The Burroughs B-5092 is a medium-sized Nixie tube that shares pin compatibility with other common top-view types such as the ZM1020, Z560M, and GN-4. Unlike these, however, it features a taller, more slender glass envelope. Its most distinctive element is the unusual anode cage, which leaves the cathode stack clearly visible from the side.

Another detail that can be seen from the side is the so-called “giver pill,” a tiny glass bead that originally held mercury vapor. After the tube was sealed, the pill was heated by running current through the wire it is wrapped in, causing the bead to rupture and release the mercury inside. The presence of mercury helps suppress sputtering, significantly extending the tube’s service life. This long-life characteristic made the B-5092 especially popular for Nixie clocks, though today the tube has become quite rare.

The B-7971 is a very large alphanumeric display tube developed by Burroughs, originally designed for use in stock tickers. Unlike regular Nixie tubes with numerals arranged on a stack, the B-7971 contains 14 individual segments that can be combined to display every letter of the English alphabet as well as the digits 0 through 9. An additional segment in the bottom can be used to display an underscore.

Known for its exceptional longevity, with later models—distinguished by an “antenna” on the anode cage—supposedly lasting even longer, the B-7971’s has become a popular choice among collectors for creating large Nixie clocks. Since the tube’s total current draw varies with the number of segments lit, a single anode resistor cannot effectively limit the current. Instead, each cathode must be connected to its own resistor. The datasheet suggests using different resistor values for different segments to ensure uniform brightness. The most frequent failure mode of a B-7971 appears to be two or more cathodes shorting together. This may occur due to physical impact or the tube being overdriven for prolonged periodes of time. New old stock of B-7971 tubes is virtually nonexistent, as nearly all units available today have been salvaged from the aforementioned stock tickers.

The B6037 is an unusual Nixie tube manufactured by Burroughs, making it an “official” Nixie tube as indicated by the labeling on its glass envelope. Unlike most Nixie tubes, which display only the digits 0–9, the B6037 includes an extra cathode shaped as a “1” placed next to the standard stack of digits. This allows the tube to display numbers from 0 to 19.

Its glass envelope is relatively large to accommodate the two digit stacks, though it still uses the same 15.5 mm characters found in many smaller Nixie tubes. The envelope is also covered with black shrink wrap. Interestingly, the anode grid was apparently not designed specifically for this model. In most tubes, the anode is supported by the same posts that hold the digits, but in this case it has been shifted to the right and is instead held in a somewhat awkward position at the upper right of the tube.