Nixie collectors are also known for acquiring other novelties from that era, so when the time comes to tell the story, please pass along any info on not-necessarily-nixie items that were part of the estate. I'm glad this collection didn't get into the hands of someone who simply wants to liquidate it for a quick profit.
On Monday, August 23, 2021 at 9:22:55 AM UTC-7 [email protected] wrote: > You may type slow but you're a wonderful writer. I'm glad the tubes went > to you, jeffry. Hope you are able to show some long-unseen tubes > > On Mon, Aug 23, 2021, 12:15 PM Jeffry P <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Good morning to all! >> >> >> I joined the original Neonixie-l group on Yahoo many years ago when >> Raymond W. was moderator. I had the privilege of paying him $100+ for a >> ‘Four Letter Word’ kit that never arrived. Raymond was good at making >> excuses ( waiting for parts, illness, earthquakes, no reliable help, etc.) >> and always promised that no matter what I would get a kit. Meanwhile, the >> time had run out for a refund. The (4) B7971’s were gathering dust while >> waiting to broadcast their message as tame, colorful, or indecent per your >> preferences! I think there was something in there about nuns blushing as >> well. I still get a twinge while checking my postal mailbox and recalling >> the 2 years of looking for a package from ‘Indonesia’. >> >> R.W took a lot of money from people and didn’t deliver. I believe many >> of his unfortunate customers were, and still are, responsible for the >> renewed interest in using nixie tubes. Kits were being designed by >> hobbyists and enterprising individuals found and marketed tubes that could >> be used to build clocks. I had bought the (4)B7971’s for my FLW on eBay in >> anticipation of the kit arrival. >> >> I love clocks-flip clocks, nixies, and electronic types especially. >> Online auctions made access to these clocks easy and somewhat affordable. I >> ordered another kit from a seller on eBay named Pete Hand. I actually >> received the kit, built it, and I was now the proud owner of a Four >> -Letter- Word. I’ve owned quite a few four letter words in my lifetime but >> once they fall out of your mouth….. >> >> I bought and built another kit and was hooked on nixies. I watched prices >> rise for certain tubes and bought them and others as my budget would allow. >> The intention was to make clocks with them when I retired. I bought a few >> kits that featured newer display types and learned about SMD’s through >> trial and error. >> >> This past weekend I made a trip to Madison Alabama which is a suburb of >> Huntsville AL. NASA and it’s supporting industries (Northrup, Intergraph, >> Boeing, Dynetics, etc.) put Huntsville on the map as a hub for technical >> and engineering products and services. The area has computer scientists, >> mechanical and electronic engineers, Material Science PHD’s, and thousands >> of really smart people. >> >> Please bear with me as I feel there is a story to be told here. A >> computer scientist, whom I’ll call RS had a more than passing interest in >> Nixes. Unfortunately he passed away suddenly while in his prime years. I >> believe this person was personally known to members of the Nixie >> community. I am in possession of RS’s extensive collection of Nixie tubes, >> built clocks, and collector's pieces. Technical documentation and assembly >> manuals were kept in file folders. Included is some correspondence related >> to RS’s support of the art of manufacturing Nixie tubes. >> >> I arrived home yesterday after having flown to Huntsville, renting a >> truck, packing the collection, and driving 12 hours. Saturday and Sunday >> were one long day for me and I need to rest a bit and recover. If RS’s >> brother reads this I want to say it was great to meet you and thank you for >> giving (no it was purchased) myself and the world this fine collection to >> enjoy. I plan on keeping this collection complete. >> >> Now for the good part……… >> >> I believe RS was friends with engineers in the aerospace industry as a >> lot of the tubes are NOS in original boxes with identical date codes. These >> would have been backup replacements or engineering samples used by NASA . >> Most of these were American manufactured and include the full range of >> tubes from Burroughs, RCA, Amperex, National, AEG, etc. The items range >> from 6 to 20 pieces of each model. >> >> There_is_a_ mouth_full_of_hen’s_teeth_here! That last sentence is a >> matter of fact. I’ve seen the pages of Claus-Dieter, Cathode Corner, and >> Sphere and a few others. Are these pages of tubes they actually own or just >> reference info and sale availability? Does anyone have a complete list of >> every type of nixie tube that was manufactured? >> >> RS’s collection contains some Russian and Chinese tubes but I think they >> were extras for the clocks he built. >> >> Most of the shipping boxes for all the tubes he had were emptied in >> preparation for the sale. I took me 5 hours to pack up everything and RS’s >> brother and Estate agent were very gracious in the time they allowed me to >> pack everything. I didn’t have time to wrap each tube that didn’t have a >> box and I have a 3’x3’x4’ box of loose tubes. The egg cartons you see in >> the photos were literally stacked atop each other in a box and transported. >> So far I’ve found 1 broken tube and my heart sank -it was an E1T. >> >> This message has become way too long but I want everyone to know these >> tubes weren’t scattered to the wind or thrown out. >> >> >> PLEASE BE PATIENT >> >> >> PLEASE BE PATIENT >> >> >> PLEASE BE PATIENT >> >> >> PLEASE BE PATIENT >> >> >> I work and am in the midst of remodeling my home so my time is spread out >> thinly. I plan on inventorying the collection, trading with other >> collectors to mutually enhance our collections, and putting together a >> website that features the collection. Any surplus that I have will be >> auctioned on eBay. I have no idea what those tubes will be but members here >> will be alerted. It may be 3-6 months before I can unpack everything. I’m >> not a tube dealer so getting things listed and sold is not my priority. >> >> Please don’t message me asking to buy something you saw in the pics. >> Until I know what all is there nothing is for sale. Don’t ask what I paid >> for the collection- If you do I will block you from messaging me. Don’t be >> rude money was not the issue here it was about keeping this collection >> intact. >> >> If you know RS personally I would love to hear what your interactions >> were. Many of the shipping boxes were from familiar names and were from all >> over the world. The number of tubes is overwhelming and I feel very >> fortunate to own them. There are tubes that I thought I would never in my >> lifetime be able to see or touch. I’m an old school guy and I don’t take >> pictures of many things. I may start to Instagram or something to share my >> finds but if I I get bombarded with offers to buy etc I’ll have to stop. I >> don’t keyboard very fast (cause I didn’t take typing in high school- I >> thought I’d have a secretary) so answering emails and messages takes me >> awhile. Took me 2 plus hours to get this out from the computer. >> >> Have a good afternoon, >> >> Jeffry >> >> *** >> >> >> >> -- >> 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/c88048ff-4540-4ecb-9595-0c8b8824c60en%40googlegroups.com >> >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/c88048ff-4540-4ecb-9595-0c8b8824c60en%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]. 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