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Of course I knew the orange-colered single-digit tubes from the old times. They were installed in different electrical measuring instruments like frequency counters and millivoltmeters. Many amateur radio transceivers were eqipped with these tubes and control cabinets for the automation in the industrial sector.
But over the time, they were forgotten especially because the "hype" around the new light-emitting diodes controlled the interest.
Once, at the end of the year 2016 while visiting a nice colleague for a hifi-sound-check, I saw IT! A clock, equipped with these tubes. It was love at first sight. I was told that its name was "nixie". How romantic! Since that day "nixie" was stuck in my head.
Since the beginning of the year 2017, I´ve had several nixie-devices and so a fascination turned into an obsession.
I do not know of any other electrical component which is able to illustrate particle physics and electrical technology in such a simple manner. Furthermore the nixie-tubes are a real three-dimensional display. Watching the numbers change, is as beautiful as the first snowfall in winter.
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