Programmable Logic DesignLine Blog
No! It's not fair!
Clive Maxfield
7/25/2012 4:45 PM EDT
So here's the deal. I'm already the proud owner of the coolest, geekiest watch on the planet … quite possibly in the known universe. I am of course referring to my Nixie Tube Watch from the folks at Cathode Corner.
Steve Wozniak (the co-founder of Apple Computers), also owns one of these little beauties. In fact, he's on the record as saying that out of all the things he's seen, this is the one he wishes he'd invented himself.
So who could want anything more? Well, certainly not I … until that little rascal Jay Dowling emailed me to say "Have you seen this cool timepiece?" Jay also thoughtfully provided a link to the Navitron Steampunk Wrist Compass and Sundial page on the Think Geek Website.
Arrggghhh! May 1,000 curses rain down on Jay's head. I am in torment. Just look at the evocative words from the folks at Think Geek:
Made of antique brass, this little scamp acts as a sundial, latitude finder, and compass (with locking button), all strapped to a heavy-duty, brown leather band. Furthermore, all of the features, including sundial and angular latitude arm, fold flat for a compact look.
Now I obviously do not need this. In addition to the fact I have my Nixie Tube Watch, I've also been blessed with the talent to always know the right time. Seriously! It doesn’t matter if it's day or night or if I'm in the Northern or Southern hemispheres. All I have to do is look at the sky and observe the position of the sun, moon, and stars, and I can say without any doubt of hesitation: "It's time for a beer," and I'm always right!
If you found this article to be of interest, visit Programmable Logic Designline where – in addition to my Max's Cool Beans blogs – you will find the latest and greatest design, technology, product, and news articles with regard to programmable logic devices of every flavor and size (FPGAs, CPLDs, CSSPs, PSoCs...).
Also, you can obtain a highlights update delivered directly to your inbox by signing up for my weekly newsletter – just Click Here to request this newsletter using the Manage Newsletters tab (if you aren't already a member you'll be asked to register, but it's free and painless so don't let that stop you [grin]).
Steve Wozniak (the co-founder of Apple Computers), also owns one of these little beauties. In fact, he's on the record as saying that out of all the things he's seen, this is the one he wishes he'd invented himself.
So who could want anything more? Well, certainly not I … until that little rascal Jay Dowling emailed me to say "Have you seen this cool timepiece?" Jay also thoughtfully provided a link to the Navitron Steampunk Wrist Compass and Sundial page on the Think Geek Website.
Arrggghhh! May 1,000 curses rain down on Jay's head. I am in torment. Just look at the evocative words from the folks at Think Geek:
The wind blows through your hair as you steer your personal dirigible along the wispy seas of air. For a moment, you forget yourself in the beauty of it all. But then you remember the lunch meeting you have. You quickly look to your wrist, get your bearings, and check the time – all without electricity – because, naturally, you're using your Navitron Steampunk Wrist Compass and Sundial.
Made of antique brass, this little scamp acts as a sundial, latitude finder, and compass (with locking button), all strapped to a heavy-duty, brown leather band. Furthermore, all of the features, including sundial and angular latitude arm, fold flat for a compact look.
Now I obviously do not need this. In addition to the fact I have my Nixie Tube Watch, I've also been blessed with the talent to always know the right time. Seriously! It doesn’t matter if it's day or night or if I'm in the Northern or Southern hemispheres. All I have to do is look at the sky and observe the position of the sun, moon, and stars, and I can say without any doubt of hesitation: "It's time for a beer," and I'm always right!
If you found this article to be of interest, visit Programmable Logic Designline where – in addition to my Max's Cool Beans blogs – you will find the latest and greatest design, technology, product, and news articles with regard to programmable logic devices of every flavor and size (FPGAs, CPLDs, CSSPs, PSoCs...).
Also, you can obtain a highlights update delivered directly to your inbox by signing up for my weekly newsletter – just Click Here to request this newsletter using the Manage Newsletters tab (if you aren't already a member you'll be asked to register, but it's free and painless so don't let that stop you [grin]).
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Duane Benson
7/25/2012 5:50 PM EDT
Both of those are very cool. The only problem with the sun dial watch is that, given that I live in the Silicon Rain Forest, up here in Oregon, it would only be useable for the two months out of the year that the sun shines.
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Max the Magnificent
7/25/2012 5:52 PM EDT
But you would look so "Crocodile Dundee" ... and you can't put a price on "cool"
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David Ashton
7/25/2012 7:32 PM EDT
When I was a callow youth in Rhodesia (which was then involved in what amounted to a civil war) I was in the Police....they had a horse unit and hence a saddlery workshop. You could get the guys there to make you an "anti-terrorist watchstrap" which had a leather strap and cover over the face so it would not glint in the sun and give your position away. I never got near enough to a gook for him to see a flash off my watch, but we all thought we were very cool opening the cover to check the time.
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Max the Magnificent
7/26/2012 12:07 PM EDT
As I grow older I realize just how sheltered was my childhood
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David Ashton
7/26/2012 6:51 PM EDT
My childhood was pretty sheltered Max, fairly idyllic in fact. And when I look at a lot of today's youth I often think a bit of military experience (even without a war...) would do a lot of them good.
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Max the Magnificent
7/27/2012 9:56 AM EDT
@"I often think a bit of military experience [...] would do a lot of them good."
I'm all for it so long as I don't have to do it :-)
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ReneCardenas
7/27/2012 11:10 AM EDT
Max, just curious on the operating of the Nixie watch. In what kind of notation are two digits coded, since I do not see mode knobs/switches?
I like the cool-geek look, but feel intrigued with specs of the time piece.
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Max the Magnificent
7/27/2012 11:15 AM EDT
Hi Rene -- usually the tubes are off (to save power). When you turn your wrist to look at the watch, an internal sensor notes the fact that your wrist is at a 45 degree angle and the tubes light up -- first they flash the 2-digit hour, then they flash the 2-digit minute, then they start flashing / displaying the seconds ... until you turn your wrist away again.
If you unscrew the cover -- there are two small buttons -- one to "set/select" things and one to "advance" -- once you've set it up that's all you have to do until you change the battery...
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ReneCardenas
7/27/2012 11:50 AM EDT
Max,
Sorry, I take back the question, I missed the link in previous paragraph, after browsing David Forbes website for Nixie watch, and reading the history of his project. I am more than perplexed by his passion. I admired someone so driven to perfect his vision of this cool toy.
For been a part time job, I am impressed by the result of his effort.
I will make sure I pass along his URL to my daughters as a present wishlist. ;-)
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Max the Magnificent
7/27/2012 11:57 AM EDT
No worries -- I must admit that it was an extravagance for me -- but I have never regretted buying it -- if I'm in a room with a guy with a mega-expensive Rolex ... it's my watch people want to look at and talk about...
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