Four Letter Word Sculpture

Original design by Award-Winning designer, artist, engineer Raymond Weisling.

The Four Letter Word is a contemporary reconstruction of an electronic Nixie Tube sculpture that was created by Raymond Weisling in 1973. The original model was based on very elementary digital electronic circuits. Why? Because 1973 was a few years before the dawn of the modern personal computer era and such technology was simply unavailable or was far too expensive for an application like this. As it was, it cost $195---that is about $780 in today's dollar. "Darn dear, that cost." Today it costs a fraction of that. Thank you Silicon Valley.

The original model appeared in Playboy magazine in the June 1973 issue. A well-known Broadway lyricist-composer ordered almost a dozen of them to give away as gifts in 1973-74, and ordered some more in 2003. A starving student wanted one so badly but couldn't afford it in 1973; now an engineer, in 2003 he finally got his wish. Is it that special? Apparently so.

A discovery of thousands of these Nixie tubes in a warehouse just a few years ago prompted the completion of a revised version that was begun in 1994. That 1994 version was to have only been for a limited number, based on a small stock of extra parts from 1974. However, the current availability of these vintage (ca. 1968-1972 production) Burroughs B-7971 Nixie tubes at reasonable prices allows this unique piece to be produced again.

The remarkable thing is that these tubes seem to last forever. A few people who built things with these in 1970-75 have reported to us that their creations are still working. The manufacturer listed a lifetime of 50 000 hours minimum, at the full intensity. This design operates the nixie tubes a bit under full ratings so that it is expected that the tubes will last for years and years. They have to last---nobody makes them anymore.

The reconstructed version incorporates vastly improved criteria for generating interesting words, with considerable attention given to controlling the indeterminate (or random) nature of the display sequences. Words can be displayed one after another, or starting blank with letters or parts of letters added until the whole word is revealed -- a kind of "hangman" type word game. The unit also can display the time, so it is a clock as well.

Words are created by a statistical method based on analysis of several thousand English four-letter words. Using this method many letter combinations that statistically could be real words---but aren't---are generated, such as DILE, VAKE, RULL, and THOD. These are interesting because you can imagine possible meanings for them. Many real words are also created by this process. But the process has limitations, so to balance this method there is a Word Bank of over 2400 real words and common abbreviations that also supplies words for display. It even has a four-level obscenity control, spanning the range from full censoring of certain vulgar words to adding them every few minutes---something for all tastes. After all, the English four-letter word is famous for being abrupt, harsh, and even obscene, but this device proves that these words are only a small part of this rich language that is sweeping the world.

Raymond Weisling, who designed versionsof The Four Letter Word in 1973, 1994 and 2002, listened to suggestions from previous owners of the Four Letter Word, and then developed the current model and firmware version with these features:

We just don't toss parts in a box. They are carefully sorted and bagged to
coincide with each step in our Step-Wise Easy (SWEZ) assembly manual.
This makes assembly easy for both beginners and experienced professionals.

NEXT PHOTOS: Two different mounting options are available. Your case design
can dictate which one is best to show off these vintage tubes. Do you want the
components --- some are a bit tall --- to stand up or hang underneath? You decide.

The Step-Wise Easy Assembly Manual (SWEZ) is perfect for the beginner kit builder. Used even by the pro. Our step-by-step manual shows progressive images of the board being assembled, with detailed explanations for each step. Resistors are shown in full colour (with the colours named in the text, too).
Parts placed in earlier steps are shown in gray. The steps (sequences) match the parts sorted into plastic bags in the kit.Greatly speeds assembly and removes the hassles of part identification and sorting.

Our USER MANUAL includes user preference settings, theory of operation, the language analysis and indeterminacy processes, parts list, colour assembly drawings, notes on socket options, power supply connections, transformer type and catalog order numbers, schematic wiring diagrams, PCB mounting hole dimensions, and a SWITCH SETTING REFERENCE GUIDE. We strive to give you as much information as possible. Clarity is our utmost goal in making the kit easy to complete. The documentation is updated as required based on suggestions from customers.

We don't ship the documentation. Save a tree: print only what you need to put on paper, from the latest revision.

*Quantity required*	*Item*	*Suggested Source*
4	B-7971 Nixie Tubes	As of early 2006, over 1200 tubes remain available. Buyers of the GeekKlok will be sent the name of this source in the UK. The source is guaranteed. If you can't get the tubes, we'll refund your purchase price. The supplies are limited and going down. These tubes were made in the 1960s and up to about 1971. Sockets are extremely limited, but we provide data on excellent substitutes. Also flat tubes, typoe ZM1350, will also work, if the ZM1350 option is ordered.
4 68	Nixie tube sockets OR socket pins	Sockets are getting rare as of early 2006 (many remaining ones have minor damage). We provide info on excellent alternative socket pins in the User Manual. The PCB will accept both types. Sockets may cost $6 each, the pinsare easier to work with and only cost about $3/tube.
1	Case	Do it yourself. BE INVENTIVE!! In USA or Canada check out this site
---	Power Supply	12 VAC 350 ma(minimum) Wallwart. Our User Manual gives order number from Mouser and Digi-Key.

* CDTU available as special order with FLWCL, please request CDTU when ordering
(note: FLWCL supplied on new PCB whose front to back dimension is slightly greater than the old PCB)

We use SWREG for secure-server online payments. Legally they are our reseller, but items are shipped directly from our location.
You may pay with any of several credit cards, including Verified by Visa and MasterCard Secure, and PayPal.

Products are shipped from Indonesia by FedEx. Shipping charges are US$21.00 for North America, $24.00 for W. Europe and $16.00 for Australia and New Zealand. For other country rates, contact us. Shipping prices have not increased in over three years despite new rates and fuel surcharges.

Order Code & Item Description	Qty 1 US$	Qty 2 each	Qty 3-6 each
FLW1K Four Letter Word single kit	124.00	120.00	117.00
FLW2K Four Letter Word twin-pack kit	199.00	190.00	184.00
PCBAM ZM1350 Varisymbol bare PCB substitute for B-7971	19.00	17.25	16.00
FLWUN FLW assembled & tested, split PCB, folded UNDER	169.00	165.00	159.00
FLWBK FLWassembled & tested, split PCB, folded BACK	169.00	165.00	159.00
FLWCL FLW assembled & tested, unsplit PCB, CUTU*	169.00	165.00	159.00
FLWZM FLW assembled with ZM1350 tubes supplied	soon	soon	soon
FLWZCS FLW assembled with ZM1350 tubes & case	soon	soon	soon
BURTKD knock-down case for B-7971 tubes	soon	soon	soon
FG2K FLW and GKK in twin-pack kit	199.00	190.00	184.00
FLUP GeekKlok Firmware Upgrade (update to V5-3)	12.00	12.00	12.00

Additional info on the history and development of the Four Letter Word.


It's a Word Maker	...in action	And it's a Clock