Nixie
tube, the name comes from Numeric Indicator Experimental - 1, is a product of the mid 50's to early 90's and no longer manufactured. They are the predecessor to the light emitting diode (LED), and more recently the LCD. They look like vacuum tubes, but are in fact a form of neon lamp filled with a mixture of Neon gas and a small amount of  Mercury or Argon. Inside the tube is a common screen mesh Anode at the front and, behind that, 10 successive formed wire digits or cathodes. Each cathode digit and the common Anode has a pin at the bottom of the tube. To light a digit you simply apply approximately 175VDC between the common Anode and the digit pin with a current limiting resistor in series. When energized the digit illuminates with the warm glow of neon surrounded by just a hint of azure tinge caused by the Mercury.

My obsession with these beautiful and fascinating tubes of yesteryear has driven me to own/modify/create several clocks designed around them. Some clocks were purchased pre-assembled and kept as such and some modified afterwards. The rest are based on Nixie clock kits, the electronics modified, and custom cases designed and built around the electronics.


Lately I am obsessed with the larger and more rare Nixie tubes still ‘available’ like the German Z5680M and Z568M, the American made NL8091 and B7971,  and the French F9020AA. Eventually I hope to own and build a case for 6 of the gargantuan Japanese CD-47’s, but the jury’s still out on that one. Building these clocks incorporates many of the things I love to dabble in; electronics, woodworking, metalworking...but mostly, they serve as a medium for me to be creative with no rules.


Please have a look at all my clocks below and click on the pic to take you to the respective page. Feel free to contact me with comments or general inquiries. Email is on the last page.

 

Mahogany & Brass - custom design, TubeHobby electronics

Jeff Thomas NixiChron-silver anodized pre-assembled

Jeff Thomas NixiChron-black anodized pre-assembled

Black Walnut & Polished Aluminum - custom design, modified Urbach electronics

Dieter Waechter V600

   pre-assembled (Modified)

Art Deco Nixie - Custom design, modified TubeHobby Electronics

Nixi Moderne - custom design, Jeff Thomas NixiSat electronics

Dieter Waechter ‘Sylvia’ VFD-pre-assembled

PanPacific - custom design, modified NixiChron electronics

Jeff Thomas NixiChron-kit modified polished aluminum case driving red filtered IN-18’s

Purple & Chrome Nixie-custom design, modified NixiChron electronics

Jurgen Grau’s IV-12 “Jenny“ VFD-kit

Acrylic Nixie- Custom design, modified Peter Hand electronics

The “Utilitarian” Nixie- based on the  NeoNixie controller

The “Mini-Pan”- Custom design, modified NixiChron electronics

The “NixiModerne-Variant II”- Customer designed base, modified NixiSat electronics

The “MOD-SIX_7971” Nixie electronics by Carl Ott

Laurence Wilkins TyNixie- custom acrylic case

The “Streamline” Nixie -

modified NixiSat electronics

Michael Barile

BadNixie.com LLC

The “MOD-SIX_Magic” - modified electronics by Carl Ott/Case by Michael Barile

The “RackMountable Nixie” - modified NixiChron electronics/Case modified government issue

CUSTOM CLOCKS ON THIS SITE ARE ‘ONE-OFFS’  AND ARE NOT AVAILABLE FOR SALE.

SOME CLOCKS SHOWN HERE BY DIETER WAECHTER, TUBEHOBBY, JURGEN GRAU, and PV ELECTRONICS ARE STILL COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE VIA THEIR SITES.

PLEASE CHECK WITH THESE BUILDERS FOR AVAILABILITY AND PRICING.

The “Ported & Polished 8091”  Nixie- modified NixiChron electronics/Case case by Michael Barile

PV Electronics LTC18 Modified Colon towers

The “Tribute to Jeff”  Nixie- modified NixiSat electronics/Case case by Michael Barile

Jurgen Grau’s ITS1A Thyratron Tube clock, Kit - modified Colon LED’s

Jurgen Grau’s IV-11 “Jenny Reloaded “ VFD-kit with clear top piece

Last Updated: 02-04-2024

Tangerine Dream (Nocrotec Blue Dream) - Handmade Colon towers and Modified Amber Floor Lighting 

PV Electronics Direct Drive  “Spectrum” with custom colon towers and perforated aluminum stands 

The “Transformer”  Nixie - PV Electronics Spectrum for the 568 tube/stands and towers by Michael Barile

The “Ported and Polished-Heavy-D” Nixie Nixie - PV Electronics Spectrum modified by Michael Barile

The NixiSat “SlinBlade” is modified NixiSat electronics/Case case by Michael Barile

Mike’s latest creation, the “the V12 and Slant-6 8091 Nixie clock

The F9020AA Ziggurat Nixie is modified PV electronics/Case case by Michael Barile

The Black Emerald Nixie is an updated version of MOD-SIX electronics. Case custom designed by Michael Barile

The Farny Zen clock, Case and Electronics 

modified by Michael Barile

NL8971 clock-Krell Gray enclosure. Identical to Black Emerald except enclosure

NL8071 clock-black anodized enclosure. Electronics modified and enclosure by Michael Barile

V12- NL8071 clock--extend trestle enclosure. Electronics modified and enclosure by Michael Barile