Uncovering the Secrets: 5 Lesser-Known Aspects of Traditional Glass Neon Signs
Everyone loves neon signs for many reasons, but few know the way they operate. There’s a whole lot more to the creation of an neon sign, beyond the glass, ranging from how the electrodes at each end are filled with argon or neon gas to how sign makers make use of blowtorches to warm the glass tubes, then bend the tubes and securing them in colorful designs. We’ve reviewed our knowledge to make the process interesting and entertaining. These are the most important five facts.
1. Neon is French
Georges Claude, a French engineer who invented neon lighting in 1902. He was the founder of an air liquefaction company and was the first to efficiently pass an electrical current through the neon gas inside sealed tubes, causing the chain reaction of orange-red lights to show up. Following some adjustments and scientific developments the neon discharge tubes were made widely available to the public.
2. Neon Signs are 100% Handmade
Most of the time, everything you see on a neon sign is handmade. In reality, it takes a great deal of precision, experience and eye-hand coordination to ensure that the glass tubes bend in accordance with the pattern. Otherwise, the glass itself can crack and break. While neon signs are different in shape and color however, the process of making their appearance has remained same since the start of its development.
3. Neon Lights Can Cut Through Fog
Fog should be avoided if possible, but what about the time you are in the airport? The neon signs can be utilized to promote or entertain but they are effective in fog. Indeed neon lights are frequently used in airports to ensure the safety of aircrafts and keep dangerous areas well-lit. Even though you don’t need the lights to direct you, neon signs are a valuable asset if you ever are in a situation where you are thousands of feet high in the air.
4. Neon Signs are Sculpted
Every neon sign starts out as straight lines. The process is made more vivid through the intense heat generated by the four-foot long neon tubes. The neon sign maker uses the exact sequence of motions and a keen ability to gauge the timing of every section of the glass tube. Because neon signmaking is about experimentation and experimentation, you can try creating something original and distinctive.
5. Neon Signs are Bright
A majority of neon signs can be easy to spot at night and even in the daytime. This is due to an energy transfer process that takes place during the production. Similar to bowling, electrons are knocked out of orbit through electrical currents. The electrons collide with free electrons, releasing them back toward the atoms. The photons are produced when the electrons are absorbed by the atom.