NIXIE TUBE CROSS-REFERENCE DATA TABLE NOTES
GENERAL
What is a Nixie Tube? Answer 1 from Wikipedia Answer 2 by Rick Furr
What is not a Nixie Tube? Two excellent pages from The Vintage Calculators Web Museum show and describe multiple display technologies including Nixie Tubes and others: Calculator Displays and Electronic Calculator Displays: An Overview of Technology by Rick Furr
The main table contains basic information on a few hundred cold-cathode neon readout tubes (generically called "nixie tubes" although "Nixie" was actually a trademark of Burroughs Corporation), several related and contemporaneous readout types (most of which are often mistakenly referred to as "nixie tubes") and a few tubes which can count and drive nixie tubes but do not themselves display.
The table is sorted manually, with numbers preceding letters. Numbers are taken as grouped and sorted naturally, so that for example "2ABC" would fall between "1" and "3", rather than between "2999" and "3000" as is the case with many computer-sorted lists.
The associated document is a work-in-progress, currently in "alpha" development state. The main table uses JavaScript to scroll the table header horizontally. If the header is stationary and you're using a recent version of Internet Explorer, you need to enable scripts. Improved cross-browser compatibility is under development. Assistance in this regard by any HTML/JavaScript gurus would be appreciated!
Some users have reported problems viewing unusual characters used in the cross-reference table. Here's a partial list of special characters used:
'‑' (nonbreaking hyphen)
'µ' ('micro' symbol - lowercase Greek mu)
'Ω' ('ohms' symbol - capital Greek omega)
'А' (capital Cyrillic a)
'Б' (capital Cyrillic be)
'В' (capital Cyrillic ve)
'Г' (capital Cyrillic ghe)
'З' (capital Cyrillic ze)
'И' (capital Cyrillic i)
'Н' (capital Cyrillic en)
'О' (capital Cyrillic o)
'П' (capital Cyrillic pe)
'¼' (vulgar fraction 1/4)
'½' (vulgar fraction 1/2)
'¾' (vulgar fraction 3/4)
'−' (minus sign)
'×' (multiplication sign)
'÷' (division sign)
'°' (degrees)
'•' (bullet)
If you see question marks, hollow or solid rectangles, spaces or other incorrect symbols in this list, your browser or system may not be correctly handling the character set. You may be able to change your browser settings to overcome this deficiency, or save a local copy of these files and make substitutions as necessary.
FOOTNOTES
1. Some types' part numbers may be found printed on the tubes or their boxes with or without an alphabetic prefix indicating the company which originally developed, made or specified that particular tube type. Also, the prefix, when used, may or may not be separated from the numeric portion by a hyphen. Most types found (or commonly referred to) with and without a prefix are listed both ways in the main table.
2. Part numbers in ITALICS indicate non-Nixie types, including glow-transfer and crossed-field counting tubes, CRT readouts, 'Numitron' incandescent filament readouts, 'Pixie' position indicator tubes, planar neon readouts, edge-lit lightguide readouts, incandescent projection readouts and vacuum fluorescent displays.
3. Known Russian/Soviet tubes' part numbers naturally contain Cyrillic alphabet characters. The English language Latin/Roman alphabet equivalent letters are used for sorting and given first in the table, followed by the Cyrillic original in parenthesis.
4. Part numbers in the "SUBSTITUTES" column which are BOLD are known to be exact replacements. Others may not be exact replacements; only basing, pinout, view type, and digit size are known or believed to be equivalent. Other factors which may differ include electrical ratings; normal, long, or ultra-long life; envelope size and shape; filter coating; standard tube or designed for multiplexing; etc.
5. In the "DIGIT HEIGHT" and "OVERALL DIMENSIONS" columns, dimensions which are BOLD are obtained from original manufacturers' specifications, and may represent nominal or maximum values. In the "OVERALL DIMENSIONS" column, heights given for pin-based tubes include the pins. Heights given for wire-based tubes DO NOT include the wire leads or standoff/spreader. Heights DO include the evacuation/fill nipple and/or base 'spigot' (center post) where applicable. Dimensions given (other than those in BOLD) may be copied from similar tubes, reported to me by others, derived by measurement of actual tube(s), or estimated from a photograph or digital image. Distinction between "Pin" and "Wire" is somewhat subjective; as used here, "Pin" typically refers to a conductor which is originally 13mm (0.5") or less in length and not easily bent in handling.
6. In the "DISPLAYED SYMBOLS" column, the symbol 'tilde' (~) is used to indicate a plain sine wave symbol, while the word 'sine' is used to indicate a sine wave symbol which incorporates the horizontal axis.
7. In the "BASE & PINOUT" column, base designations shown in ITALICS are either made-up names or socket part numbers for bases whose correct designation(s) I don't yet know. For those tubes for which I have not yet created a base drawing and/or pinout page, the pin numbers of tubes displaying numerals are given in the following order: common anode, cathode (K) "0", K"1", K"2", K"3", K"4", K"5", K"6", K"7", K"8", K"9". Other connections are given in the form "connection=pin#". Tube pins are typically numbered as viewed when looking at the base of the tube, in a clockwise direction beginning adjacent to the locating key. When pins are arranged in concentric rings, numbering typically proceeds from the outermost circle inward.
8. In the columns containing electrical specifications, values shown in BOLD are original manufacturers' specifications. Others may be copied from substitutable or similar tube type, estimated, or determined experimentally. Values enclosed in <ANGLE BRACKETS> are peak pulse values for use in multiplexed, PWM dimmed, or unfiltered rectified AC driven displays. Where no peak pulse values are given, they should be assumed to be the same as for steady D.C.
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