Wow Bill, how long ago was that? On Monday, July 1, 2019 at 1:18:16 PM UTC-4, Bill Notfaded wrote: > > My most recent story like that was the NL-934 for $44.45. > > Bill > > On Friday, June 28, 2019 at 9:04:19 AM UTC-7, Bill Notfaded wrote: >> >> I like this story Jonathan... really nice finding the CD27 for that >> price! The others are great scores as well. >> >> Bill >> >> On Sunday, April 21, 2019 at 11:38:01 AM UTC-7, SWISSNIXIE - Jonathan F. >> wrote: >>> >>> There are a few posts about high prices of tubes, and i feel like quite >>> alot of people are sad and worried about this. I want to share a little >>> story of mine about tubes. >>> >>> Since a few of you know, i'm more a collector than a builder. I want to >>> collect single tubes and expand my diverse collection of nixies. In the >>> roughly four years i'm collecting this tubes i came across dozens of >>> auctions with ridicolous high prices. When the few months were over where i >>> was busy getting most of the common tubes (IN-XX, ZM10XX) i searched for >>> less known (or more rare) tubes. After seeing the first auctions of rare >>> tubes going for crazy prices, i was quite sad and felt like "man, you never >>> will get any rare tubes". Still i was curious about nixie tubes an focussed >>> more about actually building a clock and learn more about these fantastic >>> wonders of technology. Auctions came less interesting and i only checked my >>> ebay-tool once a day. After some months i was taught that actually waiting >>> and being patient does the job. In two years i aquiered quite a few rare >>> and extremely rare tubes, which actually were extremely cheap, compared to >>> other acutions. >>> >>> One of the biggest "secrets" is actually to ask sellers if the have >>> more, and provide a few info about what you do with them. >>> >>> Here are my "Top 4": >>> >>> 4.) ZM562M2 and M3 >>> >>> These are german elevator nixies, one has arrows, one has letters. I >>> aquired them from a german ebayer, i actually purchased a set of B5092 from >>> him, and asked if he has other nixies. He respondes with a few single >>> quanities and "two weird ones, that no one could use". After asking for a >>> image, they turned out as these rather rare tubes. Got them both for 10€ >>> >>> 3.) ZM1220 >>> >>> This very rare and rather big tube made it to me by luck. I was bidding >>> on a carton box of different tubes, containig a few nixies. On the very bad >>> pictures i thought its gonna be a Z566M, but when the package arrived, i >>> was amazed about this wonderful tube. I payed only 45€ for the whole box, >>> which containd a few other common tubes. >>> >>> 2.) CD-27 >>> I purchased some rodan character tubes from a german ebayer. After >>> asking about more, and getting "yes some very ugly big ones" i requested >>> images about them :). It turned out to be CD27 with black spots. He asked >>> 75€ for them. I purchased them. When they arrived, alot of the black spots >>> was only dirt and could be cleaned. Leaving me with on perfect and two >>> slightly burned out ones. Out of respect i contacted the seller and offered >>> him another 50€. Making 125€ for all of them, which is still a very cheap >>> price for this tubes. One slightly burnded out one made a very nice trade >>> with another collector >>> >>> 1.) GI-11B >>> >>> This is for sure the most amazing tube ever. After buying a few old >>> burroughs tubes, including the HB-106, the seller told me about a few more >>> he has, but don't want so sell them since they are single pieces, old, and >>> he doesn't think someone needs them. As i'm very curious for new types, i >>> asked him what markings they had. Most were comon, but GI-11B came up. I >>> replied that it must be GI-10 or so. No it wasn't, he told me about that >>> its saying clearly "GI-11B Engineering Sample"... That rang bells. I asked >>> if i can see an image. He told me about this former job at a electronics >>> repair shop, that closed over 60years of operation, and left alot of stuff >>> behind. After i told him about my hobby he was really enyoed that young >>> people (like me) are still interested in such old stuff. End of the story >>> was, that the offered me the tube for 10$ because of its oddity. I >>> declinded the offer, paying only 10$ for such a tube would been ripping of, >>> its likely he did not realize what value this tube has (materialistic and >>> historical). I made him a better deal. >>> This is my personal favourite tube - for one because of it rarity and >>> specialit - for another because of the story >>> >>> >>> What i wanted to tell you with this, is that you not should feel bad or >>> sad about tubes that are at a high price currently. If you have time and >>> just keeping an eye on offers, one day you will find a very good deal for >>> sure.One big "issue" about the high prices might be social media. I have a >>> personal instagram account (not related to nixies) and i spot nixie tubes >>> quite often in the discover feed on technical pages. This for sure draws >>> the attention of more people to nixies who have not known them yet. This is >>> bad and good in one way, sure its nice when there are more people >>> interested in nixie tubes, but mostly those new people are the ones that >>> just "like to have a vintage clock" instead of knowing the details. Thats >>> quite the same thing with people who want to build IoT devices and know >>> jack about resistors and basic parts. >>> >>> Maybe one day this "hype" about some tubes will fade, and they will come >>> back to a normal level. Just be pacient and keep your eyes open for good >>> deals! >>> >>> >>> Cheers, >>> Jonathan >>> >>
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