Biggest Nixie clock yet
In this video I’m admiring the giant, newly manufactured ZIN-70 tubes in Millclock’s latest and greatest Nixie clock.
Hope everyone is doing fine. After the recent Patreon update I don’t have anything outstanding left to mention - so instead I’ll just wish you all the best. Take care.
UPDATE: Just a couple of tiny micro edits, mostly because I realised I’d said a descriptive word twice in close succession and this jarred a bit. Also made a new thumbnail because the first one looked weird.
Comments (47)
I’ve just had my patreon receipt for Mat’s channel and I just wanted to reiterate what amazing content techmoan creates. Ok we all know this and that’s why we’re here but taking the time to say thank you is really important so I try to do it as much as possible where and when it’s warranted. Been with techmoan for many many years and I’m really chuffed to see the massive numbers that support the channel these days. So, “thank you” Mat, your stuff brings a little slice of light into my life on a regular basis. It’s absolute gold. But, more puppets content please!
ditto entirely
Awesome!
Yes we still have the giant faxe nixes at the station in Copenhagen
You know when you come across something that is just amazing, and you can't help yourself from smiling stupidly like a child. The feeling of excitement, appreciation for the work they're putting in, and the sheer size of the tubes is just amazing. The price I expected was more in the range of $2000 - $3000, so the actual price sounds downright reasonable.
Superb rave gloves, where's the whistle? Were you down the hac back in the day? Funny enough I got a similar pair of gloves included with a light fitting I put up for someone the other day, no doubt included due to the dangerous as **** razor sharp thin metal it was pressed out from.
As always, thanks for presenting.
I've been meaning to clue you in on something for a while and this video finally put me over the top. There is another type of clock which seems like the type of thing we all would like, I know I do, and I own a few. These tickle a similar place as nixies. I'm referring to Lumitime clocks. They are entirely mechanical "digital" clocks. There is a fascinating electro-mechanical setup inside that I describe as an AC motor driving a music box. The segments are illuminated by neon bulbs and there are mesmerizing bogus digits during minute changes. This company did eventually make run-of-the-mill digital clocks with LED displays, so avoid those when buying one. Perhaps the best way to describe one is to show one. I haven't made a video myself, but here is a great one that shows one of these clocks. https://youtu.be/SVG9veCKogU -Ben
Those are cool, i'd never heard of them either. Well, off to eBay!
I think the biggest (fake) Nixie tubes may have been at the "Evoluon" in my home town of Eindhoven, the Netherlands. The "tubes" were about 2 meters high in my memory and were used to count the number of visitors. The Evoluon was a science museum between 1966 when it was built, until 1989 when it was closed and Philips started using it for other purposes. I don't think anyone knows what happened to the Nixie tubes. At least the good news is that they've recently re-opened it as a museum. Some pictures are at this webpage and there's a little movie on YouTube too I think. https://evoluon.dse.nl/film-e.htm
Those are a bit more like it - funny that we were just talking about ball bearing clocks and those are feature in the photos too.
Nice! Also, regarding the emotions, your "look at that" is absolutely defining. I am quite sure those chaps will be happy with this video. Also, good that they are still in business. Ukraine is turning to be quite a land / people. A friend works with some, external IT. He has told me quite some stories.
Impeccable. You realize, I hope, one of the most enjoyable bits of seeing this clock, is knowing you own it. Enjoy.
Another excellent video. Mat. I'd love one, but the price is a bit above my reach. When I win the lottery, I'll be straight onto them. In the meantime, I did build one of these kits: https://mitxela.com/shop/clock which hugely impressed me. It's only just occurred to me that this is something you might like to do a video on at some point. If you do, I can suggest a few simple additions that make it much more user-friendly. Cheers, S.
I’ll take a good look at these, thanks.
The iconic clock on Copenhagen Central's main entrance is indeed alive and well in all its segmented neon glory. It is in its seventies now of course, but I don't believe anyone would dare to suggest removing it.
I didn’t realise it was so iconic.
Really beautiful.
I bet you used to own own of those ball clocks where the ball bearings would roll into gullies until they overflowed to the next line. I remember one of my Mum's friends owning on in the 80's and I was fascinated by it. I bought one in the late 90's from the local Cash Convertors. I got sick of it really quickly.
I’d forgotten all about those. I do now remembering very much wanting one…I also think I remember them being a bit noisy. Maybe someone will bring it back with translucent RFID balls lit by LEDs.
Beautiful piece of gear. I can see why it costs so much. Enjoy it!!!
Gorgeous, stunning! Wow! I love watches and clocks and this…. Perhaps not saving up for a Seiko Astron but one of these.. But $1600. Ouch!
I really don't like the trend that there is one button for everything. On the back side of this clock, there is enough space for more switches for various settings
Perhaps, but isn’t that what the app is for?
They could write me, whatever they want, i would never send the clock back. OK, i would have to tell my wife, where the money went, lol…
This Yankee is going to steal a British phrase that rarely is used on this side of the pond: It is brilliant. Truly, brilliant. It checks off all the boxes - like a Patek Philippe of Nixie clocks.
Got to love a nixie tube! I first saw them as digital readouts on lathes and milling machines when I was an apprentice in the early 80s, now I have 5 clocks and a thermometer. But this clock is something special.
I think my earliest memory of them is seeing them on Mobil petrol pumps - back in the 1970s - when someone still came out and filled the car up for you.
Just Another Absolutely Excellent Video, sir. Being as young as you, I remember Nixie tube designs from the 60's and 70's. If you have ever seen the movie 'Trinity and beyond' they show a LOT of old Nixie tube styles from the 50's and 60's you may have never seen before. That clock is INCREDIBLE. Big, beautiful, bold tubes. Your presentation of it was absolutely spot-on, and very well done. I agree with David E, the price for a hand-made object like this does seem reasonable, just I'll have to wait until I hit the lottery to own one.
Nice, I have the Dalibor Farny Zen clock with slightly smaller tubes, I bought a set of tubes he does with a brass type base finish
I bought the 4 digit Millclock IN-14 after seeing your video 'Fully Assembled Nixie Clock Shootout' back in 2016 and it's been a great little clock, never had an issue with it and still bright after all these years. Was recently looking at getting a six digit one of the same size but after this new video I might save a bit more and lash out on one of the larger ZIN offerings from Millclock. Stunning clock and another cracker of a video.
What a spectacular object. And I imagine Millclock should be extremely happy with the review. Very well done. One thing I noticed is that on their site- on the Zin70 they are selling, the tubes are not flush with the base. Which is a total puzzle. The design they sent you for some reason is different- and better in my humble opinion. Either way... brilliant!
The price actually seems pretty reasonable for what you get
Craftsmanship - spot on description Mat.
Happy Mat makes me happy
Stunning work of art!
Really a beautiful piece of art! But also a bit expensive... I'll stay with my Gixie Clock for the moment.
I like clocks. My favourite clock is a ex Swiss Railway station clock that pauses the second hand. It came with a little box to set the pulse for the minute.
I never knew about Nixie tubes until I started binge-watching your videos. And aren't they mesmerizing? It's like watching fireplace flames. First thing I noticed about this clock, other than its large size, is the design of #4 - I like the open shape of it. These folks are master craftsmen. It's completely out of my price bracket, of course, but here I get to live vicariously and enjoy your enthusiasm of the experience. Where will you put it? I seem to think there's some puzzle or message in the thumbnail, but my morning brain can't see it. Nice show, and thanks for sharing this gem with us. 🤍 Edit: and thanks for the airplane cart music 🙂 Edit II: the need to enclose a wooden box with a cardboard one amuses me; the sound of your cordless screwdriver is almost musical.
There’s no hidden meaning in the image - at least I hope not. I just wanted to show something familiar in the thumb for a sense of scale so I used my big fat head…and the still I grabbed was at 11:39:55 this morning. At the moment it’s sitting on top of the Pioneer RT-909 reel to reel…it’s a tiny bit wide but the reels hide the fact it overhangs the ends.
I love the fact that someone puts this kind of effort into a product. Gorgeous!
It is incredible to see new nixie tubes being produced in 2022, I don't think anyone could've predicted that when they first stopped being produced.
Really is a lovely looking clock. Maybe we shouldn't ask about power consumption :-) Looks like it will constantly check the time against an NTP server when connected to Wi-Fi, so no need for a GPS module. When you pay that much for a clock you want it spot on for the time.
Yeah, I saw that too. NTP to the rescue! But with a GPS module, you wouldn’t need WiFi..
Shout out to the display of the calculator :P
Essentially magnificent! Is there a limit as to how large a nixie tube can be?
I do wonder…but I don’t know.