Nixie Tube Clock V2
The Nixie Tube Clock in the video is of amazing craftsmanship- real hardwood with brass accents and solid construction. Get one from this excellent shop:
From Etsy: BUY NOW
Nixie Tube Clocks
Nixie Tube Clock V2: long before there were 7 segment LED displays there was the Nixie- cold cathode tubes with a wire mesh and 10 cathodes shaped in the form of numerals 0-9 that illuminate through neon glow discharge. The “Numeric Indicator eXperimental 1” or NIX 1 was introduced in 1955 by Burroughs Corporation and manufactured until the 1990s. This clock uses modern electronics to power Russian versions called the ИH-12A where the numbers are stacked so the front symbols obscure each lighted cathode minimally: from back to front 162750483.
Pendulum Clock
Affordable gravity powered pendulum clocks available here in a number of styles:
From Amazon: BUY NOW: Pendulum Clock
The version featured in the video is the: Hermle Ravensburg Clock
Gravity Powered Pendulum Clock: invented in 1656 by Christian Huygens, the physics properties of a swinging pendulum was the basis of all precision clocks until the 1940s. As noted by Galileo, the period of swing of a pendulum can be made very precise and stable depending only on its length. This modern version is made faithfully in the original design powered only by gravity as the potential energy of the descending weight is transferred to the kinetic energy of the drive train gears and pendulum. The key feature of any pendulum clock is the anchor escapement mechanism- a curved piece attached to the pendulum with two prongs that only allows the escapement wheel to move forward one tooth per swing cycle, and producing the characteristic “tick-tock” sound. The weight descends about 1 cm per hour, and when hanging from a wall the chain needs to be pulled once a week, raising the weight up about 2 m to keep the clock in operation. This beautiful clock, made by Hermle, features a chime that sounds upon the hour.
Hyperbola Clock
This amazing clock available here:
From Etsy: BUY NOW Hyperbola Clock
From Amazon: BUY NOW: Hyperbola Clock
Hyperbola Clock: a straight rod glides through a curved hole in this unconventional clock based on the hyperboloid, the 3D ruled surface traced by rotating diagonal line. In this creation by Robert Darwen of Fibonacci Clocks, the rod serves as the hour hand with a smaller minute hand above the center of the base disk. (The time adjustment dial of the clock mechanism was connected to a small motor to produce the sped up motion in this video so that 1 second = 1 hour)
Nixie Tubes and Clock
The Nixie Tube Clock in the video is of amazing craftsmanship- real hardwood with brass accents and solid construction. Get one from this excellent shop:
From Etsy: BUY NOW: Nixie Tube Clocks
Nixie Tube: long before there were 7 segment LED displays there was the Nixie- cold cathode tubes with a wire mesh and 10 cathodes shaped in the form of numerals 0-9 that illuminate through neon glow discharge. The “Numeric Indicator eXperimental 1” or NIX 1 was introduced in 1955 by Burroughs Corporation and manufactured until the 1990s. This clock uses modern electronics to power Russian versions called the ИH-19A where the numbers are stacked so the front symbols obscure each lighted cathode minimally: from back to front 1320984756.
Undial Sundial
Available here (make sure to get the correct version for your latitude):
From japantrendshop: BUY NOW: Undial Sundial
From eBay: Search NOW: Undial Sundial
Undial Sundial: modern design of an ancient timekeeping device where a slanted stick (the gnomon) casts a shadow to indicate the time (this one designed for 30-40 degrees latitude). This novel design has no dial underneath, instead the hours are laser etched into clear acrylic such that the time appears projected within the cast shadow. 10 AM to 3:00 PM of a sunny day in Fresno are shown here in time-lapse. Note the movement of the shadow cast by the sun as the Earth turns underneath during this five hour period. Perfect for a windowsill that gets noonday sun!
Vintage VFD Tube Clock
Fully assembeld high quality clocks available here:
From Etsy: BUY NOW: VFD Tube Clock
Vintage VFD Tube Clock: before seven segment LEDs there were Vacuum Fluorescent Display tubes in which zinc oxide coatings emit green light when bombarded by electrons under high vacuum. A phosphor coated anode segment only illuminates if it and the grid (seen in close up) are both energized at positive potential. This clock features an eight digit IV-18 display tube manufactured in the 1990s and cofigured to power up via a USB cable - old tech meets modern electronics in an elegant acrylic case.
Single Tube Nixie Clock
This single tube version is an affordable alternative to showcase the vintage aesthetic of the Nixie neon glow:
From eBay: BUY NOW: Single Tube Nixie Clock Base (buy the tube in the next link)
From eBay: BUY NOW: IN14 Nixie Tube
Get the diffraction grating here:
From Amazon: BUY NOW: Diffraction Grating
Get a beautifully made full four digit clock here:
From Etsy: BUY NOW: Nixie Tube Clocks
Single Tube Nixie Clock: This minimalist clock uses a standard 5V USB connection and modern electronics to power a single Russian made ИH-14A Nixie tube- here the display shows the time 12:36 flashed in sequence. Long before there were 7 segment LED displays there was the Nixie- cold cathode tubes with a wire mesh and 10 cathodes shaped in the form of numerals 0-9 that illuminate through neon glow discharge at 170Volts. A diffraction grating reveals the brightest emission lines of the neon spectrum including: violet, green, bright yellow, and a bunch of orange/red lines characteristic of this noble has. The “Numeric Indicator eXperimental 1” or NIX 1 was introduced in 1955 by Burroughs Corporation and manufactured until the 1990s.
Ernest Borel Watch
These vintage watches are not too hard to find:
From Etsy: BUY NOW: Borel Cocktail Watches
From eBay: BUY NOW: Borel Cocktail Watches
Moire Kinetic Watch: this beautiful timepiece is an Ernest Borel Cocktail pendant watch made in 1958 featuring the trademark rotating disk (instead of a second hand) which creates a kinetic radiant Moiré pattern. This vintage 17 jewel Swiss watch is old school- powered by a spring that must be wound once a day (elastic potential energy to kinetic).
Incline Gravity Clock
These vintage clocks are sometimes found on eBay. Some take 24 hours to descend (expensive) and some take 7 days (very expensive).
From eBay: Search NOW: Incline Gravity Clock
Ancient Clockwork Zamberlan posted theses nice photos of the inner workings of this clock
See other amazing clocks in my collection here: Unusual Clocks
Incline Gravity Clock: powered by gravity this clock has no batteries or mainspring- however, once each day the clock must be picked up and placed back at the top of the ramp. As the clock rolls down the incline (here 12 hours are captured in time-lapse of 24 seconds), gravitational potential energy is translated into the kinetic energy of the moving clock gear train and oscillating balance wheel. The clock face and mechanism hang suspended with a counterweight that keeps them upright- although you might notice the mechanism of this vintage clock sticks a little at 7 o’clock. After some research I believe this clock was produced in China about 50 years ago.
Digital Sundial
Invented in 1994 and designed and built in Germany, the microlouver masks are precision engineered to give 10 minute accuracy to the digital sundial. Learn more about the inventors and how to buy a digital sundial for your specific latitude here:
From Digital Sundials International: Digital Sundial
Digital Sundial: a complex array of thinly layered microlouvers allows the control of transmitted sunlight depending on angle. Time is read by looking at the reflection of the filter in the bottom mirror. 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM shown here in 15 seconds of time lapse- note the movement of the shadow cast by the sun as the Earth turns underneath during this 2.5 hour interval. Astonishing engineering.
Noon Cannon Sundial Replica
Similar replicas sometimes found here:
From Etsy: BUY/Search NOW: Sundial Cannon
Here is a working (and expensive) replica in production.
Get some history about meridian cannons from Wikipedia
Noon Cannon: a working replica of a historical novelty- a meridian cannon where, upon 12 o’clock noon, the sun’s rays are concentrated through a precisely placed lens igniting a fuse which then discharges a miniature cannon. According to Wikipedia, in the 18th century meridian cannons could be found in European parks where they were fired off daily to indicate noontime to the surrounding townships. In the first video, the noon time shot is captured in slow motion and the rest of the video is time-lapse from 10AM to 3PM where the observant will note that I did not have the cannon pointing due north as it should be (off by about 15 degrees).
Infinity Mirror Watch
This watch is no longer in production but can be found right now on eBay and other auction sites:
From eBay: BUY NOW: Infinity Optics Watch
Infinity Mirror Watch: wear an illusion of a deep void on your wrist- fluorescent hands and dial on a mirrored face are illuminated by a UV LED and covered by a partially mirrored crystal to create the famous infinity mirror effect by multiple reflections. The Infinity Optics watch was produced in a limited run by Can You Imagine Inc. a few years ago- a perfect accessory for your next rave!
STORY Clock
This very high-tech clock is also high end (more expensive than most items I feature), with excellent craftmaship and technology that is clearly hard to replicate so that it is only made by, and available from, the FLYTE team:
From Art of Play: BUY NOW: Story Clock
From FLYTE: BUY NOW: US & Global Sales Story Clock or in EU Story Clock
STORY Clock: a spherical magnet hovers one centimeter from the face of this amazing clock and orbits in a circle to indicate the time- for this video I selected an orbit period of 40 seconds to show off the motion. The orbit of the magnetic ball can be set to any period but also has default selectable presets to indicate the current hour, minute, or second. This kind of levitation uses a control system with adjustable electromagnet coils in a feedback loop with Hall effect sensors which allow for fine tuning of a magnetic field to precisely balance the pull of gravity. Amazing magnetic levitation physics demonstrated by clever engineering by the @flyte.se team, this clock will work lying flat or hung on a wall vertically!
Opticum 3 Font
Get your custom message engraved here:
From Creative Crafthouse on Etsy: BUY NOW
Custom Opticum Font Message Plaque
This family of fonts is available here: Opticum 3 from Linotype
Opticum 3 Font: This laser engraved message uses the Opticum 3 font designed by Erken Kagarov, where indirect lighting reveals the symbols hidden in a maze- created by simply typing out your message using this font. Amazing application of geometry and shadow!