(Topic ID: 90412)

Neon Signs Club- Show us your glow!

By PEN

9 years ago


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  • 397 Pinsiders participating
  • Latest reply 4 hours ago by shirkle
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    There are 2,355 posts in this topic. You are on page 14 of 48.
    #651 4 years ago

    I have run non-stop for four years and counting, several Chinese neon signs with absolutely no problems. They all use that small 3kv ballast and run fairly cool with it, no issues.

    My signs are on 24/7.

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    #652 4 years ago
    Quoted from Clint12:

    [quoted image]

    I love that!

    #653 4 years ago

    Just curious why you leave them on 24/7 ?

    John

    #654 4 years ago

    Neons will last longer when left on. The initial arc shortens the life of the ballast and internal tube anode, so they're really designed to be run permanently. Since the current draw is minimal, it's a safe bet to run them all the time, and inexpensive electricity-wise.

    The high wall outlets were designed with this in mind.

    #655 4 years ago
    Quoted from ramegoom:

    Neons will last longer when left on. The initial arc shortens the life of the ballast and internal tube anode, so they're really designed to be run permanently. Since the current draw is minimal, it's a safe bet to run them all the time, and inexpensive electricity-wise.
    The high wall outlets were designed with this in mind.

    This is true. If a fella is going to turn them on and off though, use a power strip or plug/unplug. One of the more common fails is the pull chain switch.

    #656 4 years ago
    Quoted from ramegoom:

    Neons will last longer when left on. The initial arc shortens the life of the ballast and internal tube anode, so they're really designed to be run permanently. Since the current draw is minimal, it's a safe bet to run them all the time, and inexpensive electricity-wise.
    The high wall outlets were designed with this in mind.

    Is that true? That is craziness!

    #657 4 years ago
    Quoted from Rdoyle1978:

    Is that true? That is craziness!

    It's true!
    Not only that, by having the signs on more it doesn't allow for the gas inside the tubes to settle. If anyone has ever seen where you turn on a neon and it lights up portions of the tube?? This is typically due to the gas settling. As I explained early on in this thread somewhere, if you ever get this do what is called a mercury roll. Turn your neon sign on, hold it up to the sky so it's facing the ground, look for a small, what looks like, black BB and twist the sign so that BB works it way through the tube(s). You will see the tube get brighter as you do this. You may have to move the BB from one end of tube to the other a few times for it to light up completely.

    A lot of people think the tube is bad when it's just the gas settling. BTW - The black BB is the mercury inside the tube.

    #658 4 years ago
    Quoted from meSz:

    It's true!
    Not only that, by having the signs on more it doesn't allow for the gas inside the tubes to settle. If anyone has ever seen where you turn on a neon and it lights up portions of the tube?? This is typically due to the gas settling. As I explained early on in this thread somewhere, if you ever get this do what is called a mercury roll. Turn your neon sign on, hold it up to the sky so it's facing the ground, look for a small, what looks like, black BB and twist the sign so that BB works it way through the tube(s). You will see the tube get brighter as you do this. You may have to move the BB from one end of tube to the other a few times for it to light up completely.
    A lot of people think the tube is bad when it's just the gas settling. BTW - The black BB is the mercury inside the tube.

    Yep I know exactly what you mean. Damn that is so counter intuitive!

    #659 4 years ago

    So for all of us that turn on our signs say once a week or every other week
    For about eight hrs at a time this could be hurting them?

    #660 4 years ago
    Quoted from Liftserv:

    So for all of us that turn on our signs say once a week or every other week
    For about eight hrs at a time this could be hurting them?

    Look at it as you're putting more wear and tear on them. I have numerous neon signs and like most I don't use them all the time. Neon signs were made for commercial use and not for the home environment.

    #661 4 years ago
    Quoted from meSz:

    Look at it as you're putting more wear and tear on them. I have numerous neon signs and like most I don't use them all the time. Neon signs were made for commercial use and not for the home environment.

    I have a "Lite" sign that might be older than I, I'm not overly concerned with how much time it has left. Yes you maybe adding more wear and tear but it still might around longer than I'll be alive "short cycling" it. You have to weigh the fire safety risk (ballasts are known to catch fire time to time) and electrical usage vs wear and tear and decide for yourself if it is worth it.

    I'm done for the day, they get shut down.

    1 week later
    #662 4 years ago

    Few of my Neon Signs:

    Applebees-Carside-Neon-6 (resized).jpgApplebees-Carside-Neon-6 (resized).jpgBudweisre Neon Sign (resized).jpgBudweisre Neon Sign (resized).jpgbacknine-1 (resized).JPGbacknine-1 (resized).JPG
    #663 4 years ago

    Did you catch an Applebees going out of business>

    #664 4 years ago

    Nope, Craigslist. Applebees, is changing to these crappy signs.
    caraide-togo-new (resized).PNGcaraide-togo-new (resized).PNG

    #665 4 years ago

    If anyone in the NE wants these Miller lite signs for next to nothing lmk. Must pick up. Pm me. 2 different signs.

    IMG_20190711_125611 (resized).jpgIMG_20190711_125611 (resized).jpgIMG_20190711_125627 (resized).jpgIMG_20190711_125627 (resized).jpg
    3 weeks later
    #666 4 years ago

    These were made for the dealerships. I always wanted the car but have to settle with this sign...I like the diamond plate background...need to remove the foam still just wanted to see it lit up.

    D943A55A-293A-45F0-9CEF-AA7648F713AD (resized).jpegD943A55A-293A-45F0-9CEF-AA7648F713AD (resized).jpeg
    #667 4 years ago

    Just got this to add.

    4DA65B94-4D28-4823-AFA6-2B3B8E8756A6 (resized).jpeg4DA65B94-4D28-4823-AFA6-2B3B8E8756A6 (resized).jpeg98E8D541-C179-4554-836F-14B841438AAA (resized).jpeg98E8D541-C179-4554-836F-14B841438AAA (resized).jpeg
    #668 4 years ago

    I know it is a long shot but looking for this sign if anyone has any leads.

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    2 weeks later
    #669 4 years ago

    Birthday gift from my better half!
    Vintage from around the 30’s I think. The metal frame is what makes this sign....they don’t make em like this anymore.

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    1 week later
    #670 4 years ago

    I saw a Facebook garage sale item that said "Neon Light Free"

    The guy messaged back & said he took the top off the 6 foot long crate but had no idea what it was or what it spelled out.... lots of paper around everything. He screwed the top on before I got there... 25 miles outside of town.

    It was in his garage when he bought the house 8 years ago & he wanted it gone.

    What do you think it is??

    I'm hoping a John Deere sign since a dealership is about 3 miles down the road.

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    #671 4 years ago
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    #672 4 years ago
    Quoted from scampcamp:

    I saw a Facebook garage sale item that said "Neon Light Free"
    The guy messaged back & said he took the top off the 6 foot long crate but had no idea what it was or what it spelled out.... lots of paper around everything. He screwed the top on before I got there... 25 miles outside of town.
    It was in his garage when he bought the house 8 years ago & he wanted it gone.
    What do you think it is??
    I'm hoping a John Deere sign since a dealership is about 3 miles down the road.[quoted image][quoted image]

    When are you opening this thing?!

    #673 4 years ago
    Quoted from scampcamp:

    I saw a Facebook garage sale item that said "Neon Light Free"
    The guy messaged back & said he took the top off the 6 foot long crate but had no idea what it was or what it spelled out.... lots of paper around everything. He screwed the top on before I got there... 25 miles outside of town.
    It was in his garage when he bought the house 8 years ago & he wanted it gone.
    What do you think it is??
    I'm hoping a John Deere sign since a dealership is about 3 miles down the road.[quoted image][quoted image]

    Why do you have to tease us like that!

    #674 4 years ago

    For some strange reason I really want to see whats in that box. Please open the box.

    #675 4 years ago

    OPEN THE BOX!!!

    Screenshot_20190906-185707 (resized).pngScreenshot_20190906-185707 (resized).png
    #676 4 years ago
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    #677 4 years ago

    Just picked this up for a song. Needs cleaned and hung up still...

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    #678 4 years ago
    Quoted from Spitfiren8:

    Just picked this up for a song. Needs cleaned and hung up still...[quoted image]

    Dude! That is awesome.

    #679 4 years ago

    Maybe it’s one of those $89 BM66 from China?

    #680 4 years ago

    My latest double sided all neon in the middle. I got three free signs because he changed from Dunkin Donuts to just Dunkin.

    getPart-3 (resized).jpggetPart-3 (resized).jpg
    #681 4 years ago

    I found a guy on eBay that sells neon signs and even makes custom ones. His feedback is really good and his product looks good for the price.

    Could anyone take a look and tell me what they think of his products? I dont know much about neon signs...it would be appreciated!

    EBay user -> in_future_tech

    #682 4 years ago

    What are realistic prices for beer neons? Always see $200+ on FB marketplace

    #683 4 years ago
    Quoted from Slips:

    What are realistic prices for beer neons? Always see $200+ on FB marketplace

    Just gave one away at the Zoo show this past year since nobody seemed interested in buying and I didn't want to haul it around anymore out of fear it would get broken. Michelob Light I wanna say it was, old school too. Personally I don't think beer neons are worth much of anything because there's so many around and so common. I like the stuff you don't see everyday.

    John

    IMG_0040 (2) (resized).JPGIMG_0040 (2) (resized).JPGNeon shoe from Midland flea market June 1st 2013, $275 (resized).JPGNeon shoe from Midland flea market June 1st 2013, $275 (resized).JPGP1200147 (resized).JPGP1200147 (resized).JPG
    #684 4 years ago

    Late 60s Schlitz, the red "on tap" is supposed to flash but the original transformer wiring is so bad its not safe to run currently. Looking forward to getting more

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    #685 4 years ago
    Quoted from Slips:

    What are realistic prices for beer neons? Always see $200+ on FB marketplace

    I have paid as little as nothing, a local store gave me one to clean it out. One Pinsider sold me a Lite Beer sign for $40 or $50.

    $200 is a little high unless it is something unique or rare.

    #686 4 years ago
    Quoted from ImNotNorm:

    I found a guy on eBay that sells neon signs and even makes custom ones. His feedback is really good and his product looks good for the price.
    Could anyone take a look and tell me what they think of his products? I dont know much about neon signs...it would be appreciated!
    EBay user -> in_future_tech

    Appears to be one of the many China makers. They always have their location set as US but they're in China. The neon tubes are thinner then the commercial neon signs and the power supplies are also cheaper and not UL approved. With that said, for the price and being that it will be used in the home....

    Quoted from Dayhuff:

    Personally I don't think beer neons are worth much of anything because there's so many around and so common

    Agree to a point! The "common" beer signs (ironically that's what they're referred to in the Beer business) aren't worth a lot. The Beer neons that typically go for money are ones that have a theme along with the brand name (i.e. Budweiser makes a lot of theme neons that have a sports logo/theme in them, Coors Light makes neons with NHL/Team logos, music theme etc.). Also, people are collecting older neon signs that are common. So if you come across neon signs from the early 70s or older cheap ... might want to pick it up.

    #687 4 years ago
    Quoted from scampcamp:

    I saw a garage sale item that said "Neon Light Free" but the top is screwed onto the 6-foot long crate it is in.

    Quoted from Silverballer:

    I really want to see what's in that box. Please open the box.

    I heard they are going to video Geraldo Rivera opening the crate for a television special.

    Quoted from yzfguy:

    OPEN THE BOX!!!

    Unfortunately it will turn out to be exactly as advertised: a neon light sign that spells out just the word FREE.

    #688 4 years ago

    May as well add mine here. Yes, there is the glare on the PF glass, and they're not secured (so I need to fix that before some "nudger" breaks some glass on me!) Adding more as I go. Need to update my photos as I have one neon for each machine now, but you get the idea. Have the other ones for sale now. Some old, some new, but all beer! (Excuse the blurred photos, it's not the beer. early stages of P's, but helps me on my flipper action..lol) Doesn't help me on my soldering skills tho!

    IMG_8252 (resized).jpgIMG_8252 (resized).jpgIMG_8690 (resized).PNGIMG_8690 (resized).PNGIMG_8789 (resized).jpgIMG_8789 (resized).jpgIMG_8791 (resized).jpgIMG_8791 (resized).jpgIMG_8792 (resized).jpgIMG_8792 (resized).jpg
    #689 4 years ago

    Relocating....

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    #690 4 years ago
    Quoted from Blitzburgh99:

    Relocating....[quoted image]

    I cant tell you how many of those Latrobe Brewing neon signs I have fixed over the years. Very nice sign when lit!

    #691 4 years ago
    Quoted from Blitzburgh99:

    Relocating....[quoted image]

    to my house?

    #692 4 years ago

    hey Scampcamp !!! Open up the Fu*#*$#en Box !!!

    #693 4 years ago

    I'm guessing it was a disappointing box opening or we woulda seen pics by now.

    #694 4 years ago

    It's long and it's thick.*
    Commercial/casino grade tubes, over 4 ft wide, 2.5 ft high. As is typical, the pic doesn't quite capture the colors. It's very red and lavender. The pachislo doesn't do it justice either, I suppose it's time to find an old-school nickel slot.

    * That's what she said...

    20190913_150932 (resized).jpg20190913_150932 (resized).jpg
    #695 4 years ago
    Quoted from meSz:

    Appears to be one of the many China makers. They always have their location set as US but they're in China. The neon tubes are thinner then the commercial neon signs and the power supplies are also cheaper and not UL approved. With that said, for the price and being that it will be used in the home....

    I thought the quality was lacking a bit but wasn't sure. The price and fact that they make custom signs intrigued me. I think I'll pass on purchasing from him. Thanks @mesz!

    #696 4 years ago
    Quoted from DUFUS:

    It's long and it's thick.*
    Commercial/casino grade tubes, over 4 ft wide, 2.5 ft high. As is typical, the pic doesn't quite capture the colors. It's very red and lavender. The pachislo doesn't do it justice either, I suppose it's time to find an old-school nickel slot.
    * That's what she said...[quoted image]

    Very cool sign!

    #697 4 years ago
    Quoted from yzfguy:

    I'm guessing it was a disappointing box opening or we woulda seen pics by now.

    After opening it that night & really not finding anything interesting (Except maybe for an "R" for our last name initial) I didn't think to post pictures.

    Here they are.

    I guess it did seem like that Geraldo Rivera/Al Capone's vault show a little? LOL

    neonmyst1 (resized).jpgneonmyst1 (resized).jpgneonmyst2 (resized).jpgneonmyst2 (resized).jpgneonmyst3 (resized).jpgneonmyst3 (resized).jpg
    #698 4 years ago

    R - T - I - N - U - D ? I'm not great at Scrabble but even so, I'm not coming up with much. NUDIRT? TURD IN?

    Here's my small assortment:

    312fattire (resized).jpg312fattire (resized).jpg

    LIT (resized).jpgLIT (resized).jpg

    Please note the Fat Tire has nice round wheels, so it's an original US-made production. All the Chinese knock-offs have distorted, ovoid wheels. 312 was Goose Island's flagship beer well before AB bought them out. I first saw that sign when I made the pilgrimage to get blitzed at a hometown sportsbar during Game 1 of the '05 Word Series... and had to have one. My brother almost conned that same one to go home with us but, it was a wild night ha ha... so I had to find one elsewhere.

    The small round one in the middle is not a pure commercial neon, but the first "neon sign" I ever owned, and one I made myself. I kitbashed a repro art-deco console wall clock with a neon ring that came from a different novelty clock, but happened to fit nicely in the art deco ring frame, with just enough power to make that whole frame glow softly. I then reproduced the face of a rare 1955 bubble advertising clock (which was much larger and lit by two 60W bulbs) to fit my frankenstein:

    TTGHO (resized).jpgTTGHO (resized).jpg

    It's obviously overpowered by the commercial signs but sometimes I don't want those on anyway, in which case the blue ring is just bright enough.

    I also have an old vacuformed sign that might still be my favorite, and is the first one that greets gameroom guests:

    OldStyle (resized).jpgOldStyle (resized).jpg

    I grew up in southwest Chicago, where Old Style tavern marquees were more common than all the Baptist Church Signboards where I live now. It's a comforting reminder of home (perhaps even moreso than the 312 Sears Tower

    #699 4 years ago
    Quoted from goingincirclez:

    R - T - I - N - U - D ? I'm not great at Scrabble but even so, I'm not coming up with much. NUDIRT? TURD IN?
    Here's my small assortment:
    [quoted image]
    [quoted image]
    Please note the Fat Tire has nice round wheels, so it's an original US-made production. All the Chinese knock-offs have distorted, ovoid wheels. 312 was Goose Island's flagship beer well before AB bought them out. I first saw that sign when I made the pilgrimage to get blitzed at a hometown sportsbar during Game 1 of the '05 Word Series... and had to have one. My brother almost conned that same one to go home with us but, it was a wild night ha ha... so I had to find one elsewhere.
    The small round one in the middle is not a pure commercial neon, but the first "neon sign" I ever owned, and one I made myself. I kitbashed a repro art-deco console wall clock with a neon ring that came from a different novelty clock, but happened to fit nicely in the art deco ring frame, with just enough power to make that whole frame glow softly. I then reproduced the face of a rare 1955 bubble advertising clock (which was much larger and lit by two 60W bulbs) to fit my frankenstein:
    [quoted image]
    It's obviously overpowered by the commercial signs but sometimes I don't want those on anyway, in which case the blue ring is just bright enough.
    I also have an old vacuformed sign that might still be my favorite, and is the first one that greets gameroom guests:
    [quoted image]
    I grew up in southwest Chicago, where Old Style tavern marquees were more common than all the Baptist Church Signboards where I live now. It's a comforting reminder of home (perhaps even moreso than the 312 Sears Tower

    The Chicago neon is pretty rad.

    #700 4 years ago
    Quoted from goingincirclez:

    Please note the Fat Tire has nice round wheels, so it's an original US-made production. All the Chinese knock-offs have distorted, ovoid wheels. 312 was Goose Island's flagship beer well before AB bought them out. I first saw that sign when I made the pilgrimage to get blitzed at a hometown sportsbar during Game 1 of the '05 Word Series... and had to have one. My brother almost conned that same one to go home with us but, it was a wild night ha ha... so I had to find one elsewhere.
    The small round one in the middle is not a pure commercial neon, but the first "neon sign" I ever owned, and one I made myself. I kitbashed a repro art-deco console wall clock with a neon ring that came from a different novelty clock, but happened to fit nicely in the art deco ring frame, with just enough power to make that whole frame glow softly. I then reproduced the face of a rare 1955 bubble advertising clock (which was much larger and lit by two 60W bulbs) to fit my frankenstein:
    [quoted image]
    It's obviously overpowered by the commercial signs but sometimes I don't want those on anyway, in which case the blue ring is just bright enough.
    I also have an old vacuformed sign that might still be my favorite, and is the first one that greets gameroom guests:
    [quoted image]
    I grew up in southwest Chicago, where Old Style tavern marquees were more common than all the Baptist Church Signboards where I live now. It's a comforting reminder of home (perhaps even moreso than the 312 Sears Tower

    Ummm...are you sure about that Fat Tire being American? Where did you get that information? Maybe post a pic of the tag on the transformer...the ones I’ve seen in bars and liquor stores that I would be darn positive are original manufacturer releases look like the following. Anything else, from what I’ve gathered, are knockoffs...unless Fat Tire changed their style. I apologize in advance if I am incorrect here. Can others with Fat Tire neon knowledge chime in?

    57924F8F-CCE0-4AA7-AD75-5B232BB29AF3 (resized).jpeg57924F8F-CCE0-4AA7-AD75-5B232BB29AF3 (resized).jpeg
    There are 2,355 posts in this topic. You are on page 14 of 48.

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