Those of you who know me well know that I love clocks, watches, and other timepieces. Tonight, I was watching Brian De Palma’s 1980 thriller Dressed to Kill when I spotted a clock unlike any I had ever seen. You can click on the picture for a closer look:
Here’s a better picture of the entire clock (it’s in the lower left-hand corner of the screen).
It looks like those L.E.D.s are suspended in that plastic case. I have no facility with electronics, but do you think it would be easy to make one of these? It’s one of the coolest clocks I’ve ever witnessed.
UPDATE: We have an answer, from Doug!
Hi Ben, Those numerals were created using nixie tubes. Nixie tubes were used before LEDs popped up. They are vacuum tubes with segments that are controlled by applying electricity to each segment that needs to be lit. Nixie tubes can get quite warm.
Here’s a whole website on nixie tube clocks. Thanks, Doug!
Here’s a video of a nixie tube clock. I’m just fascinated.
Hi Ben, Those numerals were created using nixie tubes. Nixie tubes were used before LEDs popped up. They are vacuum tubes with segments that are controled by applying electricity to each segment that needs to be lit. Nixie tubes can get quite warm.
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