[Heathkit] HW-16 neon lamp?

[Tom Laird]

I'm working on a HW-16 and noticed the Neon bulb at the rear of the circuit
board has a broken wire, unfortunately at the bulb. Three questions:

1) is it a NE-2?

2) what does it do in the circuit? Looks like it pads the -150 volt line to
the crystal osc. and the Q1 bias switch

3) do local hardware stores carry those things?

Tnx,

Tom Laird W9QI
Moline, IL.