Wednesday, March 11, 2009

The Neon Sign: An Emblem of the 20th Century

When it comes to neon, people instantly visualize different colors expressing themselves as they dance in the dark night, enticing customers, young and old, to go into a little pub or club for a little enjoyment. And of course, in the corner, a wise entrepreneur smiles because of new customers and higher pay. So to speak, not only do these little signs are effective in catching the eyes of consumers, it can be powerful enough to make them loyal customers and admirers. The neon sign's ability to create brand equity has become so effective that these signs are accepted across the board, with small, medium and large enterprises all utilizing them in their own little way, for neon signs are not only cheap, they are flexible to the extent that they are customizable and can easily be personalized for anyone.

When Earle Anthony first shipped the first set of neon signs in the United States, it was a beginning of an advertising revolution. Most signs were droll and unattractive and it didn't really seem to boost the revenues of small business owners. But that all changed when neon came to Los Angeles. Initially, however, the color that was available was only red; but soon enough, it expanded to more colors given that people experimented a little bit with different materials, helping neon lights to diversify and add more colors into its once limited repertoire. They added xenon, carbon dioxide, mercury, krypton and many more into the mix, which then ushered multi-colored neon lights. And then, the options were jacking up so fast that 150 shades were available in no time.

The technology also developed along with the rising popularity of neon signs. There are, in a nutshell, two primary varieties. The first is the old heavy transformer; the only thing that you need to know about them is that they only support old and possibly obsolete neon signs. While recently, there is the light and compact transformer, which obviously supports newer models. Depending on how much you are willing to spend, you will be able to choose one of the two in order to get the bang for your buck. Keep in mind, however, that the lighter transformers are easier to maintain, thus keeping maintenance costs at bay.

The all-encompassing charm of the neon sign not only has benefited businesses, but also it jacked up artists' creativity given its creative and artistic nature and also it even has a place in the scientist's little cook book. Neon signs, while unnoticed, have impacted greatly our lives without us even knowing it. It is time for us to recognize it as one of the few important emblems of the 20th century.