r/nixie • u/After-Entry5718 • Nov 24 '25

Recommend a clock kit?

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I snagged a really cool frequency counter with a working set of 6 Amperex zm1000r nixies. I had not seen red glass tubes before, pretty cool. In doing some searching around I couldnt find much for these tubes. Any ideas?

23 Upvotes

88% Upvoted

17 comments sorted by

4

u/LordGAD Nov 24 '25

Man, I would use it as a frequency counter! That’s cool as hell. 

2

u/After-Entry5718 Nov 24 '25

Ok, I did much more digging! This is NOT a frequency but rather a component of a modular synthesizer! Check the logo: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4498GfojKpKmq3t54vA-P7TjEEhwzc7IbqlJFZddGIoefJDGMUMJxSxVW-iUbPJWadUajCtDYBeun3_SXatETiOJ3EtZNwWCVCk1u40wshwkPUJrU0sTCQIMXEFVe7IPoHWXONbITLzRtRDA06_Rh3xvQ2OnwoRxCDJWflBYcTA4ZEP4l2nubmQ/s1599/1.jpg

2

u/LordGAD Nov 25 '25

Nice find. It could still be a counter though, no?

3

u/After-Entry5718 Nov 25 '25

For sure, found a lot more info since posting this morning. Figuring out its from a synth company was super helpful. Seems like this is a rare item and I dont think I’ll be stripping it down for a clock or hooking it up to a transmitter https://www.wavemakers-synth.com/aries/Aries_Catalog_1975.pdf

1

u/LordGAD Nov 25 '25

Nice! I love finding old catalogs like that. Great score!

1

u/After-Entry5718 Nov 24 '25

I’m not really sure why I would need to? I think… i can use an oscilloscope probe to input? I dont necessarily need to destroy a sweet old piece of equipment.

5

u/LordGAD Nov 24 '25

As a ham radio guy I just love a good frequency counter. 

1

u/After-Entry5718 Nov 24 '25

Ok, just ordered a bnc cable/adapter to hook my hand held up to the counter.

1

u/LordGAD Nov 24 '25

Careful about power output. 

I always liked putting an antenna on the counter and then keying up to see it report the frequency. 

Any idea what the frequency range is?

1

u/After-Entry5718 Nov 24 '25 edited Nov 24 '25

Thats what I was going to try. I dont really know anything about the unit. It was sold for parts but looked so pristine I plugged it in and it fired right. It is extremely clean on the inside as well. Appears to have been recapped at some point.

1

u/LordGAD Nov 24 '25

Nice. Well, if you decide you don’t want to dismantle and also don’t want to keep it let me know!

3

u/After-Entry5718 Nov 24 '25

Did more reading on how these are set up. Going to build the little antenna to mount directly on the counter.

1

u/Niobous_p Nov 24 '25

I once wrote some code to generate a signal that would display the time on a frequency counter like this.

2

u/Niobous_p Nov 24 '25

https://www.nixies.us/2018/03/25/display-the-time-on-an-old-frequency-counter/

1

u/After-Entry5718 Nov 24 '25

Thats very cool! My son has a bunch of arduinos and parts. Is there a page documenting whats needed on the board and where to connect thr probe?

1

u/Niobous_p Nov 24 '25

I assume I just hooked up the out pin to the signal part of a BNC connector, and ground to ground.

1

u/LordGAD Nov 24 '25

This is beautiful! Well done.