| STC G10/241E Dekatron Nomotron Tube | |
| Written by AnubisTTP on 2007-08-12 |
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If a dekatron and a pixie tube were fused together in some sort of horrible, The Fly-style matter transporter accident, a nomotron would probably be the result. Nomotrons function on the principles of glow transfer in the same manner as dekatron tubes do, but instead of relying on an external surround to indicate count position, a nomotron has a metal shield inside the tube which directly indicates count through punched or stamped numbers. The G10/241E, made by STC, is a fairly standard representative example of the nomotron form factor. The G10/241E is a unidirectional tube, with angled sheet metal cathodes hidden under its metal shroud. Unlike many other unidirectional tubes, the direction of the glow transfer is not controlled by the slant of the cathodes. Instead, each guide cathode has extremities constructed of different alloys with different maintaining voltages. These multi-alloy cathodes are reported to substantially increase the count accuracy of the tube, but require numerous additional external components in the form of resistor-capacitor networks attached to the guide cathodes. The count position indicators on this tube are not stamped on the metal, but rather printed on a mica disc mounted above the shroud. The tube has a stubby wide envelope and an attractive metal duodecal base.
Side view of STC G10/241E.
Top view of G10/241E showing count position indicator.
The metal shroud within the G10/241E almost completely blocks view of the glow discharge. A small hole is provided above each output cathode for direct view of count position.
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