B7971's on the bay....

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Nicholas Stock

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Nov 21, 2019, 6:04:16 PM11/21/19
to 'Greg P' via neonixie-l

gregebert

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Mar 29, 2020, 11:16:54 AM3/29/20
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There were two b7971's available last night on Ebay at 150USD each, used and  untested. They are already gone.
This is crazy.

Michail Wilson

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Mar 29, 2020, 11:56:57 AM3/29/20
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The problem with ebay is that if the tubes are bad, ebay will force the seller to take them back.  So, untested and sold as-is doesn’t matter to a buyer anymore.

 

$150 is not bad.  I’ve seen them sell for as much as $300 on ebay.

 

When I saw them going up, I couldn’t help but post my own.  I mean at 200-300, I can’t find myself holding on to them.  So, I posted them at $250.

 

If someone really wants one, they can buy from me.   I don’t recommend it.  I even answer peoples questions in that they should wait as they come up cheap often.  Some simply can’t wait.

 

Michail Wilson

206-920-6312

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Nicholas Stock

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Mar 29, 2020, 11:59:20 AM3/29/20
to 'Greg P' via neonixie-l

On Sun, Mar 29, 2020 at 8:16 AM gregebert <greg...@hotmail.com> wrote:
There were two b7971's available last night on Ebay at 150USD each, used and  untested. They are already gone.
This is crazy.

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fax_awd

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Mar 29, 2020, 12:39:19 PM3/29/20
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really? lol i always assume if the seller claim it is untested, the buyer take all responsibility no matter the thing is good or bad..seems i am still a newbie on ebay...


now https://www.ebay.com/itm/6-Giant-Nixie-Tubes-Giant-Nixie-Clock-Vacuum-Electron-Vintage-B-7971-Burroughs/174230250318?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649 730USD for 6 untested tubes for now..2 day left..but this is already over my budget...i still have to wait another b7971 pop up on ebay..

M1於 2020年3月29日星期日 UTC+8下午11時56分57秒寫道：

The problem with ebay is that if the tubes are bad, ebay will force the seller to take them back.  So, untested and sold as-is doesn’t matter to a buyer anymore.

 

$150 is not bad.  I’ve seen them sell for as much as $300 on ebay.

 

When I saw them going up, I couldn’t help but post my own.  I mean at 200-300, I can’t find myself holding on to them.  So, I posted them at $250.

 

If someone really wants one, they can buy from me.   I don’t recommend it.  I even answer peoples questions in that they should wait as they come up cheap often.  Some simply can’t wait.

 

Michail Wilson

206-920-6312

 

From: neoni...@googlegroups.com [mailto:neoni...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of gregebert
Sent: Sunday, March 29, 2020 8:17 AM
To: neonixie-l
Subject: [neonixie-l] Re: B7971's on the bay....

 

There were two b7971's available last night on Ebay at 150USD each, used and  untested. They are already gone.

This is crazy.

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jf...@my-deja.com

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Mar 29, 2020, 12:40:00 PM3/29/20
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On Sunday, March 29, 2020 at 8:59:20 AM UTC-7, Pramanicin wrote:
On Sun, Mar 29, 2020 at 8:16 AM gregebert <greg...@hotmail.com> wrote:
There were two b7971's available last night on Ebay at 150USD each, used and  untested. They are already gone.
This is crazy.

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B7971-ebay-cooper2.jpg

At today's bid , the first one works out to less than $140/tube delivered.   These tubes all glow slightly differently.  Based on studying some of my tubes after 40 years of operation, the pinkish glow from tubes 1 and 4 probably means  that these two are "newer", while tube 3 is the most orange and probably the most used.

There is another auction with six tubes that I would avoid. 


First, they are soldered in instead of using sockets.  Second, they are not shown glowing, although they probably work.  They do show some of the symptoms that I also observed in my old and used tubes:  there is some discoloration on the insides of the tubes, and there is some darkening of the back plate under some of the segment wires.  These are not fatal, the symptoms are more pronounced in my tubes, and my tubes still seem to be working OK after over 350k hours.

b7971-ebay-cashmoney.jpg


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SWISSNIXIE - Jonathan F.

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Mar 29, 2020, 1:16:13 PM3/29/20
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Personally i noticed a price-rise in alot of items on ebay, not just nixies or tubes. I follow alot of searches of vintage tech and noticed that items are selling alot more expensive than a half year ago... Prices for nixies, huge tubes(decorative), other displays, radiation related items, gemstones meteorites minerals etc.

For a example, trinitite, fused sand by atomic explosions sold almost tripple the price in the last weeks compared to a year ago.

maybe more people with money become geeks :-) or just the fear of "last remaining quantity"

gregebert

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Mar 29, 2020, 2:09:36 PM3/29/20
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Opportunity is knocking on Dalibor's door for a "Rb|7971" ....

martin martin

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Mar 29, 2020, 6:20:48 PM3/29/20
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On Sun, Mar 29, 2020 at 11:09 AM gregebert <greg...@hotmail.com> wrote:
Opportunity is knocking on Dalibor's door for a "Rb|7971" ....

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Robert G. Schaffrath

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Mar 30, 2020, 7:13:08 AM3/30/20
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I saw them when they first appeared. I didn't need them and thought the price was actually pretty good compared to prices in the USD$175 range only a few weeks ago. There are various multi-tube devices for sale now and they are priced around USD$120 or so per tube.

It is hard to believe those prices. I have noticed other eBay prices have gone up too. IN-12's are suddenly rather "expensive" compared to last fall. Of course, if this stimulus bill does not work too well and a lot of people are looking for cash, there may be a lot of fire sales on stuff like this.

Richard Scales

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Mar 30, 2020, 11:42:12 PM3/30/20
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I actually put the question of an "Rb|7971" directly to Dalibor probably about a year or mote ago and whilst he agreed that the idea was interesting, it was not high up on his list of potential future projects due most likely to the relatively small demand for such a thing. I am sure that there are many on this group that would like to disagree - including me!
I set about collecting B-7971's instead which I have managed to do and fortunately I was able to do so at an acceptable (to me) price point (though still ridiculous).
There may indeed be the odd 'bargain' still to be had and I still get a little excited when I see them come up for sale but I have (mostly) tamed my hoarding instinct now thank goodness.

Bill Notfaded

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Mar 31, 2020, 4:21:57 PM3/31/20
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I sorta did too Richard.  I was late to the party and many of you here know me and know I was on a quest for the big B beginning a few years back.  Thanks to patience and work I've got a few B-7971 clocks and many tubes.  I'm here to say it can be done but it takes time.  Michail member here even helped me out back in fairly recent time.  I own some Mod-Six's now too and even a B-8971 clock thanks to Michael Barile and indirectly Carl O.  We love that cold cathode display don't we?

WE LIKE BIG TUBES!

Bill

Michail Wilson

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Mar 31, 2020, 8:24:31 PM3/31/20
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Heh.  And… I am still jealous you got a B8971 Mod clock as it’s one I didn’t see in time to buy one.  It’s ok though… I made up for it by spending money to get a vast supply of tubes.  So many now that I had to get a storage shed.

 

I keep telling myself…. Ok, that’s it.  No more.  Ha!   (The next package of tubes arrives tomorrow.  I just have to beat my girlfriend home before she sees it.

 

I think I am going to have to pay off the mail man to just keep them at his house until I get home since he lives only a few houses away.

 

Michail Wilson

206-920-6312

 

From: neoni...@googlegroups.com [mailto:neoni...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Bill Notfaded
Sent: Tuesday, March 31, 2020 1:22 PM
To: neonixie-l
Subject: [neonixie-l] Re: B7971's on the bay....

 

I sorta did too Richard.  I was late to the party and many of you here know me and know I was on a quest for the big B beginning a few years back.  Thanks to patience and work I've got a few B-7971 clocks and many tubes.  I'm here to say it can be done but it takes time.  Michail member here even helped me out back in fairly recent time.  I own some Mod-Six's now too and even a B-8971 clock thanks to Michael Barile and indirectly Carl O.  We love that cold cathode display don't we?

 

WE LIKE BIG TUBES!

 

Bill

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Mahdi Al Husseini

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Mar 31, 2020, 9:43:15 PM3/31/20
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I started too late unfortunately, I doubt I’ll have a shot at 8971s... but here’s to hoping

Adam Munich

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Apr 1, 2020, 2:59:50 PM4/1/20
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Hah I'm one of those suckers Michail was talking about. Only a week later I could have had twice the tubes for the same price :-)

It's OK, I am happy now that my 7971 clock is alive again!

20200331_193231.jpg
- - - -
With great power comes great responsibility. 


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Michail Wilson

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Apr 1, 2020, 5:14:46 PM4/1/20
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Wait…. I didn’t call anyone suckers (that I recall).

 

That said, I was the sucker when I bought mine years ago.  I guess I could now call the new people suckers – It’s my turn.   J

 

Great pic.  Nice to see the first tube is lit instead of only online for a 1 and/or a 2.

 

Also, love the work area in the background.  Looks like mine.  Completely utilitized.

 

Michail Wilson

206-920-6312

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Robert G. Schaffrath

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Apr 5, 2020, 12:04:49 PM4/5/20
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There was a post a little while ago about two Nixie's that appeared on eBay that are now priced $360 for two. The post was deleted so I cannot reply to it. I was wondering what is the test module that is powering the tubes demonstrating that all segments are functional? I tried a bit of Google searching and did not see anything. I have attached a picture from eBay and it is the tube on the left:

Jon Jackson

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Apr 5, 2020, 12:25:17 PM4/5/20
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You still have to be careful with these all-segments-lit-up photos, as I think it would be a great way to disguise the fact that multiple segments could be stuck on together.  I have of couple of B-7971s that have two segments that come on together due to some kind of internal short, and no amount of "banging" to the tube breaks up the short.

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Bill Notfaded

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Apr 5, 2020, 1:07:41 PM4/5/20
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One of the two tubes is the rarer antenna tube.  They made much less of them.  I actually try and avoid them because they don't match my others.  I have close to 30 tubes now and a bunch of clocks.  I think Michail almost had enough of the antenna tubes to make a clock with them maybe?  I just didn't buy any of the, to me, kinda off tubes.

Bill

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Michail Wilson

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Apr 5, 2020, 1:16:41 PM4/5/20
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The first link shows a little poisoning on the underscore.

 

The second link is mine.  They went for $220 a tube.

I only posted for those people that really really really need one. (Did expect a purchase of more than 1 at a time.)

 

I will post more, but again, only meant for people that don’t want to wait for a good/fair price.  In fact, I recommend people NOT buy from me and should wait as better deals always show up, but they have to fear the ‘untested’ ‘asis’ auctions.

 

Another note is that I provide a video of each tube working in a clock and do a segment test to prove each are perfectly working.  And, I write on the tube in video and seal each box with my version of a seal so they know what they see is what they get.  Example…

“The following two videos are of your tubes.....
First video shows testing of all six tubes and markings...
https://youtu.be/outZRHTZBao

Second video shows packaging of the six tubes and my form of seal....
https://youtu.be/kL83gfLtJro”

 

 

Yes, I have a couple of clocks with the antenna tubes. 

 

Michail Wilson

206-920-6312

 

From: neoni...@googlegroups.com [mailto:neoni...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of fax_awd
Sent: Sunday, April 5, 2020 8:57 AM
To: neonixie-l
Subject: [neonixie-l] Re: B7971's on the bay....

 

another b7971 on ebay today....first day already over 180USD per tube...

someone bought six recently too..i believe the price should be over USD200 per tube...

 

people gone crazy...


Pramanicin於 2019年11月22日星期五 UTC+8上午7時04分16秒寫道：

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Nicholas Stock

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Apr 5, 2020, 1:37:20 PM4/5/20
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Antenna MOD....:)

Sent from my iPhone

On Apr 5, 2020, at 10:16, Michail Wilson <M...@michail.com> wrote:



Bill Notfaded

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Apr 5, 2020, 1:39:16 PM4/5/20
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I knew someone did it!!!! Nice Nic!

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image0.jpeg

gregebert

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Apr 5, 2020, 3:27:54 PM4/5/20
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The one-and-only "antenna" version of the b7971 I had in my 8-tube clock failed as shorted segments after 2 years of usage. Not sure if others have seen reliability issues with a particular tube style, but that's my experience. I only use direct-drive, and the clock is well-protected from getting bumped-around so it's a real mystery to me how the cathode segment slipped up-against it's neighbor. 

I dont have the balls to put my tube at the end of a stick and whack it; Michail Wilson published a photo and has had success. Photo makes me laugh and cry at the same time....

I got hooked on 7971's a few years ago, mainly because they are so frigging HUGE. They lack the artistic beauty of a traditional nixie., but are too versatile to be shunned. 

Richard Scales

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Apr 6, 2020, 12:44:43 AM4/6/20
to neonixie-l
I am equally hooked. It wont help you much but I had success with removing a short using the banging method - I would not have thought it possible but it worked. I could actually see the change in position of the cathode in question - a little geometry workout in advance ensured I was applying potentially destructive forces in the right direction.
Although late to the party I now have all that I need and I find I can quite easily avoid bidding ebay sales for them although I still look out - just in case!

Jeff Walton

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Apr 6, 2020, 1:32:12 AM4/6/20
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I've successfully "repaired" four 7971s with shorted segments.  All were in corners where diagonal segments overlapped at the ends.  Rough shipping can cause this.  I've posted photos on this forum showing the before and after, as well as the way I did it.  Others before me posted suggestions of how they did the same thing and convinced me of why I should not give up on an otherwise perfectly good tube.   Search the forum for photos and suggestions from several posters.  If you can't find them, send me a note and I'll find my examples.  

Jeff 
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Richard Scales

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Apr 6, 2020, 4:09:19 AM4/6/20
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It was your posts that inspired me to have a go, with success and yes, the tube I had was shorted in the exact same place.


Sent from my Huawei phone


-------- Original message --------
From: Jeff Walton <jwalt...@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 6 Apr 2020, 06:32
To: neoni...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: [neonixie-l] Re: B7971's on the bay....
I've successfully "repaired" four 7971s with shorted segments.  All were in corners where diagonal segments overlapped at the ends.  Rough shipping can cause this.  I've posted photos on this forum showing the before and after, as well as the way I did it.  Others before me posted suggestions of how they did the same thing and convinced me of why I should not give up on an otherwise perfectly good tube.   Search the forum for photos and suggestions from several posters.  If you can't find them, send me a note and I'll find my examples.  

Jeff 


-------- Original message --------
From: Richard Scales <ric...@scalesweb.co.uk>
Date: 4/5/20 11:44 PM (GMT-06:00)
To: neonixie-l <neoni...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: [neonixie-l] Re: B7971's on the bay....

I am equally hooked. It wont help you much but I had success with removing a short using the banging method - I would not have thought it possible but it worked. I could actually see the change in position of the cathode in question - a little geometry workout in advance ensured I was applying potentially destructive forces in the right direction.
Although late to the party I now have all that I need and I find I can quite easily avoid bidding ebay sales for them although I still look out - just in case!

On Sunday, 5 April 2020 20:27:54 UTC+1, gregebert wrote:
The one-and-only "antenna" version of the b7971 I had in my 8-tube clock failed as shorted segments after 2 years of usage. Not sure if others have seen reliability issues with a particular tube style, but that's my experience. I only use direct-drive, and the clock is well-protected from getting bumped-around so it's a real mystery to me how the cathode segment slipped up-against it's neighbor. 

I dont have the balls to put my tube at the end of a stick and whack it; Michail Wilson published a photo and has had success. Photo makes me laugh and cry at the same time....

I got hooked on 7971's a few years ago, mainly because they are so frigging HUGE. They lack the artistic beauty of a traditional nixie., but are too versatile to be shunned. 

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fax_awd

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Apr 20, 2020, 2:29:10 AM4/20/20
to neonixie-l
https://www.ebay.com/itm/164167398321 
1200USD for 10x B7971...

Michail Wilson

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Apr 20, 2020, 7:07:37 PM4/20/20
to neoni...@googlegroups.com
Too bad it's only a starting price.   So, I started.

Michail

From: neoni...@googlegroups.com <neoni...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of fax_awd <lauki...@hotmail.com.hk>
Sent: Sunday, April 19, 2020 11:29 PM
To: neonixie-l <neoni...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [neonixie-l] Re: B7971's on the bay....
 
https://www.ebay.com/itm/164167398321 
1200USD for 10x B7971...

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fax_awd

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Apr 30, 2020, 2:29:47 AM4/30/20
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https://www.ebay.com/itm/303554502347 
USD3500 for 12x B7971...almost USD300 per 1...Please tell me this is not true..

Michail Wilson

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Apr 30, 2020, 2:58:10 AM4/30/20
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Nothing wrong with that.  Heh.

But, damn, that’s even more expensive than me.

 

He should put up pictures.  People like to see pretty colors.

 

Michail Wilson

206-920-6312

 

From: neoni...@googlegroups.com <neoni...@googlegroups.com> On Behalf Of fax_awd
Sent: Wednesday, April 29, 2020 11:30 PM
To: neonixie-l <neoni...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [neonixie-l] Re: B7971's on the bay....

 

USD3500 for 12x B7971...almost USD300 per 1...Please tell me this is not true..

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fax_awd

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Jan 22, 2021, 5:40:38 AM1/22/21
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50USD for 1 used tested B7971, are we back to 2010?

Nicholas Stock

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Jan 22, 2021, 9:51:39 AM1/22/21
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Damn! Someone didn't do their research (or just wanted to be generous?).

Anyone snag those here?

Sent from my iPhone

On Jan 22, 2021, at 02:40, fax_awd <lauki...@hotmail.com.hk> wrote:

50USD for 1 used tested B7971, are we back to 2010?

Bill Notfaded

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Jan 24, 2021, 10:33:39 AM1/24/21
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I hope somone here bought them at least?

Bill

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Paul Andrews

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Jan 25, 2021, 12:10:49 PM1/25/21
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That is a very nice clock. If only I had that kind of disposable income. I probably would have if I didn't fritter it away on smaller things.

Yohan Park

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Jan 26, 2021, 4:55:49 AM1/26/21
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If I had to spend $150 on a single tube I'd choose the R|Z568M from Dalibor.
Way more aesthetically pleasing than these B7971 tubes in my opinion.
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gregebert

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Jan 26, 2021, 10:19:39 AM1/26/21
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Despite it's "ugliness", the 7971 does support alphanumeric characters whereas the 568m does not. That, along with their massive size, is why I made a clock out of them a few years ago, thankfully when those tubes were cheaper.

As far as beauty is concerned though, the 568m tubes are stellar. The other thing I found out is that despite being only 10mm taller than a much-cheaper IN-18, the 568m tubes appear much larger as well because the numerals are wider than the IN-18. I hope to have my 6-tube R|Z568m clock finished in a few months; the handmade wooden case is a lot of work, and I'm killing myself with all of the nostalgic junkbox parts I'm stuffing into it, such as illuminated pushbuttons from a vacuum-column tape drive and a 13-character/9-segment display.

Robert G. Schaffrath

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Jan 26, 2021, 11:09:46 AM1/26/21
to neonixie-l
I wish the B7971 kits that pop up from time to time were not so expensive. I have enough of the very expensive parts (the tubes) but I missed out on the boards years ago. I do not fire up my old MM5311 based clock much, built in 1979/1980, as the multiplexing whine bothers me now. The six tubes are of course the most valuable parts on it. I do have plenty of ZM1022 and IN-12B clocks to keep me busy as well as plans to utilize some more of my Rodan Gr-111Pa tubes at some point. They are pin compatible with IN-14's but require a lower value anode resistor.

Richard Scales

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Jan 26, 2021, 11:51:35 AM1/26/21
to neoni...@googlegroups.com
I have used the B-7971 smart sockets to make clocks which are easy to build and easy to program. I've used similar technology with other multi segment displays and have developed a controller board to drive them to make a very effective clock. No need for a dedicated board for the tubes (just six small ones!) .
- Richard

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