November 20 2009 - Welcome to the Neon & LED Channel Letters Category. Neon signs are the first thing you think of when anyone mentions New York City or Las Vegas. They illuminate the night sky and bring about beautiful, brilliant colors. The concept behind neon signs was first conceived in 1675, when the French astronomer Jean Picard observed a faint glow in a mercury barometer tube. Today many businesses use LED channel letters to call attention to their company, while others simply use them to promote store hours or products they are featuring. For many years this type of advertisement set companies apart and brought with it business. Restaurants, taverns, stores, even tanning salons are frequent purchasers. Today, neon signs and LED channel letters are synonymous. We continually add articles to this section, so be sure to check back often. If you'd like to suggest an article, please e-mail us.
Let There Be Neon: Embracing the 21st Century with Its Light
Despite the ongoing competition of more modern light sources as a sign illumination, neon still has a place in the hearts of most sign makers, as well as many American urban skylines.
Hershey’s How Sweet It Is: The Eye-Candy of Times Square
In the middle of all its surrounding Times Square spectaculars, billboards and sign edifices, stands the flagship Hershey Times Square, a retail gift store which is a chocolate confectionary paradise that is the center of the chocolate universe.
Smaller World — The Implications of GHS and REACH
Both were developed in the international arena and both have already influenced chemical policy well beyond their original borders.
Coke- It's the Real Thing!
In making its presence known to a thirsty public, Coca-Cola's familiar bright red background, cursive script logo and contour bottle has been printed, painted, postered and plastered on the sides of delivery trucks, on billboards, and on buildings in just about every major city around the world.
Take Me Out to the Ball Game
Cincinnati’s Great American Ballpark offers proof positive that effective sign design can inform, entertain, commemorate and stand out in a crowd.
The Many Colors of White LED
The battle for white LEDs is going to be fought application by application and lumen by lumen.
LEDs: 'Channeling' More Opportunities to Sign Makers
Technology advancements continually improve the way sign companies conduct business. One of the segments of the sign industry advancing quickly due to new technology is the electrical sign industry, and specifically, the illuminated channel letter segment.
High Brightness LEDs Shine On
Light Emiting Diodes (LEDs) have distinguished themselves as a highly unique and significant lighting source that has both immediate and far reaching consequences for the sign industry.
The Sign Challenges of a Arctic Canadian Winter
Selkirk Signs teams with TIR Systems to solve the cold hard challenges of signage for Federated Co-op chain of stores.
New Mexico Neon on Route 66
Sign makers are getting their kicks restoring vintage neon signs along New Mexico’s portion of Route 66.
Marketing Neon In The New Millennium
LED vendors have done a masterful job of marketing their technologies, but the neon industry is fighting fire with fire.
Lighting Up with LEDs
LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) are increasingly playing a larger role in both the architectural and signage market. Over the past few years, more and more LED system providers are offering LED channel lighting products and more are expected to enter this field.
Channel Letter Lighting...To Be LED or Not To Be?
Channel letters fill a need for corporate IDs and building identity programs on the sides of building and have done so for decades. Times are changing and more than filling a need is that the channel letters are now filled in terms of their lighting source.
Promoting Neon
The neon trade has a relatively short history and sadly, much of it is marked with secrecy and distrust that perseveres even today. This keeping apprehension stems from an earlier time when neon was novel in the marketplace, sovereign in the sign trade and extremely profitable. Folks tried to steal or conceal their neon secrets; those tricks of the trade that they believed would propel them or maintain their lead within the industry.
Radio Frequency Interference
You may be the cause of radio frequency interference.
Finding the Neon Light, Part Three - The Father of Neon
Inspired in part by Daniel McFarlan Moore's invention, Moore’s Lamp, Paris born chemist and inventor, Georges Claude (1870 - 1960) discovered that passing an electric current through inert gases made them light very brightly.
Finding the Neon Light, Part Two: The Insights
We continue illuminating neon’s rise from historical darkness with the second article in this series of three. This one attests the observations and endeavors of other’s helped to build the products, tools and materials used in our trade today.
Finding the Neon Light, Part One The Elements
Consider this series of articles “how-you” more so than “how-to.” Because hopefully they will help uncover how you fit into neon’s rise from the depths of historical darkness, from the ocean of time past to the bright neon wave of the present.
ESPN ZONE: Remolded To Greatness
Once upon a time, there was a marquee and a blade sign that really wanted to shine.
Neon and Fluorescents: A Circus of Similarities
When properly manufactured and installed a neon tube can light for decades and it is far more efficient than an incandescent bulb. But it is arguable that the fluorescent won the tube lighting system honor, that it became the illuminating tube du jour.
Neon Tube Repairs
You can simplify the task of repairing neon signs!
Common Neon Mishaps And How To Fix Them
Bending neon tubes is not easy. Most craftsman admit, it took a few years of bending before they felt competent working on any type job.
Three Neon Myths Dispelled
I’m sure you’ve heard it said, “Neon uses a lot of electricity.” It’s a common misconception. Unfortunately, there are held by the public many misconceptions about neon: “Neon is expensive,” “Neon is a public safety hazard.”
Mercury In The Shop
Mercury or quicksilver as it is called, is that shiny, silver-white, odorless liquid we neon craftsman innocently roll into argon filled tubes to brighten them. We also use it in some diffusion pumps attached to our tube pumping system to aid tube processing. But did you know mercury is everywhere?
Troubleshooting Basic Bends
It goes without question that many smaller elements make up a sign. And that the quality of each component contributes to the sign’s total caliber.
The Layman’s Science of Tube Processing
To describe the science of tube processing would rely heavily on physics and chemistry. Both are sciences with developed vocabulary, common equations and laws.
Top 10 Must-Haves For Your Neon Shop
The physical elements that maximize productivity, comfort and reduce stress.
Neon Self-Training Part 4
Processing and lighting your neon tube.
Neon Self-Training Part 3
Learn how to make large circles, border tubes, multiple outline units and bubbles.
1935 Neon Sign Gets Facelift
When the Cascade Theatre opened its doors in 1935 it was billed as the finest cinema house in northern California.
Neon Self-Training Part 2
Putting the basics together to form letters is next
Neon Self-Training, Part I
Learning this process is easier than you think, once you know the secrets.
Making the Cut
In the process of making neon, one of the most important procedures is the cutting and splicing of the glass tubing. There are many different techniques and various tools that can be used that I would like to discuss.
Air Supplies
There are probably as many different techniques in the use and operation of a neon plant as there are glassblowers, and the only thing that is important is what works best for you.
Jacob's Ladder
There is a safer way to work with a bombarding transformer. Learn how to create your own Jacob's Ladder
Sign Makers Restore Historical Flying Red Horse
Find out how architectural sign makers recreated a legendary Dallas icon.
Neon At It's Best
Restoring a piece of history-- the neon legacy lives on.
Neon College: Mastering the Splice
The basics for working with neon splicing
Electric Signs & Outline Lighting
Explaining code compliance
The Total "Language" of Signs
Nothing speaks louder to a potential buyer than a bold display
The Sub-species: Subcontracting in the Sign Industry
To be or not to be a subcontractor?
Shop Reputation is Gold
So you don't work in a dog-eat-dog rat race of an industry...
Setting Schedules: Creating Service Out of Order
Late signs or are your jobs off schedule?
Scan, Edit, Save, and Create: Innovative Sign Design
'What you see is what you will get.'
Building a Team
Essential elements in building a team for your business
