A Roof Over Your Head

Well maybe not for long.... if repairs are not done soon. While busy planning the build-out of the American Sign Museum annex, the annex roof was busy decaying.  Recent torrential downpours have brought the roof to a critical point, and they need to act now to secure it.  Estimated cost: $325,000.

Sol Hurok said “The sky’s the limit if you have a roof over your head.”  We tend to agree.  Thankfully, a VERY generous donor has contributed $150,000 toward securing the roof and is challenging museum supporters to raise the additional $175,000 needed to complete the job!  We love the American Sign Museum. We would love it to be even bigger to accommodate the museum’s ever-expanding collection. The current space features 19,000+ square feet of exhibit space, 28-foot ceilings able to display the museum’s large signs, working neon shop, flexible event space, and an extensive archive of books, photos, and documents reflecting the art and craft of sign-making. 

We ask for a little support from anyone that would like to help the American Sign Museum continue their mission of preserving historic American signs and their stores. To repair the historic Machine Flats annex roof that will double the size of the museum (an additional 20,000 square feet), please make a tax deductible contribution today.

Neon Light to Accessorize Your Car

People want to be unique. Some want it so much that they will go to extreme lengths to prove that they are distinct from the other rats that occupy the same planet. They climb and jump off of buildings, perform tricks that only incredibly juvenile teenage boys normally would for an MTV audience, or just decorate themselves in some way to show their mastery of pain. Other will use some object to proclaim their individuality. A car is a perfect example of personal taste and, in some cases, abandon. Neon has always been used as a means of brightening these individual gestures and automobile art is a perfect medium.

Under the Car

To certain age groups, it is important to have a car that stands out from the crowd. On any weekend evening across America (at least during the warmer months), car enthusiasts gather to show off how they have designed a better sound system or look than anyone else. One of the primary features of many of these cars is undercarriage lighting that accents every other piece of the car. With a variety of colors and patterns, these kits do show off a certain individuality. However, to avoid getting a ticket from the local authorities, a good general rule when installing neon lights is to have them activate by a separate switch from your headlights that can be turned on when wanting to make a statement. 

Image credit: media.onsugar.com

Inside the Car

Stereos were not just meant to produce ear-blowing and ground trembling sound, they are also meant to show off an individuals specific style. Neon lighting on speakers, woofers and other components is designed to do just that. But the stereo is not the only item that can be accented. License plates and doors and other inside elements can be trimmed in neon to brig a car to life. It can show up in the motor  compartment when used inline to replace spark plug wires. Heck, how about a custom neon sign fitted in the back window?

Whether it is for a contest or just to show personal style, neon is the perfect medium to accent your car. The undercarriage kits are available from local car shops, but a custom neon install will take the look over the top. If you are worried about the installation have a local shop do it for you. The results are worth the expense.

How to Design A Great Neon Sign

By creating an effective and memorable custom neon signs you can increase customer interest, knowledge and retention of your products or services. Whether you own a deli in New York, a surf shop in Malibu, or a coffee shop in Seattle, creative and eye-catching neon signs can be crucial for the growth and success of your small business. Making smart design choices can really make a difference to the effectiveness of your sign. The following are some helpful tips so you can spend your advertising money wisely on neon signs that are designed to draw your customers’ attention to your storefront and create that professional image:

• Make header fonts bigger to create contrast. Contrast tells the eyes where to look and says "hey, look at me".
• Add a graphic image to your neon sign. Signs that display large, bold graphics in full color have been shown to draw people’s attention much more than signs that don’t. 
• Maybe it’s a graphic image with some text. Increase the size of the logo to make the contrast between the image and the font significant. Not only is the eye drawn to the super-sized image, but the small text now stands out too because it’s so different from the size of the graphic.
• Add a neon border. When reading a neon sign that is not defined by a border, readers tend to get lost and disinterested. Signs that are rimmed with a border help focus the readers’ attention and allows them to read faster.
• Use different colors. On a neon sign that displays text, displaying key information (prices, key words, etc.) in a different color increases the retention of that information by over 75%! 
• For example, if you have a sign with 5 words and you want the 3rd word to stand out. Make it a different color than all the rest. Even better, make the word bigger and change the font too. Don’t be afraid to take a risk. 
• Stay away from decorative and funky fonts. Stick with standard fonts. They’re already very beautiful and if you incorporate them into an already well designed piece… the end result is a masterpiece. To be honest, plain old Arial is one of the my favorite fonts to use when designing a neon sign.
• Use a variety of contrasting colors. If the colors are too close customers will struggle to read the text and will therefore not retain the information. Also the more colorful the sign the better it will stand out. You want your neon sign to catch your customers’ eye.
• Pick a color scheme and stick with it throughout all your signs. Repeating the same color in a variety of places, especially in a storefront window creates repetition. You want to incorporate repetition to unify your storefront and create drama. Think of you store window as one big sign! 
• Repetition shows up best when you’re designing multiple signs. Now you can break this rule if you’re trying to create contrast… maybe you have one sign that has a totally different graphic or is a totally different size. However, what causes the contrast is the fact that you have some repetition going on and you have purposely broken the repetition using contrast.

Neon signs are a great way to promote your business and increase customer awareness and interest in your products. Fire House Neon Signs can help you make stylistic decisions to create the right message for your business. If you’re looking to separate yourself from the competition and give your business a professional and colorful edge, use these simple design tips to create eye-catching and effective neon signs to entice your customers. We also make it easy by providing neon templates. Just add your business name and we will provide you a proof within one business day.

A Neon Sign in Times Square New York

Times Square in New York City has always been a place where people can find a good time, though that good time has changed drastically since Giuliani cleaned it up, and a place where advertisers know the value of a good neon sign. Alas marketers have forgone the tried and true for the latest and greatest. Every advertiser now believes in the value of video boards on store fronts rather than colorful artistic neon signs.

Where did all the neon go? It did not all leave. There are still plenty of advertisers who use neon (McDonald’s is one) to advertise what they are and the uniqueness of their product. The Square does sometimes hearken to its classic past and introduce a new neon glass masterpiece for people to wonder at.

Besides all of the video boards and scrawling ads, there are some businesses that realize the value of good long lasting signage. The city put up a giant flag made of neon that graced a sidewalk leading into Times Square and showed the city’s patriotic soul. Neon is also used beside the large boards in more subtle ways, not as the major advertisement, but to add color and grace.

One sign still shines bright, although it is just off of Times Square (less than half a mile away, at Radio City Music Hall. The sign that continues to showcase the front of one of the most famous buildings in New York City features neon lighting. It is iconic because of its relation to the theater district and the cultural heart of the city.

Just as neon has showcased everything from the dens of the city to the heights of culture and fashion, it has become an icon of America. New York is still America’s showplace, and what better advertisement than a richly dramatic neon sign.

Soda Pop Neon Signs

On a hot day in the middle of the summer what do you reach for. Yeah, a lot of people would say beer, but many more suck down a Coke or Pepsi (to their detriment) than would even consider an alcoholic beverage. The soft drink industry has been going strong for well over a century and people are loyal to the brands they enjoy the most. Why then would it be a surprise that these same people would want a piece of that company’s history in the form of a neon sign?

Collectors cherish certain names because they bring a sense of comfort or produce a product that they enjoy. Many collect items from their favorite fast food purveyors and sports franchises in the same way that they collect stamps and coins. Some items, among them neon signs, are more valuable than others due to rarity. So what makes a neon soft drink sign collectible?

Availability

Since there are any number of soda companies, both local and international, many different types of signs exist. People like the flavor of local, but there are some sought after, and they can be hard to find, but some big name brands have designs that are coveted and difficult to locate also. eBay and other auction sites would be able to help find these.

Design

A simple Coke or Pepsi sign is probably going to be the most popular, but there are many designs out there. If you are a home brew master creating you own bottled Root Beer, why not crate you own neon sign reflecting your logo, local skyline or other local monument that adds to the desirability. Do an internet search to see what designs are available.

Subject Matter

Of course, the main subject is soda (soda pop, pop, brand name, etc), but there are other considerations. The coke polar bears have become very popular and they did a series of Santa Claus signs years ago. Whatever your particular fancy, there is probably a sign out there that fits it.

Servicing Your Neon Sign

You finally got the neon sign you have always wanted. It is of your favorite sports team, beer purveyor, whatever and you now possess it. The problem is that all good things can come to an end if they are not properly maintained. So, you seek some advice on properly maintaining your cherished memorabilia.

Well it is as easy as it sounds. Of course there are options to sign maintenance depending on the size, expense and what you want to spend. So, following are some tips on how to service the clock, sign you have purchased and turn it into an heirloom your children’s children can enjoy when you are long gone.

Protect It From Breakage

Some bar and pool room signs are large and expensive. By putting the neon signs behind plastic or away from guests who could imbibe too heavily, you further ensure the safety of the neon and the guest.

Leave It Turned On

Everything has a shelf life whether it is food or a neon sign. Though it is not as perishable as a food item, The transformers that power the neon signs can go bad after time. To properly maintain the sign, it is best to allow it to remain on all of the time. The reason for this is that more energy is required to warm up the glass and cause the reaction that allows the gas to glow. You won’t lose any of the glow, but you could cause damage to the power supply. Just leave it on and you avoid this issue. If this is a business neon sign will also be working for your 24/7 to advertise your company and make passerby's aware of your location.

Clean Your Sign

Keeping you neon sign clean and free of dust and dirt will ensure is shines brightly year after year. Be sure to always unplug your neon sign when handling. Next, use a feather duster or a very soft cloth to dust off your sign. Never use a cleaning solvent or water to clean your neon sign. In outdoor neon signs, remove any debris that may conductive power between high voltage connections and grounded metal. Ensure drain wholes are not blocked to allow moisture to flow away. Take this time to check all the wire connections to make sure nothing has come loose and that the end caps are in place.  Loose connections or exposed GTO wires can cause the electricity to arc across sign mounting surface, not to mention creating a safety hazard. Wiring connections in electrical panel or branch circuit can become corroded if moisture builds up. These conditions can exist particularly in an older outdoor installations.

Buy a Service Plan

Many larger cities have companies that will build stock and supply a fish tank. They place it in your location and then they sign a service contract with the owner that guarantees the tanks continued safety and maintenance. There are sign companies that design large neon installs in the same way. Whether the sign company is coming to your business to build your sign or you purchase it from them, think about signing a service agreement so that they are responsible for maintaining it. This can be particularly useful when the sign large or high out of reach.

Job Outlook Up for Neon Sign Benders

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) classifies neon glass benders under the broader career category of Molders, Shapers, and Casters, except Metal and Plastic workers. In 2012, workers in these occupations, including neon glass benders, has a salary range of $20,870 to $54,600 and a median annual income of $29,300. Those working in the Seattle area earned the most with an average 2010 salary of $46,070 while those working in Lawrence, Kansas, earned the least with an average annual salary of $18,480.

The BLS predicts that the demand for Molders, Shapers, and Casters occupations, including neon glass benders, will increase by 7.5 percent between 2012 and 2022, Neon sign-makers with experience will have more opportunities than entry level sign-makers. Those entering the profession are mainly by long term on the job training. Neon glass bending is not new, but once again the occupation is emerging as consumer preferences change. The cultural resurgence of neon signs is once again creating the need for neon glass benders.