The Making of Neon Signs

Four foot hollow glass rods are used in the making of neon signs.  To shape the glass rods, they are held in a cross fire. Two small groups of pipes are fanned out across from one another. The rod is held between them. Without a gas and a forced air flow the temperature which has to about 800 degrees F. would not get hot enough to melt the glass rods.

The rods are then scored at the needed length with a sharp file; they are pulled apart in the flame. The artisan creates right-angles, double-backs and combination bends upon a reversed-pattern paper to form their design. All the work on a neon sign is done in reverse the plugs and electrical connections are in the back. The piece is completed; gas is pumped into the tube. When it is electrified you have a work of art.

One difference between the old neon signs and the new neon signs is the weight of the sign. The old neon signs were much heavier because the transformers were made from wrapped copper wire coiled around an iron core, weighting several pounds. The good thing about these were you could set them on a shelf and they stayed because of there weight. The new neon signs have to be weighted down or bracketed against a wall.