THE BIGGEST NIXIE TUBE IN PRODUCTION

[@THISMUSEUMISNOTOBSOLETE]

all the comments about my nails. some days are just messy, this was after a few hours of cleaning underseal off a car and before that digging a hole for a french drain. no end of cleaning was getting the mess off (i washed em quite a lot you know lol). how do these people keep their nails constantly clean? unless they are pen pushers i guess? check dalibor's videos on the youtube channel ! www.youtube.com/@daliborfarny/videos i built this in a few hours without really thinking about it and in hindsight i should have skipped 6 and 7, ill be doing that. ill just put those on other numbers. btw that vibration is way less pronounced it must be the shutter speed. it looks very minimal to the eye. time will tell hey! consider it a stress test ha.

[@nathantron]

I recognized that tube anywhere!!!! Love their work.

[@richfiles]

What about using ALL the switch positions and having the numbers be "pseudo-random". It would better hide the lack of 6 and 7, and possibly reduce the big vibration at the end, if you can just keep cycling through (depending on the natural operation of that switch).

[@LOOKMUMNOCOMPUTER]

@@richfilesthe auto home bit is the best! But yeah I'm sorting those 2 digits. The auto home is staying though haha

[@BobofWOGGLE]

old miner's trick: clean stubborn gunk with hazardous chemical solvent

[@CoyTheobalt]

How have you reached this age without learning how to properly wash your nails.

[@mikeselectricstuff]

I have something for you to add to the display display - very unusual unit from an old venner frequency counter from the late 60's/early 70s - each digit has a moving-coil meter movement, turning a transparency film disc with the numbers on, and these are projected onto the front screen. The counter had a hundred or so germanium transistors.

[@THISMUSEUMISNOTOBSOLETE]

hey mike! ooh that sounds delightfully bonkers!

[@mikeselectricstuff]

@@THISMUSEUMISNOTOBSOLETE When I get a chance I'll hook it up to something to make it work & get it to you.

[@hignaki]

The coolest offer, that rules man

[@peterfarmer1592]

I had one of those. Still got some of this transistors and the 100 Kcs xtal.

[@peskyparttimers8239]

I had one of those displays, never seen another one anywhere since. BNIB ex MoD.

[@kay486]

Great to see that you finally managed to get your hands on some of these! I am the guy who designed the font for the H Tube (We briefly met at your Prague gig earlier this year where I brought the Soemtron calculator to have it autograph :D ). Design the font was quite a fun challenge, with the brief being to have a font that looks and feels vintage, kinda like on an old typewrite. This eventually resulted in the inclusion in serifs (pretty sure this is the only nixie tube that ever had them). Having the numerals be just a simple line would have been too thin at this scale so I ended up treating it as an outline instead but that required having to do some bridging tricks for stability. You can see how all the curved lines tend to come together and touch at some point half way into the curve or how the bottom half on the number 3 continues and essentially cuts across the outlined shape just so you have an extra intersection. I am still bit annoyed that the number 2 needed the extra bridge in the middle, it was just too flimsy without it and I couldnt figure out any more elegant way of doing it. Oh and here is a fun fact: even the old 50mm big Z568M used essentially the outline for the number 1, but the two vertical lines are so close together it glows as a single line - this was done to get the apparent brightness closer to the other digits as well as reducing the variance in the current across digits! Another odd thing about that tube is that it has an extra 8 in the middle of the digit stack, Im not sure if I remember this correctly but think it might be shorted to the anode grid to help things glow better? (it is put in upside down relative to the other digits to minimize overlap with the digits beneath as to maximize visibility)

[@VAXHeadroom]

The outline design of the numerals is really great!

[@tomthepom98]

Fantastic work; thanks for the info!

[@daliborfarny]

Thank you again for creating the digits! 🙏🙏

[@extended_e]

It looks really pretty and uniform, so your design works well.

[@IvanStepaniuk]

DaliborFarny has a KZbin channel with AMAZING content and insights into what it takes to create something like this in this day an age.

[@THISMUSEUMISNOTOBSOLETE]

definitely is! we are very grateful for these b stocks :D

[@graealex]

Yes, highly recommended to watch his videos

[@andrewmackie5110]

I suspected this was Dalibor's nixie when I clicked this vid! I love a good YT collab.

[@Allan_aka_RocKITEman]

@IvanStepaniuk → _This video_ ENDED with YT SUGGESTING a video from _that channel._ *EDIT→* Turns out I am already subscribed to that channel...🤭

[@AaronBockelie]

A display display for displays that display, on display!

[@TRIPPLEJAY00]

Which is next to another display, displaying other displays whilst the display case made for displays, to be displayed to the public.

[@AaronBockelie]

@@TRIPPLEJAY00 while I am displaying on my display. Golly the English language is amusing sometimes.

[@artoodiitoo]

Displaytion

[@ricknelson947]

Dalibor is an amazing problem solver. Watching him through the development of this display to production was a treat and I never had a doubt that he would be successful. His work does deserve to be preserved in a museum.

[@colinstu]

Awesome one/some of his tubes have made it your way! I remember running across his first vids when he was working on his first Nixie tube production. Having to figure out everything from scratch again bc it was basically a lost art / process. So many copycats have sprung up since, he's the OG! Proud/happy owner of ZEN clock #69 (nice). Love that he sent you some of his H-tubes, that was a few year process for an art installation in Japan.

[@grabasandwich]

I found Dalibor's channel early on. What he accomplished is incredible, and I hope he's had great success re-creating these amazing devices from scratch!

[@WOFFY-qc9te]

Great display never seen one that large, one thing if you check the video at 06:42 you will see the vibration from the uniselector is moving the cathode wires. This may cause shorts or damage after while. Maybe prudent to isolate the display on some soft foam bushes.. Great demo thanks Sam.

[@singflower]

Wow. I've been watching Dalibor's channel for years but I never had a feeling for how massive these tubes really are until you held it right in front of you face

[@glasslinger]

Wonderful museum! Keep on with it!

[@icarus901]

glad to see you here. I thought of your channel while watching this!

[@daliborfarny]

@glasslinger this nixie would never existed without you ;-)

[@CalculatorObsessed]

Literally brilliant display. Have enjoyed watching the Dalibor Farný videos on making this display, well worth a watch. Excellent news that there is another place to see one of his H Nixie tubes, even if they are not fully functional b grade ones. Keep up the good work; museum is amazing.

[@kementh]

Always great to see these new manufacture Nixie tubes out and about :D One thing that did occur to me is for display purposes it might be a good idea to skip the filaments that aren't working? it's always possible some previous patron might leave it set just before the 'bad' digits, and the next viewer to come along might think it's not working when they hit the button and nothing lights up.

[@leiraernandes]

Fascinating !!!!!!!! I remember when I was in high school (in the 80s) in a laboratory I could see a timer that had nixie tubes for indication and I was fascinated with how it worked but after that I could never see anything like it until a few years ago when I found them again on the internet. My mother always said that everything comes back. Today I see that there are people with great knowledge and skill resurrecting these technologies that dazzle all the adults and children who have at least some concern about technical issues and their application. Great work !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@ajplays-gamesandmusic4568]

My friend Dave has Nixie tubes that are larger than that. They came from the NY Times Square Ball Drop countdown display (several generations old version of the countdown clock).

[@olsmokey]

Pictures please.

[@xsc1000]

Is it really a nixie tube or is it neon?

[@volvo09]

​@@xsc1000 yeah neon sounds more plausible. Nixies aren't all that bright, neon would be more fitting for times square countdown clocks.

[@railgap]

Pictures?

[@ajplays-gamesandmusic4568]

@@railgap I'll get some pics the next time I visit him in Tucson.

[@Xlr8ive]

Such an attractive way of displaying information, love the typography and camera presence, thanks again Sam

[@ZaphodHarkonnen]

Absolutely gorgeous and I want one. Only suggestion I'd make is putting the uniselector onto a vibration reduction mounting of some sort. Even just mounting the 3D printed base on some springs.

[@Magic_Toaster]

Thank you for displaying the display of displays

[@tHaH4x0r]

Magnificent. 6:58 Love how you can see that the glow is actually behind the wires, and not coming from the wires themselves. That vibration was very unsettling! Lets hope it doesnt slowly kill the tube...

[@Exciting__Electronics]

That vibration is definitely gonna kill that tube dude.

[@THISMUSEUMISNOTOBSOLETE]

time will tell. watch this space

[@sonixthatsme]

Maybe add some anti vibration rubbers underneath the counter ?

[@carmichaelmoritz8662]

He most likely doesn't care about it.

[@railgap]

I've seen nixies in high vibration environments (old process control equipment) where the shaking was so bad the numerals were blurred. So I think you're mistaken, or you only have experience with very cheap tubes.

[@Exciting__Electronics]

@@railgap The tubes already broken and has lose parts.

[@flowmastak1]

I love that the cathodes are almost like calligraphy

[@agentoranj5858]

Knew it, Dalibor's nixie tubes are pieces of art.

[@PatrickHogenboom]

That's an absolutely marvellous piece of engineering and perseverance. Soooo cool that they sent you those B-stock tubes Falling down a nixie rabbit hole myself these days Yet another reason to make the trip across the pond to visit your wonderful museum I felt that vibration in my bones 😬

[@lachlanlau]

Was about to say it could only be Dalibor’s work. Been watching his channel since his first clock..

[@flamshiz]

I really like the outline look of the digit filaments

[@computersales]

Daliborfarny is legendary with their ability to reinvent nixie tubes. Plus their test wall for nixie tubes is also amazing. 🤤

[@clauscombat418]

The ambient sounds remind me of Doc Brown's clock experiments from Back to the future :)

[@artoodiitoo]

Great Scott!

[@aristotles-lantern]

I do worry about the longevity of that with vibration from the uniselector..! what a beautiful display.

[@THISMUSEUMISNOTOBSOLETE]

lets find out!

[@NuffMan_]

Wonder if same trick works on those as with incandescent light bulbs.. as in when the wire breaks, if you manage to turn and wiggle the bulb so that the broken wire makes contact, it welds itself together and works again.

[@stevebabiak6997]

I suggested possibly a laser to weld, but that’s the idea.

[@ChrisSmout]

Dropping a like and comment on behalf of my dad who as a nixie tube lover would have been all over this video. RIP John. I also have a large Dalibor Farney nixie clock and they are gorgeous.

[@KeritechElectronics]

Ah, Dalibor's loveliness, even with 6 and 7 missing! Thing of beauty, joy for ever. If I recall correctly, Dalibor had indeed some problems in developing these tubes, and it's no wonder - the larger it gets, the harder it is. That'd be THE biggest real deal Nixie tube in the world - I wouldn't count Glasslinger's neon tube digits under a glass cover as a proper Nixie tube. Makes me want to visit you... with Fran!

[@U014B]

I can't help but wonder what the use case was for this. At what point do you need something that big without justifying going up to higher voltages?

[@rewIndustry]

at 8:00 - could the thing you're holding be some kind of dot matrix display?

[@BronzeAgePuritan]

Get yourself a mercury arc rectifier!

[@InfiniteBubbles]

Hmmm tasty mercury

[@arjovenzia]

dalibor farny has some amazing videos. never thought glassblowing would be so mesmerising. led me down a whole rabbit hole.

[@roctobot]

never thought i'd see a nixie tube like that! the design and glow of the numbers are so nice

[@anracc5302]

amazing place you have there, and so close to home! definitely need to visit some time

[@Brian-L]

I’m really jealous Sam. I’d love to get my hands on one of Dalibor’s B stocks for giggles.

[@supercompooper]

I love all of Dalibor's works. own most. Definitely will pick up a bunch of these!

[@karlramberg]

Awesome. Hope the vibration from the uniselector dosnt kill it

[@radarmusen]

It really professional handcrafted things dalibor are doing.

[@RWBHere]

That thing is Ooje! Never knew that they were made in that size - and bigger. Thanks for the video.

[@dcallan812]

The video showing the bulbs production is really interesting. But yes very nice tube. Love the chunky sound of the relay and the numbers are 😘👌

[@electronash]

Aside from the 12V reg being a chonker, I don't see a problem with how you built this. I mean, it's not like you're super limited on space on that board. :P I love that Nixie tube. Never seen one quite like it.

[@almightyEsquilax]

Did you see that ludicrous display display last night?

[@LOOKMUMNOCOMPUTER]

Lol

[@imajeenyus42]

That’s a thing of beauty! Now wire it up to a telephone rotary dial as well 😊😊

[@JacGoudsmit]

That display would work fine as a ten-second or ten-minute display since it would never need to display 6 or 7 anyway.

[@MVVblog]

Fran Lab paradise!

[@TiBiAstro]

I love when my fave KZbinrs get together ❤

[@bigchubb5268]

Tube displays are awesome

[@dfgaJK]

Aren't the mechanical selector and relay a bad idea in terms of vibrations?

[@LOOKMUMNOCOMPUTER]

It's fine

[@Elder-Sage]

Giving a mad scientist known defective equipment. What could go wrong?

[@stevenmayhew3944]

I saw Dalibor Farny's videos about how he made these nixie tubes and the display which he made for the Japanese museum where seven show up words in Japanese.

[@FennecTECH]

Let’s get this guy 4 of these and demand he make the largest nixie clock in the world

[@nnov_tech_chan7891]

The biggest nixie tubes can be seen in computer game Portal 2. There were a giant hatch controlled by two buttons separated by big distance, and large displays so operators can signal each other to press the buttons in the same time.

[@solarbirdyz]

Doubled lines! I adore it! Best nixie.

[@SeraphimCherubim]

I think you need a mercury rectifier in your display display.

[@CollectiveSoftware]

The Nixie Tube of Sauron

[@SenkJu]

5:30 Are you sure 130-140 V is enough for reliable ignition? That sounds like where I would expect the maintaining voltage to be. I would usually go a bit higher with a properly sized resistor (170V, maybe).

[@LOOKMUMNOCOMPUTER]

as you can see, it is more than enough, lights every time

[@MB-st7be]

Have you ever come across a shift register tube? (A dekatron with storage) My grandfather designed it for Ericsson but it never made it to market. I do wonder if any of the prototypes survived.

[@dedicatedspuddler7641]

Very cool! Nixie tubes are awesome!

[@rickoneill4343]

DISPLAY!!!!

[@Pillowcase]

I really enjoyed your display of the display of a display for your display display.

[@bank8489]

wow. that is an absolutely stunning piece. imagine the alarm clock you could make with those 😭

[@TimmyJoe633]

Love that 😊 Does 6 and 7 work in the other display? Could always have a set up where it jumps to the other display for the digits that don't work on that one?

[@LOOKMUMNOCOMPUTER]

very true i may well do that

[@lupo8282]

Since the numbers 1 - 4 are working, this could be nicely used as a bpm sync display for a clock.

[@DesertNinjaX]

I've never wanted a display display more in my life 🖤

[@Allan_aka_RocKITEman]

Having a giant Nixie tube where you could SEE the broken internal wire but NOT be able to repair it would drive me insane...🤭

[@bastiat691]

Lots of displays on display in the display display!

[@DISCOTECHS]

I spy a Coutant Variable Power Supply.. We used these at training college during my apprenticeship in 1973.. Very good PSU

[@wdwadindwatri]

says it"s very fragile - CONTINUES TO SHAKE VIGOROUSLY

[@SK0T_N0TH1NG]

Are you going to setup a bypass on 6 & 7 for longevity? 😮 Amazing 🤯😵

[@Timsturbs]

why connect 6 7 if they dont work otherwise a beautiful thing cant help but wonder if its possible to fix it

[@ddummer]

Put the guy from Technology Connections infront of that display and he would talk nonstop for 24 hours... :)

[@ElukeNL]

And I would probably watch that

[@nutzeeer]

someone needs to make a large wall clock of these

[@bakin300]

whats the best typa light for low electricity

[@em3460]

That would look sick in like a rat rod build as a headlight.

[@tfrowlett8752]

I have a small Nixie tube clock that also shows the date. I still need to design a cabinet or case to put it in

[@bielanski2493]

this object meets me in a dark alley at the corner of Megalophobia and Fragile

[@mezu-e]

6:29 display on

[@mdouglaswray]

#Daliborfarny has done amazing work developing the H tube!! I WANT ONE!

[@ryan0io]

Gheezus. And I thought my IN-18 tubes were big. Can't imagine what 6 of those big suckers would cost for a 6 digit clock.

[@hardrivethrutown]

almost CRT sized, I love it

[@steamtrainjr1606]

Saw these on his website but didn't realize how FREAKING HUGE it is 😆

[@edgeeffect]

Wow! Having been watching him make them on KZbin... that's quite a score.

[@ReinhardSchuster]

Nixie tubes are so damn beautiful

[@ibanezleftyclub]

If you took a shot each time Sam said “Display” in this video……you would be dead lol

[@graemedavidson499]

A rectangular one with a single custom made house name cathode would be quite attractive, akin to a neon tube sign! It would be very expensive I imagine…

[@Phantomthecat]

A thing of beauty is a joy forever. 👍

[@joehopfield]

Madness! 🎉

[@TheEPROM9]

These were designed for an art installation, need to pop up again, things have started to carm down a bit.

[@fox.9879]

try and find a mechanical TV. i thing that would be a cool addition to the display display

[@stevebabiak6997]

For the broken wires in the “B stock” Nixie tubes, have they ever tried using a laser to try to weld the breakage after the device has been tested? Curious because I think that might be a possible way to fix them.

[@LOOKMUMNOCOMPUTER]

i think because its not relianrt on heat but a cold cathode. i dont think its possible

[@stevebabiak6997]

@@LOOKMUMNOCOMPUTER - I am only speculating about what I think could be a possibility. It was mentioned that a wire had broken, if the broken ends can be brought close to each other with some wiggling of the tube, then a laser could be directed at the area of the breakage to fuse the wire. Speculation, but I think it’s an idea worth trying.

[@Colin_Ames]

Very cool!

[@Allan_aka_RocKITEman]

*_"That's a big Twinkie."_* - GHOSTBUSTERS [1984] 😊

[@noggin73]

That is extremely cool

[@JaysElectronicTinkerShack]

awesome i would love a clock made with these i saw the art exibit with these mental hes a true artist

[@asn413]

id be interested to see how numerical displays on game shows back in the 60s and 70s were made and ran without solid state systems.

[@mpstrgc112]

What are these used for?

[@spykillergames8402]

The biggest question is who needs a nixie display that BIG

[@LOOKMUMNOCOMPUTER]

We all do