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Erik Sine

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Everything posted by Erik Sine

  1. The latest in LED Manufacturer / Sign Distributor LED Module Turf Wars. How these winners are picked by the International Sign Association in endless Social Media Congratulatory Posts, the endless LED Manufacturer & their Manufacturer Outside Sales Reposts, and the reposts and likes coming from all the Association & MFG undercarriage Our Trade Magazines picking winners by sharing their publishing keyboard, allowing them to write biased, self serving, self promotion "factual articles" by whoever pays them the most in advertising. The way our Sign Industry knowingly...or unknowingly eats it up as fact
  2. I just caught wind of the little side segment as it reached through my spam folder and into my inbox. I know Signs of The Times is only 15 pages now, with very little content..... but wow how they have really sunk further down just about the last revolution of the circling toilet water out, on it's way to the sewer. They've never been accused of truthful content on the past, but now announcing they're writing real fiction with their Community Activist writer Rolf L'Mao who is screaming "Fire" where there is none. This man writes fiction to spark controversy and to hit political emotion....what hole did they dig this guy from? So, just read the Red Deal - "The Case of the Channel Changer" ....how sad.... I'm not even the person Rolf L'mao would consider "White"....and I see nothing but Made up "Race Baiting" with using such words as "minority owner" and Made up Sexism...just to spark emotion...to infuse some sort of "White Guilt" We have enough of a divided country as it is, the last place we need to read about it with made up content is from these Brochure Rags....stick to Made up reasons why a Product is Good based on what that advertiser paid that month....give them back your keyboard so they can write up some Sales points As someone who this Community Activist writer would consider, and label ME a "Minority"....lose the labels Rolf L'mao. No one really cares what we look like or what gender we are, most of us just look at one another as People, and fellow American's. I've never needed a label like "Minority Owner" to get through in life, nor need a handicap because for some reason I can't make it on my own without the assistance from government, forcing their hand to put me at the front of a line that I can't do myself based on merit....NOT by the color of my skin. Let me give you little bit of insight Rolf L'mao... in the private sector especially.....we hire, and deal with individuals who are the best at what they do based on merit, character, and based by production or ideas from their own efforts.... We don't hire people or heir their services based on because they are Brown, Black, White, or Yellow, or Man or Women....some do, and that's sad...but that's so small and so few, it's not even worth writing a fake story about. I've been in this Industry since 1993, and I've seen all walks of life as owners, important decision makers. Good ones and bad, we're all just people, and we're all so different... That's one thing I'm proud to have never done, declare myself as a "Minority Owner". Use on a form, or to try to obtain a bid or contract. You either Hire me because I'm good (Which I am), or go hire someone else. There was one time where a grocery chain told me after years of work I had performed for them, that I had to fill out a "Minority Owned" application. I refused, they told me they had to move on, and they did. A few years later they called me back after enough failed projects... No Wonder Why SOT is only 15 pages thick these days He's not Rolf L'mao...he's Rolf LMFAO
  3. As the Signs of The Times Magazine circles the toilet fighting to stay a float these days, something of actual relevance pops up on their site, yet..it didn't even come from them.... https://signsofthetimes.com/opinion-historic-neon-signs-are-irreplaceable-inimitable-cultural-treasures/ With the Community Organizer over there away from the Keyboard and the take over by the current Hipsters they still can't get it right. No one in that SOT staff currently has ever fabricated, installed, or processed Neon in their lives. The closest any of them has ever been to a piece of glass is probably at the ISA show in Vegas with them possibly taking a tour at the Neon Graveyard. They probably stared at at the magnificence in all its glory in awe...maybe even jaw dropping while sipping on a fruity cocktail. Not even a whisper that the very publication they work for....helped to enable its fall. Or know, that the publication did what was easy, and take advertising money from the LED sector and allow them to buy influence in not only our supposed Trade Magazines which is nothing more than a brochure rag, but bought influence in our Trade Associations as well....and kill the very Soul of Neon, the greatest Heritage in our Trade. Yet, our Trade Journalism did nothing about it. Nothing to protect our Electric Sign Trades Greatest Heritage, & Tradition that helped put us on the map in Perpetuity....Neon. Destruction of our very roots from within...or are the Trade Magazines & Sign Associations truly counted as one of us, or part of the "Whithin". I say, and always have said that "They" are not "Us". This is best left for another day, but very briefly for those that do not know. Most Sign Trade Magazines are not souly based on one trade, most have magazines that coexist in different sectors like Hospitality or Construction. The same is for the Core Executive that actually pick up a check at The International Sign Association, their employees who head it up never ever came from our Industry, they came from others, Power Lift Gates & Plastics Industry one day and Musical Chair the enxt right into our industry...they're outsiders coming and bringing that recycled business model they used in some other sector/trade into ours. Back to the Article... This Ball less Rag still, to this day has to label this article/letter as "Opinion" That's mainly because the Hipsters that run the rag think it's just entertaining but know there's a hint of truth somewhere....they just can't figure out where. Forget the fact that SOT like others have become irrelevant at the current state. They're all basically 15 pages long these days, with little to no information that you can't get by logging into LinkedIN, Facebook, or watching a TikTok / YouTube Video where the "pay/rent for SOT Keyboard" days are over. Even the LED Manufacturers that once bought space at SOT is over, Social Media and the Internet killed these Rags. All that one sided Light Source influence of LEDs Good....Neon Bad, is gone. They're lucky to have maybe one ad a month from LEDs. Yet, here we are today after much devastation with our Tardes Greatest Heritage hanging on by a nut hair..and this comes out. Where was even so much as an opinion 12 years ago? Forget even having so much as one of their so called Journalists do a little digging in putting up the Pro's and Con's of both Neon & LED, or the Benefits of each. Nothing. Countless articles I myself have written here with real Return On Investment figures here for all to kick around ...which we did a good job of. But, now the Hipsters that run the SOT in their tight pegged Jeans, Drinking their Starbucks, petting their purse dog that sits on their lap at the local restaurant that barks at everyone thought about putting this Man's letter up for all to read his "opinion" The Sign Trade Associations & Trade rags still suck after all these years (I haven't picked one up in years, not even for shits and giggles or while sitting on the pot). In Rags & Associations....Some know, some have known....my experience not only here, being in the field of our trade, and being in a Sign Association for a brief stint has still remained true.....they all lack Courage. There is NO courage to do what is right, only to do what comes easy in both our trade rags and sign associations like ISA...or The International Sign Association.
  4. The BrightON - II Cobalt Blue A quick little intro video of our newest BrightON - II Cobalt Blue A 12V High Efficiency Blue LED Module Driving at .7w, Constant Current NOT Constant Voltage, Under Driven, 3M VHB Tape NOT Foam Tape...and can be mechanically fastened with a #8 screw if need be.
  5. This just gets more interesting, and it makes sense out of everything. The question was, after all the aquisitions of Grimco Buying out Tubelite & Denco and other small suppliers....why would they let Principal / Sloan Buy out Hanley LED? The word is, Principal / Sloan got bought out by Hanley LED a while back...it just wasn't public yet.
  6. GO BIG or GO HOME!!! Posting some pics of a 22" Deep Pole Sign Cabinet that a customer sent. If you're going to do a large, deep....Double Sided Cabinet or Monument Sign....do it right! No cheesy propietary Stiks, no fake Keystroke Constant Voltage Faux HO LED Lamps....resulting in poor luminance and "Usable Light"... Do it Cost Effective, and do it "Simply".......just chop some angles, tap 'em in and apply some Big Boy SunFires. The costs of using 1"x1" angle, 1" Square Tubing comes out to about $1.75 a foot. 12' Rows spaced just Like real HO Fluorescent Lamps, and space 12" module to module and you'll understand why these are called "SunFire". Sit back and observe the Disgusting amount of light these Magnificent BrightON SunFire LEDs produce! You'll end up with Competitive Light...NOT Usable Light. Using the BrightON SunFire LED Modules for Double Sided Cabinets you're looking at $6.50 per foot for DS, compared to Proprietary Systems costing $13 to $20 per foot Think of the cost saving annually....why pay extra for less light and for method of attachment costs?? Constant Current NOT Constant Voltage for Even/Consistent Lighting....High Efficiency (Light per Power)....Real White...24 Volt & Under Driven for Long Life!!!! How to make this system even better? Team up the BrightON SunFires with some France Lighting Solutions TruPower LED Power Supplies Seeing is BELIEVING!!
  7. Some bad news of the Neon World. Ventex / Transco who is currently owned by Principal LED or Principal Industries as they are now known by has stopped production of their TC2000 Porcelain Replacement Housing. As an LED Company busy acquiring other LED Companies....I don't think Neon is high on their Priority List, look for Ventex to just outright dissolve....at least all the housings....it wouldn't suprise me. So, for those accounts that have been working on In & Out Burgers, they will have to go another route. Perhaps just stick with the current clear glass housing but use a White Silicone Cap.
  8. Now it's Official. Your Choices and Options just shrunk...and so did the Competition. This means the Prices will up, and the Quality will go down. What do you think??? ......Its "Growing" Alright
  9. Just as a reminder, sometimes it's better to call you order in because the shipping rates can be better due to how we manually consolidate your order. Online Shipping software has a tendency to calculate bulk orders differently when purchasing multiple different components (858) 880-1400 or orders@thesignsyndicate.com
  10. Thought I would give everyone a Christmas Present. For the next 30 Days, the National Sign & Service Company Review Forum & the Manufacturer, Wholesaler/ Distributor Review Forum will be open for all to read and comment. Don't forget to take the polls for the companies you have had actual relationships with, and even comment...others would like to know what kind of relations these companies have had, good or bad.
  11. Just got Verification from a Grimco Rep. They aren't allowed to say anything but, the Deal is "Pending"
  12. Early on, my feeling was this little module was going to be the most popular module we will have. You can do so much with it, Channel Letters, Reverse Channel Letter Halo Lighting is Ridiculous. This module has been best for shallow faces from 1.5" to 5"+. If you liked the quality of the Sloan Prism, this is the better module for 1/3 the price. To date, it's been the hardest to keep on the shelf and in stock. Beginning of next year we are widening the options of lighting with Ruby Red, Cobalt Blue, Sunflower Yellow, Green and for whites 4000K, 5000K, 7100K to go alongside out 6500K & 3000K. Demand has been phenomenal. Running short has been a good problem to have.
  13. So this got even worse If what I'm hearing is true. The word from a few Hanley Reps just said that Principal / Sloan just bought them out. Fewer Choices....Lower Quality.
  14. Discussing the BrighON LED Module Lineup for the Electric Sign Industry A brief description about the High-End, High Efficiency BrightON LED Module Line for the Electric Industry by @Kgirl. These LED Modules are made for everything from Channel Letters, Sign Cabinets, Architectural Elements to General Lighting. • The 24V & 12V .8 watt BrightON II • The 12V 1.2 watt BrightON III • The 24V & 12V 1.6 watt BrightON IV • The 12V .72 watt BrightON Lightning • The 24V 2.4 watt BrightON SunFire • The 24V 3W RGB+W BrightON Sirius
  15. Ha, I just recently saw something similar and wish I snapped a pic. It was a sign guy with advert wrap on his Mini Cooper with a top rack with two ladders that were longer than the length of his car. Pretty Funny
  16. In such a short period of time we've seen a lot of Electric Sign Component manufacturers, distributors, and suppliers fold and go out of business or get gobbled up by others. ISA or International Sign Association in strong armed/mafia form gobbled up all independent state Sign Associations...they're still there, but they all have one voice to follow now. When this all happened it was an entertaining little civil war as it was happening. You didn't read about that part of it because well....those voices were silenced and there was no platform at the time for those in those smaller associations to voice their opposition, no way to be heard and you sure wouldn't read about it in any Sign Brochure Rag (Magazine) Principal LED buys Transco(Neon), then buys Ventex (Neon / LED), then buys Aries Graphics (Neon/LED Wizard), recently buys Sloan (LED).....now I hear they bought property in the land of Oz... UPDATE** Principal/Sloan just now Bought Hanley LED A lot of smaller Sign Suppliers are no longer around. If you're on the West Coast then you know Interstate Electric just folded up very fast practically overnight and POOF!....gone. Tubelite & Denco merged as one company, and just now Grimco gobbled up TubeLite & Denco. So what does this all mean? Well this usually happens during a bad economy, businesses merge to survive, and most of the time when they consolidate the outcome means it's Big Business....not good for the consumers, those consumers.....is this very industry. Like with most laws of the marketplace with less competitors, it mean less choices, options, and of course higher prices....higher prices because, well....why drop prices when there are less competitors out in the marketplace to compete for your business. Lesser options of where to buy and what to buy, lesser options like what electric sign components are in our marketplace. Competition brings better options and components into our marketplace, but at this point there is no drive or incentive for a component manufacture to build better products. In fact, I've already seen this retard, and I've been seen sub par products in the LED Modules being produced and made available. Many won't notice, many don't even know what they're even buying. Many are just "WOWED" at the new "10 year product / 5 year labor warranty" and think how wonderful! The real fact of the matter is at this point the only real hard part is getting to the 5 year period. Beyond that it's just a matter of the manufacturer handing you a few bags of newer LED modules, patting you on the back of the head and telling you to go away. Ask yourself, would you ever use your warranty for anything beyond the 5 years or just refill your client for a new retrofit? How many business signs actually last that long before becoming rebranded? I would say the chances of a sign lasting longer that 10 years is fewer than a rebrand or s business just seising to operate. So users have the Wow factor of the 10 year warranty. They are also may not know....they are being charged more for this warranty because it's sold as a premium service. 10 years "sounds" better than 5, what users don't know is that the 5 year warranty is probably the better product in some cases, the 5 year warranty product company just hasn't caught up to the 10 year scheme yet. It is a scheme, just read the warranty yourself. Here's what happened in a short period of time. LED technology has gotten better, and of course less expensive. But the choices for what sign module producers choose to specify and putting together has been garbage. Garbage why? Well, there is less competition now, less choices. With fewer Sign Suppliers now there are less choices.....you have Principal LED, and Principal LED...oh and.....Principal LED. What I'm seeing right now is more eco modules and less premium modules. What I mean in eco modules is...Constant Voltage LED systems, and inefficient chips (higher power needed for more light), along with very poor bins of white (sorting process). In fact, these days, the 6500 whites look dirty and inconsistent across a say...30 module string. In premium modules it's the opposite. Up until not too long ago most of the industry was going to CC Systems or Constant Current. You pay just a tiny bit more...but it mean longer life, and consistent lighting from the first module on a string to the last. The chips being used were more efficient (more light for lesser power). You have to remember, when it comes to LEDs, the more power the greater the heat, the greater the heat the shorter the life. These days, you may not get catastrophic failure like th old days where diodes outright fail and turn off, but you'll get faster lumen maintenance or degradation, and in a lot of cases depending on chip quality...color shifting. In premium modules, the white rendering is better. A 6500K white will look white on a premium module. Do your own comparison, put LED modules in channels and put white acrylic faces on them and do a comparison. What you thought was 6500K from one module manufacturer looks really gray, or green, or blue compared to a quality module using quality chips. When we were doing the Electric Sign Industry benchmark testing The Great White Hope & Project Tightey Whitey, etc.... everyone in the industry was able to see the differences of the Bins, the chip quality in light produced for power out in and what was failing and what was not. Project Tightey Whitey (6500KLED Modules) & The Red Light District (Red LED Modules) The Great White Hope (6500K LED Modules) Project Border Security (Blue Neon & LED Flex) Before you ask on those whites.... YES, those are ALL 6500K modules. Not so white when you compare huh? I would gamble to say half this industry won't care when reading this. Most think it's just about building, billing and profiting and living our lives the best we can with greater worries about real life outside of work....as it should be....I get that. In some ways I've always had some Nerd traits in me, and that's why I'm writing this. The bottom line is, there are only a few LED Modules I would say are "Quality", and you won't really find them in your local now shrunk Sign Supply options. Right now you're paying more for less under the guise marketing scheme of a "10 Year Warranty" and most deceivingly you're buying a product from a name that once actually produced good products but using that "name" to sell a product because you know that "name". They're taking advantage of your ignorance and lack of caring/understanding You won't read about any of the information put here in our supposed Sign Industry News Magazines because they have been nothing but Brochure Rags where all you have to do is either purchase advertisement space or become one of their contributing "Writers" which they have always been desperate for since they aren't from this industry they only want to sell to it. So become a writer/contributor and through the backdoor, promote your product....indirectly.. Who is going to discuss the shrinking marketplace and degradation of product quality. No one like to name names there. You won't read about any of this in any Webinar, Seminar or Newsletter from our Sign Associations, because just like Brochure Rags....Advertising and Booth Space Sells. I've sat in Association Boards, money dictates all decisions like you wouldn't know and most in them are sheep....except for the "Lifers" who have been there since day one if they're still breathing and they not only sit on one board but even multiple across state lines in different associations. It's a good way to get influence and sell it, most importantly it's a good way to push yourself and own agenda across the industry. The good doers are short lived realize it's not for them, and leave after a short time. Maybe if nothing else I awake from this hibernation I've been on for some time and take some small steps of my own and put out for our Great Trade some revised Benchmark testings on LEDs & Neon. I can see another Great White Hope IV (White LEDs), Red Light District II (Red LEDs), & Project Border Security II (Neon & Flex LED). To show where this industry has improved....and where it's failing. It's not just about LED modules where I have involvement, it's our whole industry.... where to buy, what to buy is shrinking....and what you are told and what you read, is believed...the opposition is not there....but it's here. In just a short time with the test market shrinking news of the Denco/TubeLite/Grimco the social media posts by them and ISA is about cracking open Champagne bottles....but if you read the comments if they haven't been turned off yet is about users being concerned about lesser competition and lack of future "option" The future of this industry and where it goes will be interesting.... Benchmarks? Maybe Stay Tune!!
  17. What you posted wasn't real Neon, it's more like novelty stuff with a high fail rate. What is your experience in the industry?
  18. The High-End BrightON LED Module Line just got better! The new upcoming Constant Current high color output RGB+White BrightON - Sirius Color Tuning LED Module for Signs, Architectural Elements, & General Lighting . Unlike most RGB+White LED Modules the BrightON Sirius has 8 dedicated color LED Diodes, not shared LEDs under a single lens. With 8 dedicated LEDs on a single module your color palette and light intensity will be much larger. This is REAL Color Tuning Our 6500K True White BrightON LED Modules have been sick enough as is, now you'll get that same High Efficient True White Chip on board the Sirius Module. These modules are IP68, 24 Volt for longer runs and longer module life, Constant Current NOT Constant Voltage, Potted for the elements. Can be controlled by RGB+W Controllers as well as DMX & SDI Options. We look to have these finished up and ready for the industry by Late February 2024 Check out the video below
  19. Doing some minor upgrades, so some functions maybe iffy for a bit
  20. maybe contact Steve @UFB Fabrication, he was doing something like this.
  21. A couple pallets of the High End 12V & 24V BrightON LEDs to a California Sign Supplier. Here they come!!!
  22. Revised! Our Newer BrightON SunFire LED modules are due in within 2 Weeks, or Mid May!!!
  23. If you liked the BrightON Sunfire, it just got better!!! Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend, just did a quick lil video of one of our most unique LED Sign Modules for Deep Sign Cabinets.
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