Until now, I have never tried to fix the tube. I was the one who cut the pin off many years ago but also realize that when I did cut it, I could have purchased another tube for around USD$8 at the time (~25 years ago). As I already had 6 Ultronics tubes in my clock, 6 NOS Burroughs spares (which came with an original copy of the Burroughs data sheet that is packed with the tubes) and 1 used Burroughs tube (has the "antenna" in it), I did not see the need to go out and buy another. Of course fast forward 25 years and that tube could now command USD$100 if it can be fixed. I suspect a lot of damaged ones got thrown out in the past because they were cheap to replace. I just happen to be a pack rat and keep stuff like that LOL.
I do not have any spare sockets to try M1's suggestion. I have a large wooden dowel that I can duct tape the tube to or even a 2x4 if necessary. Soldering a small extension to pin #17 would not be an issue though I have thought that I might swap it for one of the tubes on my clock since it does not use segment #13 and if segment #4 is repaired then it should work fine leaving me a fully intact Ultronics tube. I may make the attempt today to see if I can free it. Definitely a scary prospect of shattering the tube. On Saturday, October 12, 2019 at 6:20:25 PM UTC-4, Bill Notfaded wrote: > > I have never had a failure with a working B-7971 tube. They are, if > working, rock solid. Unless you start with a messed up tube I would say > they are some of the most stable neon tubes ever made. Big, bad@55, rock > solid tubes. I'm sure cutting off pins or a rare overlapped cathode might > be an issue. I'd say if you had an overlapped cathode issue then > definitely try the taped broomstick method and try to knock it loose > because these tubes run and run and run as long as they don't have physical > defects inside. Ironically they are some is the best tubes ever made as > far as I'm concerned. They are bright and just work great. Yeah... > they're expensive these days but dang they're awesome!!! I'm sure Michail > and Michael will both concur... B-7971 tubes are some of the most awesome > Nixie tubes ever made period. They're really priceless now because no one > makes them anymore. Even the new age Nixie tube manufacturers aren't even > trying alphanumerics. These are it... and they're awesome! Still running > strong... Big... Beautiful! > > Bill > > On Sat, Oct 12, 2019, 10:51 AM Michail Wilson <[email protected] > <javascript:>> wrote: > >> Robert, you >> >> >> >> I have come across a lot of tubes with this issue (not the cut off leg). >> >> Although I have broken more than my share of tubes by dropping them, I >> have never broke a tube with a short. >> >> >> >> I have over the years been able to smack the short out of them. I >> believe you will find it is easier than you think it might be. Of course >> you will see dollar signs flash in front of you each time you smack it. >> >> >> >> Trying to look closely at your short, my suggestion would be to put the >> tube in a socket and smack the tube in a downward fashion on a table. The >> socket being used to protect the pins and the nipple. Also try smacking >> the face of the tube into your hand. >> >> >> >> Michail Wilson >> >> 206-920-6312 >> >> >> >> *From:* [email protected] <javascript:> [mailto: >> [email protected] <javascript:>] *On Behalf Of *Robert G. >> Schaffrath >> *Sent:* Saturday, October 12, 2019 10:17 AM >> *To:* neonixie-l >> *Subject:* Re: [neonixie-l] Re: I'm Back: ZM1022 and B-7971 >> >> >> >> It took some digging around to find it, but I did locate the Ultronics >> B-7971 with the shorted segments. This is a closeup picture of the short: >> >> >> >> [image: B-7971 Shorted.jpg] >> >> >> >> Then for some reason around 30 years ago, I decided to cut the #17 pin >> off which is connected to the #13 slanted segment that is shorted. Not sure >> why I did that or what I was thinking back then. If I can resurrect the >> tube, it would not be that big a problem to attach an extension to the >> remaining stub and make #13 usable again: >> >> >> >> [image: B-7971 Cut Pin.jpg] >> >> >> >> Finally, my 40 year old 6 tube clock in operation. I had not powered it >> up in a while. Still works! Mind boggling to think the tubes in this clock >> could be worth close to USD$900 now (It is covered in plastic due to the >> dust issues. I got tired of cleaning off the tubes when I wasn't even using >> it): >> >> >> >> [image: B7971 Clock.jpg] >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> On Wednesday, October 9, 2019 at 11:29:18 AM UTC-4, Robert G. Schaffrath >> wrote: >> >> That link is not working but a search of the forum turned this thread up: >> >> >> >> >> https://groups.google.com/forum/#!searchin/neonixie-l/shorted$20segment|sort:date/neonixie-l/w4YmXnY9dgE/8o-AsZZyBQAJ >> >> >> >> I assume that is the thread you were referring to. I'll have to give it a >> try. If the tube breaks then so be it. About all it is good for is making >> either an "A" (8 with bottom off) or "P" for an AM/PM indicator. 20+ years >> ago or so I stupidly cut off the pin for the #13 segment because it was >> shorted but it could be repaired and used again. Especially considering the >> value of the tubes it would be a minor inconvenience. >> >> >> >> I'll have to dig the tube out this weekend and give the repair process a >> shot. >> >> On Tuesday, October 8, 2019 at 10:47:08 AM UTC-4, Jeff Walton wrote: >> >> Check out this thread for repairing the shorted segments: >> https://groups.google.com/forum/m/#!searchin/neonixie-l/Shorted$20segment$20b7971/neonixie-l/w4YmXnY9dgE >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> *Jeff * >> >> >> >> -------- Original message -------- >> >> From: "Robert G. Schaffrath" <[email protected]> >> >> Date: 10/8/19 8:47 AM (GMT-06:00) >> >> To: neonixie-l <[email protected]> >> >> Subject: Re: [neonixie-l] Re: I'm Back: ZM1022 and B-7971 >> >> >> >> With me it is the only B-7971 tube I have like that. It came from the >> first Ultronics board I ever purchased in the late 1970's. It came from >> Poly Paks IIRC. It was actually a bad deal for me. Apparently the board had >> been serviced which explains the genuine Burroughs tube that was on the >> board. The other tube is Ultronics (which I still have) and is defective. >> The #4 and #13 segments touch each other causing both to light when either >> is energized. The circuit board had jumpers soldered onto it and >> handwritten in fine tipped magic marker it said "modified for dummy 0". My >> parents joked at my expense that it was modified for the dummy (me). Why >> the Ultronic service center did not replace the defective tube rather than >> go through the effort of modifying the board escapes me. Especially since >> they replaced what I assume had been an Ultronic tube in the other socket. >> I could have had two Burroughs tubes with posts. >> >> >> >> When I decided I wanted to get three more boards, I bought them from >> Meshna due to my bad experience with the other vendor. After I had those >> boards, I decided to splurge on the 6 NOS B-7971's. I still have one >> Ultronics board left that has the sockets still installed but no tubes. I >> used the other three for sockets and HV transistors to build my MM5311 >> clock. >> >> On Monday, October 7, 2019 at 7:48:07 PM UTC-4, Bill Notfaded wrote: >> >> They made less of the antenna variety from what I've seen. Most of mine >> don't have them. >> >> Bill >> >> I also have I believe a 1.06 version of that clock that runs off the >> mains. Mines running z566m red tubes. >> >> Bill >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "neonixie-l" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to [email protected]. >> To view this discussion on the web, visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/b92d4c7c-8299-4557-a833-f14623d4873e%40googlegroups.com >> >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/b92d4c7c-8299-4557-a833-f14623d4873e%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >> . >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "neonixie-l" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to [email protected] <javascript:>. >> To view this discussion on the web, visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/336ab4e7-7ca5-438b-baa6-f1a9debb286d%40googlegroups.com >> >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/336ab4e7-7ca5-438b-baa6-f1a9debb286d%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >> . >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the >> Google Groups "neonixie-l" group. >> To unsubscribe from this topic, visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/topic/neonixie-l/ex82_nut9bw/unsubscribe. >> To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to >> [email protected] <javascript:>. >> To view this discussion on the web, visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/004f01d58125%24a5a71020%24f0f53060%24%40com >> >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/004f01d58125%24a5a71020%24f0f53060%24%40com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >> . >> > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "neonixie-l" group. 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