Here are two new home-made sensors, improving on this one they will soon replace:
The top one uses a QRD1114 sensor, which produces an analog signal, whereas the lower one is based on the SY310 with a built-in comparator to generate a digital output. The intended range is around 5..15 mm, hopefully just right to detect the 0-digit reflector on the gas meter and the the rotations of the energy meter, respectively.
Both of these sensors are connected to a 3-wire audio jack cable: shield = ground, ring = +5V, and pin = signal. Both sensors use a 330..470 Ω resistor to drive the IR-LED and a second one of 10..100 KΩ as pull-up for the output signal.