3½ Glorious Nixie Tube Digits!

[For The Popcorn]

I got this Heathkit IM-102 3½ digit Nixie tube voltmeter in an auction for about 20 bucks, along with a Heathkit "Laboratory Generator" vacuum tube RF signal generator and two RCA VTVMs.

The DVM is the only thing I have any use for, and I know a five buck DVM from Harbor Freight is probably just as or more accurate but Nixie tubes are just neat.

I powered it up with clip leads – it needs an old-school 3 pin oval cord like used on old HP and GenRad instruments – and did a quick test. 5.00 volts from my Chinese buck/boost power supply module read 4.99. Close enough for government work. It powered up and it works!

 

[granddad]

Heathkit back in the 1960 was one of my first ventures into the 'art' of electronics, ( Tuner , Amp ) It was really expensive , but i saved a little each week from my £5 wages .Was still living at home so parents were impressed with our first stereo radiogram ... It had a Garrard deck, with tweeters and 8 inch speakers. Everyone commented on the great quality of the sound .

 

[Nigel Goodwin]

Heathkit was great stuff, but unfortunately VERY expensive - but you could see why, if you built one.

I couldn't afford one, but when I first started work as an apprentice TV/Audio Engineer a guy came in the shop, and asked if we had anyone who could built a Heathkit VHF Tuner for him. So I was nominated, he paid me for building it, and I had a great time doing it

Where I worked we actually had a couple of Heathkit items, a small oscilloscope, and an RF generator - but both were there before me.

 

[For The Popcorn]

This meter was introduced in 1972 (NOT long ago at all), at a cost of USD 250. The equivalent cost today would be nearly USD 2000.

Guess that's why the closest I got to Heathkit was drooling over all the things in their catalogs.