The History of Neon Signs

The History of Neon Signs. . The concept of the neon lamp was invented by French engineer and chemist Georges Claude in 1902 when he discovered that by passing an electric current through inert gases he could make them glow very brightly. In 1911 Claude obtained international patents on his new discovery which he marketed under the trade name "Claude Neon.", Claude first displayed his invention at the Paris Expo in 1910 and sold his first commercial sign to a Paris barber in 1912. Within three years he had patented his invention in the United States and began to sell patent licenses and the rights for the manufacture of neon tubing worldwide. The U.S. patent rights were purchased by the Federal Sign and Signal Company of Chicago who, in turn, sold franchises to other sign companies located in cities throughout the United States., It is no accident then that the Tulsa-based company commissioned to restore the Meadow Gold sign after it was removed from the rooftop of its previous location is named Claude Neon Federal Signs. The company has been in existence since 1926 and derived its name from Claude, the inventor; Neon, the product; and Federal, the licensing company., The first neon signs erected in the United States - two "Packard" signs - were imported from France in 1923 by Los Angeles automobile dealer Earle C. Anthony. Now, Anthony was much more than just a car dealer. He developed the concept of the automobile "filling" station and, along with his father, created the Chevron logo which later they sold to Standard Oil. His other accomplishments included the founding of the KFI radio station in Los Angeles and the founding of a bus company that was later incorporated into Greyhound. He is reported to have inspired the building of the Golden Gate Bridge and had a role in the development of car radios. He was also a songwriter, journalist and playwright., Although neon is the inert gas most commonly used in luminous-tube signage, any of the other noble gases - argon, krypton, xenon or helium-or a mixture of those gases can be used. In fact, the lighting tubes on the Meadow Gold sign were originally filled with argon, not neon gas. During the restoration process, the argon gas tubing was replaced with neon gas tubing because neon gas glows brighter and, unlike argon gas, it does not need the addition of mercury to enhance color., As the largest neon sign on Tulsa's landscape, and possibly anywhere, the Meadow Gold sign is unique. With each face measuring 30 feet by 30 feet, the size and design of the Meadow Gold sign set it apart from all of the other signs that have been preserved and restored along historic Route 66.