# What kind of electronic display/"font" is this?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-electronic-display-font-is-this/175275
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [May 14, 2003, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-electronic-display-font-is-this/175275 "2003-05-14T20:38:38Z")
**Posts on this page:** 6
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)
#### Post date: [May 14, 2003, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-electronic-display-font-is-this/175275/1 "2003-05-14T20:38:38Z")
I was just wondering…can anyone identity the type of system [these](http://home.pon.net/phoebeg/oddnumbers.jpg) numbers are displayed in? I’ve seen them in the movies “Iceman” and “The Shadow,” as well as a simulated version in the old game “Dark Forces,” from which the screenshot is taken. In every case, these numbers were used in either an electronic “gauge” or timer, like a primitive LCD display. When I’ve seen this kind of display in the movies, it _seemed_ to have been made of stacks of number-shaped neon tubes layered one on top of another, but I could have been mistaken.
So, can anyone ID this bit of electronic gadgetry for me?
Ranchoth
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### Author:  [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)
#### Post date: [May 14, 2003, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-electronic-display-font-is-this/175275/2 "2003-05-14T20:42:27Z")
It’s called a [Nixy Digit Tube](http://www.tonh.net/nixystanding.html). I have an old Heath frequency counter that uses them.
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### Author:  [@Phage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phage)
#### Post date: [May 14, 2003, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-electronic-display-font-is-this/175275/3 "2003-05-14T20:54:03Z")
Speaking of which, anyone know where a font like that could be found?
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### Author:  [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)
#### Post date: [May 15, 2003, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-electronic-display-font-is-this/175275/4 "2003-05-15T00:01:26Z")
Some [more](http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=02/02/01/1648218) [links](http://www.electricstuff.co.uk/nixclock.html).
Last time I recall seeing them in a movie is “[Wings of Honneamise](http://www.animefu.com/index.pl?node_id=3342)”. (Kewl anime, BTW). 🙂
[This](http://www.electricstuff.co.uk/count.html) place describes them as “neon-filled numeric displays, also known as ‘numicators’”
If you want, there’s a java clock available with this font [here.](http://www.cim.mcgill.ca/~danny/jsclock.php)
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### Author:  [@Trigonal\_Planar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trigonal_Planar)
#### Post date: [May 15, 2003, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-electronic-display-font-is-this/175275/5 "2003-05-15T03:15:12Z")
Nixie tubes are a really cool display method. I also have an old frequency counter that uses them.
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### Author:  [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)
#### Post date: [May 15, 2003, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-electronic-display-font-is-this/175275/6 "2003-05-15T03:23:21Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Trigonal Planar \*
> \*\*Nixie tubes are a really cool display method. I also have an old frequency counter that uses them. \*\*
I wonder if we have the same one. Mine is a Heathkit IB-101