This year is, for all intents and purposes, the year of the retro wave. The Moto Razr is relaunching, Disney is practically remaking all their glorious movies, and nixie tubes may just be making a full comeback too!
The use of Nixie tubes dates back to the 50s, being used as light-up numeric indicators in various technical equipments. These tubes were hand-crafted, and required a great deal of technical expertise to manufacture. Needless to say, the tubes were soon replaced by flipboard displays, and then eventually pixels. The Nixie Tube still remains a lovable piece of technology that is reminiscent of a time when things were made by hand, and adored for its steampunk aesthetic.
The ZIN18 Reborn Clock is a modern-day throwback to that time. Designed by the designers and craftsmen at Millclock Company, the ZIN18 Reborn is a six-tube clock that features Millclock Company’s ZIN18 nixie tubes. These tubes are crafted entirely by hand, and use better materials and manufacturing processes than the tubes made half a century ago. They also run on incredibly low energy.
A delightful combination of old and new, the ZIN18 Reborn Clock does a hat-tip to the 70-year-old nixie technology while remaining a pretty sophisticated clock in its own right. It can be controlled via a smartphone app, and even features a touch-sensitive control panel to set the time. The clock has the ability to synchronize its timekeeping via the internet, and even features an alarm! The ZIN18 Reborn clock comes with a polished metal base and 6 individual nixie tubes that can be fitted into their individual housings. To protect these tubes from dislodging, or any accidental nudging, the clock comes with a glass hood that encases all six tubes, giving you a clear view of the time while also indicating the precious quality of these expertly handcrafted tubes.
Nixie tubes today are hard to find, given that nobody mass-produces them anymore, especially since they’re incredibly difficult to manufacture and require a skilled hand. Determined to bring this heartwarming piece of technology back, Millclock Company is working to evolve the craft, resulting in tubes that are stronger, safer, and have a lifespan of as long as 20 years of continuous usage. The ZIN18 tubes boast of the craftsmanship one would expect from a jeweler or a watchmaker, and the company also plans to make these tubes readily available to hobbyists and designers who want to use these tubes for their own projects in the future.
Designer: Millclock Company
ZIN18 is a modernized and most compact Nixie tube that has been produced. These tubes are crafted entirely by hand, and use better materials and manufacturing processes than the tubes made half a century ago. They also run on incredibly low energy. The Reborn ZIN18 Nixie clock works for about 20 years or 200.000 hours of uninterrupted time-telling, 24/7.
Determined to bring this heartwarming piece of technology back, Millclock Company is working to evolve the craft, resulting in tubes that are stronger, safer, and have a lifespan of as long as 20 years of continuous usage.
Conceptually, the name ZIN is a blend of the Z class and IN class Nixie tubes. The design of transformation of two classes into one new variety took us profound research and hard work.
The Millclock team modernized a beautiful base that is used in the Z class lamps. Then, they elongated a small IN18 Nixie tube, by only 44mm and mount it on the base.
The team manually assembles 47 best quality components of the envelope. Then, they create the glass tube and the thread in special machines and put the whole piece in the “ovens” with temperatures more than 600 degrees Celsius. Next, the team anneal’s it and infuses the mixture of pure gasses, and finally test it on the stand. This process results in a highly strengthened glass of the tube and leak-free seal at the bottom part of the lamp. And those are the two main check points of the tube’s long service time.
Reborn ZIN18 tubes are available with three varieties of bases to meet your aesthetic vision in projects making: polished aluminum, black anodized and sand blasted aluminum.
In ZIN18, the cathode digits can be easily programmed to show exact time and other valuable data. The digits can run diverse visual effects. They can slowly slide or quickly switch with adjustable speed that looks phantasmagorical, especially in the dark premises.
To create a mood-light effect at home, you can switch on the under lighting. The software allows for a vast range of colors and visual effects of under lighting that can create any mood in your home – party, romantic or relaxing.
ZIN18 Nixie clock works via Android and Apple iOS, it also supports censor communication through the embedded touch pad.
The manufacturing of this beautiful nixie equals to art-making, as making mechanical clocks, perfume, or gem jewelry. The process is quite intricate but mesmerizing and has the following milestones.
