Looking for Beam-X tubes

LB

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Dec 5, 2022, 9:13:16 PM12/5/22

to neonixie-l

Hi everyone,

I recently decided to begin designing a nixie clock with as few semiconductors as possible, and that has lead me to dekatrons and Beam-X tubes. I've never seen a clock that uses beam switching tubes, and I was wondering if anyone has any they would be willing to sell. I'll need at least 4 tubes in total. I'm looking specifically for the following types:

BX-2000
BX-2004
BX-1000
(any electrically equivalent tube)

There is a listing on eBay currently, but the tube in the product image has a big crack in the top, so that seems like a bit of a gamble. If you have any and are looking to sell, send me a PM. (Bonus points if you have the strange 26-pin sockets as well)

Dekatron42

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Dec 6, 2022, 1:34:22 AM12/6/22

to neonixie-l

I built a few clocks some years ago, both with the early DC106 modules (tube and diode based) and the later DC111A/B modules (transistor and diode based). Burroughs even described how to build clocks in some of their datasheets where they showed how to eliminate some spade positions if you wanted to count to any other number than from 0 to 9 and a clock was one of their simple projects.

To get a scale of six counter you can connect four consecutive spades together just using one set of spade components and using them as the reset signal to the flip-flop driving the Trochotron, it will then reset when any of the combined spades are hit by the beam. Then you just need a simple tube coincidence circuit for the hours portion to reset the clock to 00:00:00 when it reaches 24:00:00 (you'll have to modify this for a 12 hour clock though). Burroughs also combined two spades in two groups making the DC111B count 0,1,2,5,8,9 so no extra reset signal was needed, the original one from spade 9 was used - this way the beam skipped positions 2 & 4 + 6 & 7, you just hooked up the Nixie like 0-0, 1-1, 2-2, 5-3, 8-4 & 9-5 (Spade-Nixie#).

You can see my original DC111A & DC111B modules here: https://youtu.be/4x8fR1NGFVA (counting 0-9) & https://youtu.be/O-JPo_Se10A (counting 0-5 with modification via two groups of combined spades).

/Martin

LB

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Dec 6, 2022, 3:03:11 AM12/6/22

to neonixie-l

Thanks for the links! it's really cool to actually see these modules put to use. My current plan is to mimic the topology of the DC-112, and apply the modifications described for the DC-111. I'm thinking of using 3 phantastron oscillators to divide the 60 Hz mains by 15, 15, and 16 to get the 1/60 Hz for the minutes, because I'm not yet sure if I can actually get six matching trochotrons.

Nick

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Dec 7, 2022, 5:38:53 AM12/7/22

to neonixie-l

I have some extras available - I'm in the UK...
BD-301 x 6
BX-1000 x 1
BX-2005 x 2
6700 (BD-301) x 1
6700 x 1

Contact me off list if interested...

Nick

Brian

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Dec 15, 2022, 10:34:03 AM12/15/22

to neonixie-l

I tried to PM you, but I'm new to the Google version of this forum. Not sure if the PM went through. I was on the Yahoo neonixie forum back in the day, but it's been a while. I may still have some BX-2000s in my stash, but I need to do some serious digging. I'll post with updates if I find some.

Regards,

Brian

Instrument Resources of America

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Dec 15, 2022, 11:28:40 AM12/15/22

to 'Nick' via neonixie-l

Hi Nick, I Have the following 'modules' available CP-468/U with BD-301, and 6844A Nixies and the sockets. Ira.

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Brian

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Dec 15, 2022, 9:21:07 PM12/15/22

to neonixie-l

Nick, I dug around and have 6 x BD-301/6703 with socket, 1 x BX-2004, 2 x BX-2000, and 1 x BX-200x (markings are worn off). All seem mechanically sound with no visible defects. PM me if interested. I’m in the Atlanta area.

Brian

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Dec 16, 2022, 3:25:52 PM12/16/22

to neonixie-l

LB, I'm really hoping you get this clock working. Not too long ago, I was working on this very idea, but things changed and I had to put it aside. The big question I wrestled with was whether or not to include solid-state diodes. Never did get to the point of having to decide.