ZIN18 Nixie Tubes Are Newly-Manufactured, Not Old Stock

Makers love Nixie tubes. Something about the vintage looks and glowing filament digits is just irresistible, and they’re perfect for building clocks or subscriber counters. Unfortunately, nobody actually manufacturers new Nixie tubes anymore, and everything you can buy is simply old stock from decades ago — stock that’s going to run out. At least that was the case until now, thanks to the new ZIN18 Nixie tubes launching through Kickstarter.

The ZIN18 Nixie tube Kickstarter campaign still has five days left to go, but has already reached almost twice its funding goal. The campaign was created for one very important reason: to bring back the Nixie tube. Every ZIN18 Nixie tube will be freshly-manufactured, making it the only real option if you want a brand new Nixie tube.

But, they’re not relying on that fact alone to sell the ZIN18. While all Nixie tubes are aesthetically-pleasing, the ZIN18 is especially beautiful. The base is made from anodized, bead-blasted aluminum, and is available in a variety of finishes. The glass tubes are crafted with style in mind, and the result is a tube that simultaneously looks retro and futuristic.

The tubes are low-energy, and can be driven by 170V with a cathode current of 5mA. Each tube also has a smart base that has it’s own controller, making these far easier to work with than traditional Nixie tubes. There is even mention of built-in WiFi and an app for control, though there isn’t much detail on the hardware involved.

The one downside of the ZIN18 is the cost. Each ZIN18 Nixie tube costs $99, and that’s a pretty difficult pill to swallow. But, that’s probably actually a fair price when you consider how difficult these are to manufacture, how much demand there is, and all of the technology that’s integrated into them.

If you want a ZIN18 Nixie tube — or pack of them — the Kickstarter campaign is running until March 18th. Rewards are expected to be delivered in April.