Antique Pick of the Week: Nixie Tube Clock
September 3, 2008 by Peggy Rowland
Filed under Home & Living
I don’t do the antique picks every week, but I did come across a cool find this week. And it’s more of a new antique — a rebirth of the first digital clock.
Do you remember Nixie tubes? I sure don’t. They arrived on the scene in 1954. And got lost somewhere in the 70s.
But, just what is a Nixie tube? I’ll give it to you straight from Ramsey Electronics (they sell them now):
“The Nixie tube is a cold-cathode tube filled with neon gas and equipped with a wire mesh anode and multiple cathodes in the shape of numerals. Applying power to one of the cathodes creates the characteristic and appealing soft orange glow.”
Get more details on the Nixie Tube Clocks at Ramsey Electronics. It won’t wake you up in the morning or play your favorite CD, but it will get noticed.
Image via Ramsey Electronics.
Gosh I don’t remember these either; but I do remember the 50s. Avocado green appliances, lava lights, poodle skirts and saddle shoes … but not tube clocks!