I’ve uploaded some pictures, the sn47123 has got 7222a written on it, that would put the display no earlier than the 22nd week of ˋ72. I was not aware these tubes were released this late. Now granted the ic doesn’t have to be original, might’ve been replaced at some point. The rest of the components would date the display a bit earlier in my opinion as well, I’d guess late 60s. On the other hand Telefunken probably just would’ve used what they had laying around. So likely this display was actually made sometime in the early 70s. Alright, enough for today gotta really head to bed. J Forbes schrieb am Dienstag, 14. November 2023 um 20:38:56 UTC+1:
> really neat! it would be interesting to see a close up pic of the circuit > board, so we could read the numbers on the components, and see when it was > made.... > > On Tuesday, November 14, 2023 at 11:55:39 AM UTC-7 Magnedyne wrote: > >> I have opened it up and removed all of the crumbling foam it was filled >> with. Lucky me, it wasn't foam which turned to goop. >> Well, the tubes are not socketed, instead they're directly soldered in. >> So definitely not corrosion. Seems like it's the tubes. >> >> [image: IMG_20231114_194941.jpg] >> >> Paul Andrews schrieb am Dienstag, 14. November 2023 um 16:09:22 UTC+1: >> >>> Regarding the yield? Just my (and others) experience with 'new old >>> stock' tubes. I don't have any information on what the yield was at the >>> time of manufacture. Its easy to rationalize a low yield because of the >>> large seal between the glass and the body, but that would just be guesswork. >>> >>> Interesting that the affected tubes were better in the original photos. >>> In the U.S. we have a product called 'deoxit' that is used to fix old >>> electrical contacts that may have some dirt/corrosion on them. It is just >>> sprayed on the contacts and then the device is used as normal, though I >>> don't know what the breakdown voltage is of the product. I have used it in >>> old vacuum tube devices. >>> >>> On Tuesday, November 14, 2023 at 12:56:18 AM UTC-5 Magnedyne wrote: >>> >>>> >>>> Alright, thanks for the tips. I’ll see what I can do. Not doubling the >>>> current on other tubes should be obvious, if anything ill modify the >>>> circuit on those to run on like 60% current or something, don’t want those >>>> to wear out after all. How long would I double the current on the affected >>>> tubes? I’m guessing until it lights up entirely, but what if it doesn’t? I >>>> don’t want to risk damaging any tubes further unless I have access to a >>>> replacement. Interesting regarding the yield, where did you find that info? >>>> Paul Andrews schrieb am Montag, 13. November 2023 um 22:55:13 UTC+1: >>>> >>>>> Because all the segments are in the same plane, it is possible that >>>>> they could all get deposits equally, so increasing the current may work. >>>>> Yes, the current is controlled by a resistor. The documentation I linked >>>>> you to gives the recommended current for each segment. To try to >>>>> re-condition the segments I would double the current, but I would only do >>>>> that with the affected tubes. >>>>> >>>>> These tubes are known for having a low yield so it is possible that >>>>> the affected tubes have other problems, such as outgassing. I would be >>>>> very >>>>> careful when removing them from any socket they may be in to avoid >>>>> breaking >>>>> a seal between the pin and the tube. >>>>> >>>>> On Monday, November 13, 2023 at 4:22:00 PM UTC-5 Magnedyne wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Furthermore I should mention that the partial glow does not affect >>>>>> only specific elements of the tube but any element inside the tube. >>>>>> Can this be caused by deposits? >>>>>> Nicholas Stock schrieb am Montag, 13. November 2023 um 21:56:10 UTC+1: >>>>>> >>>>>>> WHAT A FIND!!! OMG. I didn't even know there were smaller versions >>>>>>> of the ZM1350 (shame on me!). >>>>>>> >>>>>>> The tubes with the partially lit segments can probably be revived >>>>>>> with a little extra current... just be careful not to burn them during >>>>>>> the >>>>>>> healing process (if it works..). >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Wow.. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Welcome to the group, >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Nick >>>>>>> >>>>>>> On Mon, Nov 13, 2023 at 12:07 PM Magnedyne <[email protected]> >>>>>>> wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Well, this serves as my introduction and and as a thread about a >>>>>>>> beautiful sign I just picked up. >>>>>>>> Firstly something about myself. >>>>>>>> I’m a 17 year old collector and (hobby) historian of vintage >>>>>>>> computers, my interests are mainly minis, mainframes, early micros and >>>>>>>> kit/diy computers. But I’ve got a few other different bits and bobs >>>>>>>> throughout the history of technology as well. >>>>>>>> Now back to the reason I joined this group. >>>>>>>> I came across an absolutely beautiful Telefunken advertising sign >>>>>>>> for the, frankly underdocumented, Telefunken Varisymbol tubes. They >>>>>>>> were >>>>>>>> Telefunkens response to the Burroughs 7971 alphanumerical tubes. These >>>>>>>> were >>>>>>>> only sold for a very brief amount of time and exclusively in Europe. >>>>>>>> Interestingly these are flat like panaplex tubes and the anode is >>>>>>>> not a grid, but a coating on the inside of the tube. These are the >>>>>>>> earliest >>>>>>>> gas discharge tubes, well the ones I’m aware of anyhow, which used >>>>>>>> such a >>>>>>>> coating. >>>>>>>> The sign is a handmade one off which was lugged around to fairs to >>>>>>>> advertise the Varisymbol to potential Customers. It implements all >>>>>>>> three >>>>>>>> sizes of the Varisymbol ZM1350 ZM1360 & ZM1370. It can alternate >>>>>>>> between >>>>>>>> „TELEFUNKEN“ and „VARISYMBOL“ at four different speeds. Switching >>>>>>>> between >>>>>>>> the sign reading „TELEFUNKEN“ three times, then „VARISYMBOL“ three >>>>>>>> times >>>>>>>> and the sign reading „TELEFUNKEN VARISYMBOL TELEFUNKEN“/ „VARISYMBOL >>>>>>>> TELEFUNKEN VARISYMBOL“ is possible as well. Unfortunately three tubes >>>>>>>> don’t display quite properly. I’m hoping it’s just the electronics, I >>>>>>>> haven’t had time for a detailed diagnosis yet. Even if it’s the tubes, >>>>>>>> it >>>>>>>> seems to be the most common type at least, the ZM1350 which seems to >>>>>>>> have >>>>>>>> popped up most often in the past. >>>>>>>> Any further info about the Varisymbol is greatly appreciated. >>>>>>>> Cheers, >>>>>>>> Magnedyne >>>>>>>> [image: IMG_0026.jpeg] >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> [image: IMG_0025.jpeg] >>>>>>>> [image: IMG_0021.jpeg] >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> -- >>>>>>>> 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/20e32d2c-3ac1-4656-b532-77b22f6a35f1n%40googlegroups.com >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/20e32d2c-3ac1-4656-b532-77b22f6a35f1n%40googlegroups.com?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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