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Steampunked Magic Eye Winker powered by batteries and USB-connected

Steampunked Magic Eye Winker powered by batteries and USB-connected
Hi everybody
and a happy new year to the instructables- and also steampunk- company.

Here is my latest project: The Steampunked Magic Eye Winker.
Since my earliest childhood I am deeply impressed of the magic light at my grandparents radio.
Whenever they where listeneing -mostly in the evening- to the radio news I was fascinated by this magic glooming light of the magic eye  tube.
So I decided to find a way of watching it again.
I discussed a lot with my friends and finally got in contact with a famous guy called Mr. Nixie. He made the propsal to invent such a special universal electronic to let wink any of thes old magic eye tubes. My option was that it has to be possible to drive this circuit either by 4 pieces of AA-batteries or by using an USB connector. Also it has to be not too expensive and available for all guys in the world.

And here is the result:


Enjoy yourself by this small video impression and if you like, follow this instructable

Have fun Yours Aeon Junophor

And now let us start!!!!

 

 

 
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Step 1First draft

First draft
The Steampunked Magic Eye Winker should follow in its design my other steampunk objects and so I invented this from the already known brass parts. I combined it with some new parts from an very old petrollamp and some wodden stuff.
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13 comments
Jan 22, 2012. 7:01 AMdiy_bloke says:
Warum nicht die ganze Wäscheklammer verwenden?
Jan 22, 2012. 9:55 AMdiy_bloke says:
Hab mich dass auch gedacht. Vernunftig. Vielleicht kann man auch die Seite der Wäscheklammer benutzen. Ach, nur mit dem Eisen, gehts auch
Jan 15, 2012. 10:30 AMwjbean says:
In the U.S. the bit shown is known as a Forstner Bit. This was invented by a fellow named Benjamin Forstner.patented in 1874.
Jan 16, 2012. 6:32 AMwjbean says:
This is a really slick looking project.

I too was fascinated by the "magic eye" technology. As I remember it was integrated into a Fischer receiver my dad had. When a radio station was tuned in the eye would "narrow." It also pulsated in time to the audio.
Jan 9, 2012. 7:04 PMlongwinters says:
That looks like an EAM 86 you must have used two different tubes.

What does the pot do? does it change the frequency of the cycle or the width?
Jan 9, 2012. 10:17 AMagis68 says:
excellent job with many difficulties but well overpassed from the author....shame i dont have nixies any more and now the value goes to the skylimits in the market....
Jan 9, 2012. 7:49 AMlongwinters says:
I love the way you think outside the box, now all I have to do is figure out how to order the kit from Germany.

The overall appearence would improve if you would find an oldtime knob to replace the light bulb socket you used at the base.

There is one thing for sure when you make a project it is always unique and not like anything others are making, that;s why I love it when you post a new project.
Jan 9, 2012. 1:12 AMkwhitacre says:
This caught my eye. I used to have a bunch of old tubes, but no longer:-(

I hope that I have the time to look into making one of these. I would enjoy it. Thanks for the good photos and descriptions.
Jan 8, 2012. 2:49 PMInfrasonic says:
Lovely!
I can follow your deep impression on these old "Dampfradios". So nice...

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Author:Junophor(www.Dampfkraftlabor.de)
I love to invent and create new things in a "steampunk styled way" working with brass, copper, vulcanized-fiber, brass gears and (ply)- wood. On one side I am fascinated in neon lights and small elec...
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