reminds me of the tiny crt tube i have out in my shed. It came from a mini oscilloscope, so it should be a green display tube. I haven't even looked at in years to recall if there's any numbers on it or not. Maybe i should go dig it out. Could be some rare old tube or something.

[@tommyb.6064]

What about finding 4 12 inches color crt the same model and two miniature ones for the middle dots. That would make a heavy clock assembly but would be nice. Ideally, the crt would had to be driven by vector processor rather than bitmap

[@majikglustik9704]

Don't give up! Bell labs and Western Electric CAN STILL MAKE THEM, special order. Call them. You'll be glad you did!

[@ArnaudMEURET]

Wat !? Seriously?

[@majikglustik9704]

@@ArnaudMEURET that's who has always constructed and installed space program hardware. The first missions in space involved satellite telephone relay circuits and were funded ENTIRELY by The Bell System.

[@ArnaudMEURET]

@@majikglustik9704 OK but how can you be certain that they accept such orders? It’s unimaginable that they’d keep a production line ready for this. Do you know that they have old stock?

[@majikglustik9704]

@@ArnaudMEURET excellent question! Here's the process: You contact them and they can construct a series of prototype components, so data can be gathered about the raw materials process that would supply a production line. This data is used to establish the logistics of the assembly program and to develop the tools, and tooling needed to make the product. It all starts at bell labs. Contact them directly and I believe they could EASILY fulfill simple orders by constructing several units at a time, in their shop. Tell them what you want. The phone call or email starts your journey. Yes, vaccum tubes are them. Nimo tubes. You name it... Bell labs developed it, and Western Electric built it. And NASA flew it.

[@majikglustik9704]

@@ArnaudMEURET not only old stock...before any machines are made to build such components, one must build specimens, in the lab / shop, by hand. Then they know what they need to do to assemble the machines that will MASS PRODUCE the components assembly in question. Auto makers make each years cars parts (each one) by hand, and assemble the PROTOTYPE into a finished auto made ENTIRELY BY HAND. Once that is done, then one can design the tools, machines, and processes that will produce that model years car. Again, bell labs has the property rights, plans, schematics, and intellectual LICENSE to make electronic components like nixey tubes. They would have to produce each tube by hand, not with a machine. Only when there is enough demand, would they tool & dye an assembly line. Call them. They can advise you better. Bell labs (makers of the transistor, and integrated circuit: see also, "at&t tech channel"). Western Electric (who made and operated the assembly lines). Untill you inquire of them, they won't know you want these. Thusly, they will be impossible to get, unless you go to a manufacturer, like Western Electric, or Bell Labs. All the best.

[@LuxuryDragonessX]

Your genuine enthusiasm just makes me really happy, subscribed

[@enquiryplay]

Imagine an alternative timeline in which nimo became the dominant display technology. We could all be wearing nimo tube wristwatches right now.

[@aserta]

At 1800ish volts...eh, doubt it. Once the LCD came out, no other format stood a chance. It's a no-brainer. And the LCD was a natural progression, so it's not like favoring a different format might've hindered it.

[@R.Daneel]

Imagine the VR rigs. Basically a bus with the back door replaced with a faceplate and a strap.

[@grmlab4510]

Sounds fantastic. I'd love one.

[@felixar90]

The size of a Pip-Boy

[@caodesignworks2407]

As other's have said, it's just not really a possibility without a truly massive watch. These weren't even practical forms of display, neither were Nixies, for that matter, but back then, they were throwing everything at a wall and seeing what sticks. And when LCD hit the market, nothing stood a chance.

[@TBL_stevennelson]

You could use the count down to start the show or live stream. Thanks for sharing love all your videos.

[@davelister796]

and/or use a NIMO count down to zero, fade to black, to end the video. :-)

[@metatechnologist]

You can't expect a prototype to work correctly. I think it works fairly well.

[@curlybrace314]

You first taught me about NIMO tubes, and it is real cool to see prototypes!

[@adamwilks]

Finding NIMO! It’s a thing of beauty.

[@fungusenthusiast8249]

Whoa! Quite literally one of a kind! This should get more attention, fascinating history.

[@gromett]

Never heard of NIMO tubes before. They are beautiful.

[@Codeaholic1]

"I'm gonna make it easy on myself" .... uses a slot headed screw. :-D You're one of a kind Fran

[@jondhuse1549]

Beautiful! Thank you for this!

[@rarbiart]

so Telefunken was sued not to produce by a competitor who decided not to sell the product?

[@monad_tcp]

stupid isn't , that's the patent system

[@AeRiaL_]

yeah that was weird to hear to me as well, it makes no sense lmao

[@mUbase]

WOW. So very excellent. Thanks Fran. Trailblazing away. xxx

[@69dblcab]

Fully functional! Great Bin a View intro. Thanks Fran. Your videos are always fun.

[@lonerthehumanimpersonator7742]

Didn't expect another nimo vid! The first vid I've seen of yours was your first nimo vid.

[@Josh_Fredman]

Your end-of-video silent clips can hit so hard sometimes. Even though you said many times in the video that it was the last of its kind, and practically one-of-a-kind even when it was new, it wasn't till the footage of the little tube silently cycling through the digits that my mind began to wander into the world where this plucky little voltage monster was the first of many, a world that never came to be, and now lives only in our imaginations, generations later...

[@Miata822]

Here is see things that I never would have seen otherwise. Thanks, Fran!

[@eightbit3342]

Seeing that thing fire up made me so happy, thank you Fran :) , thank you Joe Velas. 8-bit.

[@nickolaswilcox425]

you are probably one of the only people on earth who both knows about these and actually has the gear to turn it on and use it, its no wonder the surviving samples keep finding you, the oddity is that they still exist and function more or less like new despite manufacturing flaws

[@francesarpaia]

Woah! These are sick. Mythological is the perfect word.

[@joell439]

It’s the one and only....... how appropriate...... Fran, you too are a one and only 👍👍. Thanks for sharing. Fascinating

[@nilo70]

Thanks Fran for letting us all come along !

[@MrTangent]

I have a couple Nixie clocks… looks like a Nimo antiquated artifact of some kind will be in my possession soon enough. Fantastic video.

[@kimwelch4652]

What a lovely little particle accelerator.

[@novanut1964]

enjoyed the rarity and working demonstration, thanks

[@MVVblog]

I'm sure you are in heaven playing with that unobtainium NIMO tube 😃

[@lexologics]

Great one Fran thanks

[@cmdrleeloocatfish7619]

Epic ! Thanks !

[@nzoomed]

FINDING NIMO

[@lansdragon2542]

Сколько живу, но вот такие вакумно элюминисцентные индикаторы вижу впервые. Очень похож принцип работы как у осцилографических трубок. Я не уверен что, подобное выпускалось у нас. А если и было то весьма крайне редким эксклюзивом. Не для массового выпуска. Для очень редкой аппаратуры. Браво и спасибо вам за такое позновательное видио)

[@isidrodeleon673]

Perfect for my time machine.

[@chriswalford4161]

Wow! Just wow! That looks really tactile.

[@randyhelzerman]

It is beyond words nuts that you could actually get a prototype vacuum tube from the 60's to work. I'm doing the "we are unworthy" genuflections.

[@workingtitle1791]

It's thrilling to get to see some old tech that i never would have heard of otherwise

[@ptonpc]

That looks really nice.

[@suddenseer9013]

Dayton Hamvention used to be the place to find rare goodies like this. I'd love to sift through what you discard!

[@stephenhamill7615]

Nice stuff Fran

[@motaba555]

What to say, AWESOME!

[@keefjunior4061]

That's amazing! I wish I could tell you I had a box of nos ones laying around, but you're right, those are some seriously unobtainable items. IEEE prototypes at that! Rarified air you breathe Fran!

[@lawrencebrown3582]

Never seen those before. Lovely!

[@Kamodomon]

That's cool. Really like the green of the light.

[@kevincaswell39]

love the ending credit song, u crack me up fran

[@barkbarkbarkbarkable]

Fran is 'Da Bomb' !

[@Davidjb37721]

Nice job thanks

[@CallousCoder]

Those things are brilliant.

[@JBantha]

You should interview Joe.

[@Techno-Universal]

Apparently lift companies like Otis often used tubes like this for the floor indicators inside their lifts around the time these tubes were popular! :)

[@kevincaswell39]

I got unsubscribed somehow, but I fixed that by re-subscribing! You Rock Fran!

[@atan7260]

These are very cool

[@Erwinhooi]

Awesome crt tube👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@fredflickinger643]

Ultra cool!

[@newmonengineering]

Neat little tubes!!

[@craigybhoy978]

wow, tubes on the tube. great vids as usual fran. now you come up on my feed yeaahhh, but yt have heavily advertised on this, had 17 ads on my view.

[@FranLab]

AdBlock.

[@craigybhoy978]

@@FranLab i have it but it does take a funny turn every so often. i dont mind ads

[@GGray-gg4yn]

Telefunken products across the board were better than anything IEE EVER MADE !!!!

[@jorgenskyt]

I just love your videos :-)

[@syrew900]

They are so lovely, I wish these had taken off the same as Nixie tubes. I love the frosty look of the glass, and the green glow

[@miroslavzima8856]

I was looking for medieval facts. How the hell did I end here? I regret nothing xD

[@bassobalalaikka5005]

some tube sockets can be cleaned by small brushes usually used instead of flossing wire between teeth. those are available in various sizes at least in Europe, dont see why not in US too.

[@earthlingjohn]

5:41 fire to the wire... It's Ailve !!

[@fredflintstone1]

Thanks for sharing, I guess powering it up must have been quite tense time for you :-)

[@marcs990]

Amazing insight into telecommunications history. Thx 🙏 so much as there isn’t anyone that else out there doing the exact things you so. I have a “History of Telecommunications” & I have all the info I need from this channel. I can now spread the knowledge.

[@alfulton5946]

I'm so glad I watched this video as I love nixie tubes and these ones are awesome also. I'm saving up for a nixie watch rn and if these ones were miniaturized I would love to get one of these also

[@rectify2003]

This is so interesting, it’s like a Film set of a 50’s space movie

[@rb032682]

cool stuff

[@bamagregv]

Tell Joe thank you and OPA!

[@CmmdrKitty]

Yay more Nimo tubes!! I found me inverted nixie tubes and others! Cant brain hard enough to build a clock. Quite complicated......

[@NeonThoughtBox]

Aw, yes. I need this nerdiness.

[@nw7696]

Nice!

[@adampeters7947]

A nice track!

[@compu85]

Was the 0 and 5 improving on the round tube after a bit of run time real, or a camera artifact?

[@Sabastianspreadworth]

You obtained the unobtainable unobtanium, neat.

[@badjer1983]

Fran - Do a video on all of your vacuum tubes collection! That would be cool.

[@mrmobodies4879]

I like the glow. It reminds me of some toy night light plugs in the 80'S for toddlers where you plug them in and they light in the dark.

[@butchlauer]

Supa cool!

[@rougeneon1997]

Penn-State University? Cool. Im from central PA. Ive never heard of those tubes. VERY cool

[@paulbennett4548]

Today's numbers where bought to you by Unobtainium. Today's knowledge was bought to you by FRAN.............Yehhhhhhh!!! Great fun video thank you.

[@MemeReviewer]

Nice, some footage of an XM1000!

[@RaivoltG]

Why are some of the numbers split and others are solid? Thank you! Great channel!!

[@robertcurtis3815]

I've come across a few rectangular tubes in old navel sonar equipment retro adapted for receiving early television. My grandad used to make them. X

[@robertcurtis3815]

Oh.. different tubes. Still wonderful though. X

[@chrisreynolds6331]

These tubes are interesting I have never seen them.

[@georgeweller1]

Its like electronic archaeology.

[@djdigital3806]

Cool old-school digital display 🤔

[@DetroitMicroSound]

I love your tiny monitors...... 😁

[@bassobalalaikka5005]

great video. the square NIMO tube might need degaussing, in case it has accumulated static magnetism in its structures.

[@EsotericArctos]

That overshoot, hot spot and difference in brightness may be why it never went into production given it was a prototype.

[@PiratCarribean]

I saw some interesting VFD tubes for sale online. A star, devided into segments, in the middle of 5 lines, in a circle on each side. Could be a nice animated tube.

[@skeetsmcgrew3282]

I love the idea of some engineer watching this like "Dammit its been 50 years and someone is STILL giving me flack for not aligning those guns properly!!" 😂