Decline in real neon signs.

[stevenkw2t]

Originally Posted by joebog1

My first trip to Central Station in Sydney. My first neon sign. A bunch of grapes dripping wine into a glass. That was over 60 years ago.
Joe

A famous landmark nearby was the Golf House Sign. Lucky commuters arriving at Central Station were rewarded by seeing a hole-in-one every time.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharpies_Golf_House_Sign
The sign is on the NSW heritage register and is now in the Powerhouse Museum.
-Steven

[broadgage]

AFAIK, all "illuminated signs or advertisements" need planning permission, no matter if the light source is neon, fluorescent tubes, incandescent bulbs, or even gas.

[Outrun_uk]

My neon, the circular one says Casino Games but there’s junk in front of it!

[Lucien Nunes]

I see at least two quite distinct aspects to the appeal of neon and similar gas discharge tubes. One is the intrinsic aesthetic quality of a luminous gas column. There is something magical about light radiating from within a transparent medium, rather than an opaque source such as LED strip or a point source too intense to view directly. This visual character needs no context or history to appreciate.

The other is the historical symbolism of opulence, of an era and a style that anchor us amid the excitement of electrification and the media age, if we remember it or got close enough to imagine it vividly. That visceral connection is lost for younger viewers, perhaps understood only through the lens of learned history.

[broadgage]

I recall as a child watching the making or repairing of neon signs in a small workshop.
In Brighton I think, situated in one of the archways under the seafront promenade. Town gas and compressed air was the main heat source for bending and shaping the glass, I think that town gas and oxygen might been used for some part of the process.

EDIT to add, that an internet search suggests that the above workshop STILL EXISTS, not certain about posting a link as all links about this are adverts.

[Glowing Bits!]

Them Budweiser signs crop up on Ebay now and again, they tend to fetch a few hundred quid.
If class weren't so fragile, I'd gladly buy a Budweiser neon sign.

[G6Tanuki]

I do indeed think there is some sort of historical social-attraction to neon signs; while they were once associated with 'hip' bars/clubs/music-venues and opulence/decadence/a hint of possible illegality, in later years large neon-signage became more associated with cheap motels [didn't the Bates Motel in Psycho have a neon sign?], the tawdry excesses of places like Las Vegas or, more to my mind, the "members-only" clubs and clip-joints I remember walking past as a callow youth in 70s Soho.

People have always been attracted to sleaze, and Neon was the beacon!

[m0cemdave]

Originally Posted by G6Tanuki

People have always been attracted to sleaze, and Neon was the beacon!

I remember a large "PLAYHOUSE" neon sign on the old Leeds Playhouse theatre at the top of Calverley Street. It could be seen from all over town, but eventually the "P" failed, leaving the remaining letters...

When I worked there (in 1979 or thereabouts) it was no longer in use, probably because there was no budget to get it fixed.

[Nickthedentist]

Holidaying in Canada and USA, there is no shortage of real neons here, though they’re slightly outnumbered by LED lookalikes.

Mostly simple ones saying OPEN a foot or two wide, but plenty of custom jobs too, both as behind-window and above-the-window presentations.

Many multicoloured but not spotted any flashing ones yet.

[Nickthedentist]

Originally Posted by G6Tanuki

I do indeed think there is some sort of historical social-attraction to neon signs; while they were once associated with 'hip' bars/clubs/music-venues and opulence/decadence/a hint of possible illegality, in later years large neon-signage became more associated with cheap motels [didn't the Bates Motel in Psycho have a neon sign?], the tawdry excesses of places like Las Vegas or, more to my mind, the "members-only" clubs and clip-joints I remember walking past as a callow youth in 70s Soho.

People have always been attracted to sleaze, and Neon was the beacon!

Agree with all this!

[Heatercathodeshort]

I think I have mentioned this before in a similar thread? I had a customer who worked with Neon signs. I think the company was GEC/Claudgen. His job was part of a team repairing all the Neon signs in theatreland in the west end of London damaged during the war.

There used to be a very bright Neon box sign high on the wall of a three storey shop/premises in Victoria Crescent Wimbledon. It simply said 'Boot Repairs'. The shop had been in existence for many many decades. It was completely original inside. It may still be there! John.

[McMurdo]

Here's an illustration of 'decline'.

A local pub always had a mesmerising 'BASS' red neon sign that welcomed travellers along the old Toll road here in the moorlands. I remember it from my childhood.

Around 6 years ago it went out - and was 'upgraded' by simply stripping the glass and transformer off, giving it a lick of paint and adding a swan-neck downlighter.

It does not work.

[daviddeakin]

Big Clive used to repair Neon signs. He has a few fun videos about the new LED alternatives.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9bSzE9ir1Q
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEXQ9e9vKcA

[LeakyGrid]

Raymond Blanc's restaurant in Winchester has recently been refurbished and now has what appears to be a red neon sign proclaiming "Ooh La La" in the window. More likely to put people off than attract them I think, but who knows?

[slidertogrid]

Originally Posted by broadgage

I recall as a child watching the making or repairing of neon signs in a small workshop.
In Brighton I think, situated in one of the archways under the seafront promenade. Town gas and compressed air was the main heat source for bending and shaping the glass, I think that town gas and oxygen might been used for some part of the process.

EDIT to add, that an internet search suggests that the above workshop STILL EXISTS, not certain about posting a link as all links about this are adverts.

That chap repaired my Bud sign around 12 years ago! The Bud bit was OK but the red surround tube had failed. I haven't been to Brighton since it's nice to know he is still trading.

[ex 2 Base]

Neon/ discharge lighting was taught as part of C&G Electrical Installation course 51 in past years, now all gone. GEC/Claudgen and other firms supplied information leaflets regarding the transformers technical details.

[Heatercathodeshort]

I was looking through some pictures of the old Victoria Crescent area of Wimbledon that I took many years ago and came across the very Neon sign I mentioned earlier. BOOT REPAIRS
It is above the shop just to the right of central, oval in shape with the fireman's switch half way up the wall just inside the alley at the side of the shop. The sign was brilliant and caught your attention at night in a somewhat drab area of S.W.19. This area was very familiar to me as a small child. John.