Illuminate My Mind

WE KNOW YOUR SIGN

Would you like to get a little educated on NEON? Please take a look at some brief history, how it is made, as well as some FAQ that some of our customers have asked us.

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History of Neon
What is a Neon Sign?
How does Riofine Make their Neon?
How do Neon Signs get their Color?
Can the Gas used in Neon Signs Harm the Environment?
Are Neon Signs Safe?
Can Neon be Repaired?
Is it Cost Effective to Run my Neon Sign 24/7?

History of Neon
In 1855, a German glass blower and physicist, Heinrich Geissler invented the geissler tube. Once the electrical generators were invented the importance of this tube was experimented by many inventors. They found that when the tube was placed under low pressure and electrical voltage was applied, the gas would glow.

French engineer, chemist, and inventor Georges Claude, was the first to apply an electrical discharge to a sealed tube of neon gas to create a lamp, and on December 11, 1910 Claude displayed the first neon lamp to the public in Paris. He patented the lamp in 1915, but it wasn't until 1923 that he introduced the first neon sign to the United States. These signs were sold to the "Packard" car dealership in Los Angeles, CA. Earle C. Anthony purchased two signs reading "Packard" for $24,000.00

With its great day and night advertising, neon became very popular, very quickly and in it's early days consumers would call it "liquid fire".

Todays inventors and our available technology has increase the color span of neon to hundreds of colors, however the look of neon lighting is still as admiring and effective as the first sign ever made.

                 Geissler tubes as pictured in                                           George Claude in his                                      First Neon Sign in the U.S.
                              Deschanel's Natural Philosophy Part III, 1901.                                   Laboratory (1926).

What is a Neon Sign?
Neon signs are luminous-tubes which have been heated, bent by a skilled neon artist and then pumped with neon or other inert gases at a low pressure. Applying a few thousand high voltage volts makes the gas glow brightly.

How Does Riofine Make thier Neon?
The glass tubing used for neon signs comes standard in 4', 5' and 8' lengths and it most commonly found in 10-15mm (custom sizes are also available). The tubes are heated inch by inch up to 2000 degrees with either a ribbon burner or crossfire until they are malleable enough to shape. The tubes are then aligned to the pattern, which contains the final design.

Once the shape of the tubing has been created, electrodes are melted to either ends of the unit. This process of the fabrication is critical prior to moving further to ensure the units are leak-proof.

Next, the tubes are attached to a high-quality vacuum pump that removes all the excess oxygen and dirt particles. At the same time, a process called bombarding occurs, which pumps the tube with a high current. This leaves the neon units interior very clean and ready for the next step.

After waiting for the unit to cool, it then is pumped with one of the noble gases. Here at Riofine Neon we use either NEON, ARGON or a mixture of gases and sometimes even a drop of mercury is added.

Finally the unit is ready to be illuminated. They are powered by high voltage transformers or neon power supplies, which range from 3,000-15000vts and currents from 20-120mA.

How do Neon Signs get their Color?
A combination of the gas pumped in to the unit and the glass itself creates the color it will ultimately glow. NEON by itself will radiate a bright Red-Orange color, and ARGON by itself produces a Blue-Lavender color. To create a more diverse amount of colors the neon units interior are coated with ultraviolet-sensitive phosphors. When the gases meet these phosphors it emits a variety of different & beautiful colors.

Can the Gas used in Neon Signs Harm the Environment?
No! Neon and Argon gases produce negative ions that help clean the air, similar to what you would find in a modern day air purifier. Running neon sign indoors is a great way to clean smoke, dander and pet odors!

Are Neon Signs Safe?
The gases used in neon signs are NOT explosive or poisones in their natural state. Neon does contain a small amount of mercury, but its the same amount you would find in a standard fluorescent bulb you would buy at any hardware store.

However, keep in mind neon signs contain two elements that are dangerous if not used properly; Glass and High Voltage Electricity. Like any other appliance take caution when plugging in your sign. Also, like any other glass item, neon can be broken and will create sharp edges.

Can Neon be Repaired?
Yes! If you have an old neon sign that has been broken it can be repaired and. Here are Riofine Neon we have our own neon glass plant and neon bender on site. Our standard cost is between $70.00-$130.00 depending on glass size, color and the breakage.

Is is Cost Effective to Run my Neon Sign 24/7?
We recommend keeping your neon sign ON 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This helps keep the transformers from wearing down and needing replacement. We had our gallery sign ON 24/7 for almost 15 years with no problem (until recently the glass was broken accidentally). Running your sign also gives an additional advertising feature for potential customers viewing your sign after business hours.

DID YOU KNOW that it is less expensive to run a neon sign than it is to run standard fluorescent or LED lighting?