Five Hidden Gems: Unveiling the Mysteries of Conventional Glass Neon Signs
We all love neon signs for a variety of reasons, but very few know the way they operate. There’s much more that goes into the making of a neon sign than just the glass itself, from the way the electrodes at each end are filled with argon or neon gas, to the way sign makers utilize blowtorches to heat glass tubes, then bend them and sealing them together with colorful designs. To keep things feeling fun and informative, we brushed up on our informationand we’re sharing the best five below.
1. Neon is French
Georges Claude, an engineer from France, French engineer, invented neon lighting around 1902. He owned an air liquefaction company and was the first to effectively transfer an electrical charge through neon gas in sealed tubes, which caused the chain reaction of orange-red light to appear. Following some adjustments and scientific advances the neon discharge tubes were made available to the public.
2. Neon Signs are made by hand 100%.
Most neon lights you can see are handmade. It requires lots of experience, precision and coordination to bend glass tubes in accordance with the layout. Glass can break and cracking if not handled properly. Although neon signs come in a wide range of colors and shapes, their manufacturing process remains the same since their beginning.
3. Neon lights can cut through fog
What happens when you’re at an airport and the fog is an issue? Neon signs may be used for fun or advertising but they are efficient in fog. Indeed, neon lights are oftentimes employed in airports to ensure that aircraft are safe and questionable areas well lit. The hope is that you’ll never require it to light your way however the fact is that neon lights are awesome to have just in case you find yourself thousands of feet up in the air.
4. Neon signs are made of sculpted
Each neon sign begins as simply straight lines. The process is made more vivid through the intense heat generated by the four-foot long neon tubes. The neon sign maker employs an orderly sequence of movements with a precise sense of timing to bend each piece of glass tube. Since neon sign making is about experimenting and experimentation, you can try making something unique and special.
5. Neon signs are bright
The majority of neon signs are easily identified in the night, or even during daytime. It is because of a powerful transfer of energy which happens during the time of production. Similar to a game of bowling, electrical currents hit the gas atoms inert with electrons knocking the atoms off their orbits. The electrons clash with free electrons, releasing them back towards the atoms. When the electrons start to get absorbed into the atoms, energy is given off as light!