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We have always been proud supporters of our Electric Sign Trade and have always been proactive in doing what it takes to help preserve our Trade and it's most valued tradition....that being Neon. Despite the misinformation that has been put out about Neon for decades now, Neon is very much a light/energy efficient light source and the most durable light source we have in our trade over time and we have plenty of case history to support this. WATCH OUT As most of you may or may not know, there has been a huge shortage of the availability of Glass Neon Housings for Neon....and what has been available has been a lot of Chinese Fake UL Marked (Embossed on the glass) Neon Housings in the market for some time. They Claim a UL mark, BUT...they aren't a U.L. Recongnized accessory or sign component .i.e. SSI / "Neo" Glass Housings have no valid listing with fake embossed UL Emblem The biggest complaint for some time has been the threads are terrible and it made tightening at times near to impossible. The other bad aspect was that the glass walls were too thin, and with just a little bit of heat they were cracking or a incidental drop bump might cause them to crack and break prematurely, some simply cracked on tightening mechanically to a sign body . Also, it's bad news if you're a Wholesale Shop or Custom Sign Shop integrating these knock-offs into your signs. It's passing along a fake listed product and should something happen like a "fire" I can't imagine Insurance Companies will be too happy about the use of a "knock-off" I've done my best in the past to look for and supply vintage housings that were listed for the Neon Arts and help with keeping that art going with Porcelain or older glass housings which we still do have plenty of (#100's & #300's). But now we have those hard to get components to keep those awesome Neon Open Faced Channel Letters and Wall Signs going without running into shortages of components or options. NOW IN STOCK - Westrim U.L. Recognized Sign Accessories #100, #200, #200P, #300 Neon Glass Housings You can Purchase these from our store or contact us to place an order or inquiry (858) 880-1400 | orders@thesignsyndicate.com NOW IN STOCK - Westrim U.L. Listed #100, #200, #200P, #300 Neon Glass Housings You can Purchase these from our store or contact us to place an order or inquiry (858) 880-1400 | orders@thesignsyndicate.com

Neon Benders / Glass Benders .... we want YOU! Ever had the desire to live in Australia .... we have the opportunity for you. Our company has been leading the industry in Australia since it started in 1948 and has grown to become one of Australia's premier & most well respected Neon & LED Signage Companies. Providing Fabricated signs and Neon & LED components for some of the biggest & highest profile business’s in the country across artist's, corporate, fashion, consumer, automotive & the retail industry. Being a growing signage business, we are now seeking additional glass bending staff to join the team here in Sydney, Australia. Must be able to produce custom bent glass tube of impeccable quality, quickly and accurately. Requires the ability to work independently but as part of a tight knit team, work at a fast pace and ensure all projects are completed in a timely manner - demonstrating the passion for your craft to deliver hand crafted Neon excellence from households and corporate through to high end artworks. Must have excellent communication skills, be a team player, positive, open to direction and constructive feedback. Impeccable attention to detail. Preferably the ability and desire to train others. Key responsibilities of the role will include: Hand crafting amazing glass Neon tube - Bending, joining, pumping, blockout, testing Train others in the art of Neon The successful candidate will have the following skills and attributes: Minimum 5+ years glass bending experience Ability to Train/teach others Sound knowledge of the end to end process of Neon Strong work ethic and customer solution approach - good problem solving skills Must maintain an extremely high level of product quality and craftsmanship – do it once & do it right Must be highly organised Must have ability to think laterally and be able solve complex issues Other Must Have’s: Strong Mindset to Maintain Health & Safety practices at all times. Desire to relocate to Sydney, Australia This is an amazing opportunity to experience living life down under in Sydney, Australia while joining a growing business and work alongside a highly energetic and engaged team. If this sounds like you, please send your resume now, we would love to hear from you.

Opportunity Neon Person! Know a good bender who thought neon was over, well it's not! Great signs Good pay/benefits Super clean shop and top of the line equipment Neon work! Good damn people. Music City! I can't say enough what a good place this is to work. They've been in business now for 40 plus years. Super solid reputation in the city and well connected. They've done 90% of the signs on Broadway and they're full of neon. I've been here for 2 years now with 40 hours of work every week. If the glass is slow you can also jump into electrical etc. I had been out of the trade for a dozen years and didn't think I'd find a job again doing glass full time. If you're a solo one person shop and sick of those headaches come to Nashville. I wasn't looking to leave however our 3 grown kids are all back home in Vegas and 2 of of them sign guys (where did I go wrong?) My friend Bong Gonzalez passed from covid and I'm going to be taking over his position in Vegas. I really wish that this was not the case. He and his Dad were staples in the neon world in Vegas and just damn fine men. Again if you were a bender back in the day, it's like riding a bike. In a few days it was mostly all back and now I have a greater appreciation for something I thought was gone. Again you're in a shop with super talented folks front and back. Please email me pictures of your work and your experience etc to jeff@joslinsign.com

After a lot of inquiries I'd just like to mention that we now have plenty of stock Brass Neon Tube Supports, the conventional 1.75" size. You can place orders using out online cart in case quantities of 500 or smaller quantities of 100

Hi Everyone, We're working on a program that has a decent amount of interior neon signs. I wanted to see if there was anyone in SS land that does neon production work. PM me for details. Thanks, Jamin

We are growing fast this year and we are looking for qualified service electricians and technicians. Smokers need not apply. d/l a must

Well established sign company seeking a neon tube bender open to working throughout the sign trade. Our clients are accustomed to an extreme level of service and high quality products delivered in a timely manner by highly professional staff. Requires either tube bending experience or recent tube bending school attendance. General knowledge of the sign trade helpful Good customer relations

PK HOUSINGS PK, or Neon P-K Housings are harder and harder to find these days with no major Neon Manufacturer still producing the Metal Shroud portion of a PK Housing. Westrim?? Nope....Transco? Nope....Allanson? Nope... In fact, it's been nearly impossible to find New complete PK Housings. The only way in the last couple of years if you had a Neon Project for a client has been to find existing stock from a sign company that has had some just sitting on a old dusty shelf somewhere, or possibly a sign supplier who didn't even know they had any, and with LEDs flooding the market it's doubtful a supplier rep even knows what they are/were, and that dusty case they do have with all those strange metal & glass components was possibly spare parts for some old delivery truck their company use to have from the 90's??? Think of how many have just been straight thrown out in the garbage Well, not every Neon wall project calls for #200, #300 Housings, the difficult Masters Technologies Boots and Sleeving System. If you want a Neon attached to on a wall for a clean look & without a raceway, YES...it IS still possible!!! We've been sitting on these for some time, sorry for the late public announcement Store Link of Neon Housings http://www.thesignsyndicate.com/forums/index.php?/store/category/8-neon-housing-components/ Call or Email us for questions or orders!! orders@thesignsyndicate (858) 880-1400

Hello All, I am trying to replace an obsolete neon transformer on a bar light and cannot seem to find anyone who can confirm what modern transformer will work as the proper replacement. That's why I came here to the experts! I've attached a photo of the old indoor gas tube transformer. I believe it says it's an Actown Model No. FG 3851. PRIM 120 Volts 60 Hz 270VA SEC 9,000 Volts 30 MA Secondary Mid-Point Grounded I believe Actown was bought by Franceformer years ago. Can anyone offer any insight on what a solid replacement transformer for a bar neon would be? Any info. anyone can provide would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

How A Utah Company Became Nevada's Go-To Shop For Neon http://kuer.org/post/how-utah-company-became-nevadas-go-shop-neon#stream/ Ever since he was a young, Will Durham admits he’s had an affinity for neon. It’s hard not to when you grow up casino-studded town like Reno, Nevada. “When I was a kid I had a hard time going to sleep and I would always see that glow of downtown Reno and the neon,” he says. “And I knew there was still action going on, and I wasn’t the last one awake. And I think that kind of sparked the interest.” For the last two decades, Durham, who still lives in Reno, has been collecting vintage neon signs from old, retro-looking motels and roadside businesses — the kinds of places that seem to be disappearing across the desert West. He’s had to rent space to store all the signs — 100 and counting — and his garage is stuffed with them, too. He has to carefully maneuver around to get to a wall plug to light them all up. Among his signs, there’s a creepy clown, a couple of cowboys and a very happy man pulling a lever on a slot machine. “You can see the coins falling, he’s actually winning,” he says. He got that one from a place called the El Rancho in Wells, Nev., and he guesses it's probably 60-70 years old. Durham says there aren’t a lot of companies left doing this type of work, but there is one: the Young Electric Sign Company, or YESCO. “They’re maybe the most prolific in Nevada, and they've been around a long time," he said. Drive around Nevada long enough, and it’s impossible to have missed the work of the nearly century-old Young Electric Sign Company. That “Welcome To Fabulous Las Vegas” sign that tourists take selfies in front of? That’s YESCO. Reno’s arch? YESCO. The 40-foot Vegas Vic or Wendover Will cowboys with hundreds of feet of winding neon tubing? Also YESCO. From billboards to office parks to the Las Vegas Strip, the company is one of the oldest manufacturers of commercial signs in the U.S. And although their signs are nearly synonymous with Vegas, they’re actually headquartered here in Utah. Jeff Young is a third generation co-owner of YESCO. It was founded by his grandfather Thomas Young in Ogden in 1920. He gave a tour of their Salt Lake factory last year. In the late 1920s, his grandfather saw an opportunity in a trendy new lighting technology made popular by a French engineer. So he applied for a license and got one of his first commissions: the Boulder Club in Las Vegas, in 1931. “The race for signs in Vegas really started right there with with Thomas Young, Sr. and his license with neon and we've never stopped,” says Jeff Young. “And so you talk about where neon really started in the Intermountain West and in the western U.S., and really the roads kind of all lead back to Tom Young.” Jeff Young and his two brothers now run the business, with more than 100 locations across the U.S. and in Canada. He says people are still surprised with they learn that some of the most iconic signs in Vegas came from a Utah company. “Oh, there’s a great contrast there,” he says. “You have a fairly clean-cut family and a rather conservative community building the biggest, brightest, flashiest signs in the world.” Inside their small neon shop in Salt Lake, neon bender Dave Corey blows into a small pipe that snakes into a glass tube he’s holding over an open flame. The pipe helps him keep the right amount of pressure so he can shape the tube into a curvy and alluring letter ‘B.’ “A lot of people think you're actually blowing glass," he says. "But for the most part you're not really blowing into the tube. When the heat heats the air that's inside the tube, it expands.” Corey has worked for YESCO for 30 years. He’s often thinking in the third dimension when figuring out how to make a sign into one seamless piece. Neon makes up only 10 percent of their business today, and most of that is for servicing and repairing older signs. LEDs are what most businesses want. Not only do they use less power and last longer, but companies can easily program them to swap out their graphics or messaging. Young says it’s also harder to find people who can invest the time to learn a trade like neon, which can take years. “Dave’s skill at bending is just phenomenal,” says Young. “We hate to say neon is a dying art, but the reality is it's hard to find a Dave in this world of ours. And it's harder harder to find people who are really good at this trade.” Will Durham, the Reno neon collector, says it’s an artform worth preserving. Part of it is nostalgia, he admits, but aesthetically, neon’s soft colors and sinuous curves are just more pleasing to the eye. He’s currently fundraising in hopes of establishing a permanent home for his collection. “You're never going to see these neon extravaganzas again," he says. "Like the 150-foot sign with miles and miles of pulsing neon, you’re never going to see that again.” But that won’t stop Durham from collecting what’s left of them. And it won’t stop YESCO’s Dave Corey from bending away in his small workshop in Salt Lake.

Hi Guys & Gals. Posting a video sent from one of our members that need help in defining the issue. Usually seen and requiring longer burn in, but any idea why it would happen over an extended time? http://www.thesignsyndicate.com/forums/index.php?/videos/view-28-neon-issues/ Hopefully some of the Neon folks can chime in

Thought I'd post some pics of a project I recently put up for a group of owners I've been doing some signs for over 15 years, this is the latest project located here in San Diego in Pacific Beach California. This job was supposed to be up last December, but as you can imagine things don't happen over night like they should in for this project in California and a good reason why business's leave California for other fruitful states in our grand union. This project was no different and unlike other states.....here,anything built on the beach, you have to go through the California Coastal Commission. This establishment won't be ready after much delay until almost a year later, and set to open this November possibly December. This project was originally composed of a third sign, a 18' tall projecting sign which got denied in the permitting process. Can't get them all in California I guess you can say. So we're left to be happy with what THEY allow us to have. Anyhow, this project is two 4' x 20' Electric wall sign cabinets, 1/8" alum walls and 3" deep open face channel letters spaced 1.5" from the cabinet background. 18mm Tri-Phosphor Voltarc Accent 30 border, and Voltarc 15mm Rare Earth Phosphor Sparkling Blue Letter outline lighting. The owners wanted a halo lighting similar to a previous job so we used Our NC LED's Constant Current Green LED Modules for low light subtle Rear Letter Halo Lighting. All Lighting Powered by Franceformer's for Neon, and our Union Elecom for the driving the NC Green Constant Current LED's A big thank you to Joe Walsh of Voltarc for helping us get what was needed for this job, the Neon is Brilliant and of course stands out over the beach night city scape. This Beach won't be needing a light house for lost fisherman after all now thanks to Voltarc! There aren't very many Neon signs on this coast that I know of, in fact....I can't think of any so these signs are a real beacon. They must be because the owners asked me if after installation and first lighting if I could hook up a dimmer......" a wut??!?!" Early assembly shots Tranny trays And a shot of our LED Wall Pass Thru System A solo illumination shot of our Green Constant Current NC LED Modules, using just a single stroke for a light subtle offering. Wall Pattern Day. If you're going to do a sign project on a hot summer day you might as well be RIGHT on the beach. All that project stress went away sitting on the scaffolding listening to the seagulls, the crashing of waves, and smell of sea spray. I won't lie, I wanted to just bust out a hammock and go to sleep. Yes, I was working in Van's....I'm in SoCal, so that's all you need to know! Westrim Products Graphed Pattern Paper!

We are looking for an experienced glass bender who can also work in other departments in the sign trade. Can you also work with vinyl? Sign service? Installation? If so, we want YOU! We are a major sign company in Maine and we're growing! Pay is negotiable with experience. Must be able to pass a blood test. Contact us today! Please send resume to: patrick@neokraft.com. Thank you for looking!

I may split this off into a separate thread from the original topic and I should probably write one single article and condense all the info from this board into one Since so many large retailers, movie theater chains and shopping center developers read the info here on The Sign Syndicate I'm sure they will find it a kick in the pants. In a nut shell, it...the decline in Neon Production had a snowball effect that started small and quantified There have always been small to large national companies who just built shit for signs, they always have, and that continues today, same business model no matter what light source is being used or how it's being installed. So in some ways back in 2005, LED's were appealing, it was the new "wow". The marketing material was completely false, and so the mis-characterizations of conventional light sources were born i.e. Neon and soon after Fluorescent lamps. Trade magazines being the mainstream media they are flocked to the story and followed, the "Oooooo's....awwwwww's.." without EVER questioning the actual results, brightness, longevity, color rendering etc etc. The suppliers had a new "thing" to pimp, and they were also blanketed by false notions and mis-information. Afterall, if it's in print by the so called trade magazines or brochure rags as I called them, then it MUST be true....right??? Your hacks who never cared about quality, long life, brightness were just repeating what they did best, create crap and install crap but this time had a better way to bullshit customers with new marketing claims. This time it was dimmer, and failing because they themselves never bothered to check result, buy the cheapest module afterall an LED is an LED!!!! No real education just marketing statement...execute but NEVER explain. Then we all saw the major failures across the country with Permlight, Electra LED i.e. Chase, BOA, and you name it. Years later we all saw the market go towards LEDs, and Neon shrunk. While all this was happening we all saw the shift in the International Sign Association Expo's makeup at shows and in membership. A lot of LED companies like GE and others were given government subsidies (our tax dollars) for R&D and with that major campaigns were launched and we all saw HUGE one page ads This whole time other than The Sign Syndicate, LED & Neon light sources have never been tested in any kind of benchmark for the industry. You would think our cartel leadership like International Sign Association would have jumped on this, but the money was too good and the ignorance was too deep. Why I've always said its a bad idea to have a major non-profit composed of those other than those that are in this trade. International Sign Association to it's credit had some small seminars that Kirstie & I personally attended on Neon and electric sign applications. Those were pretty much a waste of time and joke. The Reason? Relationships. In the crowd was Sloan and other LED reps, and when hard questions were raised about longevity, brightness, how they compare to LED's the Neon guys spines and knees folded like a cheap walmart lawn chair. They pussied out, so they ought not to offend. There was maybe one of two who wanted to unleash, but those who were running the actual program opted not too to save face and not start a debate which is the reason why I showed. I asked some hard questions but they were pushed aside. Same questions I asked in San Diego show and the CA Edison guy skirted over. Neon had it's chance but it failed and caved to relationship saving and political/industry correctness Years before that an LED rep went in front of the California Energy Commission for title 24 to impress them and in front of the California Sign Association who attended and claimed that his LED that is just as bright as Neon is only a half watt, an Neon is 12 watts per foot. That was a show stopper, but not as big as the CSA standing around and "doing nothing", no contest, no protest to the false claims. There was a second time/chance to correct the matter, electrical engineers were sent but it was too late, minds were made up and the CEC never finalized their report on Neon. Closed case. Again, if it's in print in a Trade Magazine it MUST be true!!! This is a history our longtime association board members who have been in this association and that association hate to hear or have repeated, in fact they used to come on this board and try to tell us different, and tell us that this is false, in fact we ought not question their wisdom because they are our "elders" and THEY are our "betters". But you can't rewrite history. In fact, even with all this, they still to this day have not done a damn thing to correct any of it it's just been swept under the rug. As of the past few years with Neon at an all time low, demand dwindling. UL decided to be UL, and conjure up more excuses in the name of safety (The environmental product safety movement) to get ye old profit farm up and again and decided component molds needed to be changed, wire diameter too etc etc. But unfortunately that comes with a HIGH cost to retool, remold, 25K-40K here and there to retest, evaluate, etc etc, even more for mold changes, tool changes. Westrim, Transco and others said "Fuck it". It's not worth the money to spend vs demand. Ba Bye PK's, housings and others. Ba bye to those future testing/annual product listing fee's they were supposed to collect *POOF!* Today Finally we have the Sign shops, wholesalers themselves. I have lot's of friends who are reading and I'm probably going to offend a good amount of them. A big fault down the line which is now, is the sign shops who either produce signs, or sub out to wholesalers. Signs shops these days don't have the "know how" when it comes to Fluorescent or Neon Signs. They've opted for cheap labor. A lot of franchisee sticky sign shops have gotten in because LED's are easy and so are channel letter machines, and their parent Franchise HQ's have pushed the International Sign Association and others to get state law changed so they can operate without a contractors license, and skip the ability of needing a license to sub-contract. i.e. Wisconsin, Texas Most sign shops these days don't want to put in the time, to learn to continue to build/design signs the way they should or to last. The LED market is a race to the bottom and LED mfg's like GE have pretty much gotten out because most are looking for 25¢ modules and not giving a shit about how long they last. Sell a project, collect the check and walk away. Wholesale shops themselves find it cheaper to simply peel, stick and ship, also not caring about results or appearance. IN fact, many stock only white LEDs and use that for all phases and colors of signs no matter what the face, whereas a smart shop puts the correct color behind the face, i.e. red behind red, blue behind blue. Currently when the customer, who actually wants and misses Neon, asks a shop for Neon, the uneducated, unknowledgeable shop who is lazy, tells the client that Neon is dangerous as a product or to the environment, it's dead, not as bright as LEDs is NOT as efficient and tries to sell them what the customer does not want, skips over demand BECAUSE that shop has NO "know how" and wants to just simply sell them something. Sign shops don't want to deal with Neon these days because they don't have the know how, are too lazy, enjoy cheap labor, only offer limited options to consumers, and want to make better money quicker faster with just peel and stick.....their answer to EVERYTHING. At the same time when it comes to sign suppliers, they also helped kill the Neon industry in a few ways, one... they stopped stocking products. Two, they were quick to relay false / mis-leading information to customers who wanted neon or fluorescent components. Claims that they were fresh out, the component mfg's were out of business, the demanded product is having UL issues BUT...Here's a kick ass LED alternative!!!!! Most Sign Suppliers have entered into he market with their own cheap chinese LED import and cut relations with GE, Sloan, US LED and others as we;ve all seen play musical chairs with sign suppliers, it's a cut throat market even for them. Let's look at all the burned bridges with those dist/mfgs. In fact, most supplier reps don't even know what "GTO" is, or a "200 housing", don't believe me? Call one, you'll get that short pause followed by "what's that?...." The Neon component mfg's were no longer getting calls about the actual demand that was genuinely out there because the suppliers were able/wanted to make a better margin on another product. So they the component mfg fed false "no demand" in turn stopped producing. Component mfg's only got drop shipped orders from suppliers. Here's the bigger kicker. I've always wanted to supply Neon component here on the SS because I genuinely wanted to help this sector of our trade out because I've personally witnessed for myself the injustice of it all, and I love this industries greatest tradition of a hand crafted light source. THIS is where i chuckle and can't feel sorry for them in the least.....only the for small Neon Bender who loves his trade. The Neon component mfg's have had these relationships for years with suppliers and depended on all the large sign distributors financially, who were basically trusting the mafia. These component mfgs were told NOT to let small niche markets such as us stock their product, the mafia in action. These large Sign Suppliers think of who they are by name, they operate like a Cartel/Mafia, call up and threaten NOT to let others stock and distribute or they will no longer continue in their relationship. Well...GOOD, they shouldn't because when was the last time ANYONE of us has ever seen a N.Glantz, Montroy, Interstate Electric, or other ever promote Neon products in a the form of a newsletter or flyer??? The Cartel who only selects a few products in great number say 5% of a product line, but omits the 95% tells them they will no longer buy, and twists their arm. I've offered to stock that other 95% BUT, the Neon component mfg folds to the will of the strong arm Cartel Mafia. Not my problem, not my money, NOT my investment to loose. I just want to see a hand crafted art last and continue. Neon Component MFG's have a lot of fault too, don't feel sorry for them in the least. They choose to continue their relationships with those who don't even really support them or promote them. Karma's a bitch isn't it?? Put all your eggs in one basket and wham... Let me share a few recent prior posts with you. Anyone who knows this site knows I've bashed the trade magazine Signs Of The Times relentlessly and unmercifully for years. In the last few years SOT is the ONLY magazine that has done a 180˙ and they've began digging deeper. Below is an article part of that. Now I hear Wade is no longer the editor, I only hope the new editor continues where he left off. SOT aggressive article about Neon Components http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201411/#/36 SS Discussion http://www.thesignsyndicate.com/forums/index.php?/topic/6952-signs-of-the-times-november-2014-issue/ Pist off Neon Mfg suffering from their own doing based on that article: http://www.thesignsyndicate.com/forums/index.php?/topic/7118-signs-of-the-times-march-15-issue-letter-to-the-editor/ I have to tell you, it's been an amazing ride running the SS, running light source tests and observing the results of light and energy, dabbing into the sign supplier market and personally witnessing first hand how the sign supplier cartel / mafia works, how our Sign Associations & trade magazines have massively failed our industry. To most in this industry, they go to a convention floor, pick up a magazine are are "WOWED". Fortunately, for you, you don't have my or a few others on this board eyes to look through. That magic I once saw when i first started was dispelled, handshakes with smiles all seen for what they really are. A few of us know there is no wizard only a man working behind the curtain and the background is nothing more than a thin cardboard prop. Not to sound grim, or negative, but news is news, and the truth is a stubborn thing. This site has helped greatly in creating a awareness in this industry that has never seen or had before. Something that cannot be learned from a sign association or trade magazine, or even from a close friend, this has been accomplished by it's membership who I see as pushing one another to do better. I'm proud of that and to those. This very site has brought optimism for me. Optimism & confidence in the Neon market is slowly coming back because OUR customers demand it, that void is getting bigger and it needs to be filled. The only remaining question is, will their be a Neon component mfg around to continue to make products for that demand? So for this reason Neon is a VERY profitable market to/for those who still know how to produce and install...properly. I and a few others thank those uneducated, unknowing, lazy shops who prefer one light source in my local market, because lean times are my way with NO competition, and it is the same for others. This is not to say LEDs are crap or have no place, we sell and awesome LED line that is unparalleled that has so many good uses BUT, I'm here to tell it CANNOT replace Neon, how many suppliers would tell you that??? All light sources have their place based on environment and application, NEITHER Neon, Fluorescent, or LEDs should be used in all phases. They ALL have their strengths and weaknesses, and everyone needs to know what those are and use them as best they can because the client believe YOU are the expert and YOU will make/select the best choice and NOT limit your customers options based on YOUR capacity. I say the things I say, do the things I do. Most importantly I want members here to succeed, be better, build better longer lasting signs, and that's why one of the small avenues I've involved myself with being a small niche market in supply sales, and why I've carefully picked the things that I sell, it's because I use them and I trust them and as a business owner I know how important it is to build really great kick ass "unique" products such as Neon that impress customers and keep them buying back.

I won't go into details but I just want to say, and give a big Thank you to Voltrac, namely Joe Walsh. I deal with reps on a daily basis and vendors all the time. Thank you Joe @Voltarc for taking care of us. Glad you're still in the Neon Industry, and it can't be a surprise you're one of the few left to serve the needs of it. We appreciate you being there!

This is an awesome video show on CBS This Morning, this morning on Neon. Even better to see some Sign Syndicate members taking part in the Video Segment!

Looking for a vendor that can line bend Polycarbonate. Getting into neon window signs and I am looking for someone that can produce the bent plastic backgrounds. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

New York City Neon Company Supporting Havana’s Neon Restoration Program New York City’s legendary neon creators, Let There Be Neon, has become the first US neon company involved in Havana, Cuba’s emerging neon sign restoration movement. Let There Be Neon has agreed to become a strategic partner with Habana Light Neon + Signs, Havana’s only private neon company, in compliance with U.S. laws and regulations. New York, NY (PRWEB) February 05, 2017 New York City’s legendary neon creators, Let There Be Neon, has become the first US neon company involved in Havana, Cuba’s emerging neon sign restoration movement. Let There Be Neon has agreed to become a strategic partner with Habana Light Neon + Signs, Havana’s only private neon company, in compliance with U.S. laws and regulations. This effort is made to confirm Let There Be Neon’s relationship with the innovative private sector company, Habana Light Neon + Signs, prior to the change in administration. This is a strategy other major US Companies are employing to solidify their business positions during a period of uncertainty in US-Cuba relations. Let There Be Neon will assist Habana Light in the exciting historic preservation projects now going on in that city. “We are committed to the preservation of historic neon throughout the world and Havana is a very special place in the history of neon said Jeff Friedman, President of Let There Be Neon. Mr Friedman added that as part of his company's involvement , Let There Be Neon will make a major contribution of supplies and materials, in compliance with U.S. laws and regulations, to Habana Light Neon + Signs to assist the restoration of what is left of Havana's historic neon sign structures. “Our company was established by a visionary, the late Rudi Stern, and our goal has always been to continue Rudi’s commitment on seeing neon flourish throughout the world.” said Mr. Friedman. The agreement with Habana Light Neon + Signs, which fully complies U.S. laws and regulations, calls for a strategic partnership whereby Let There Be Neon will assist small and emerging Cuban artists-entrepreneurs in achieving their dreams of bringing light and beauty back to the city of Havana. “We are very happy to have the support and guidance of such an important neon fabricator to assist us to expand our project " said Havana artist Kadir Lopez Nieves the Co- Founder of the Havana project who with Los Angeles, CA based Cuban producer Adolfo Nodal started restoring the historic signs in mid 2014 as a public art practice. Mr. Lopez Nieves and Mr. Nodal subsequently founded Habana Light Neon + Signs and have restored a variety of historic neon signs. “This new relationship with Let There Be Neon will greatly increase our capacity to reach a critical mass of restorations that will make all the difference in showing results for the everyday citizen on the street who are the prime beneficiaries of our work.” Said Mr. Nodal who is well known in Los Angeles for the successful revival of that city's historic neon signage. Habana Light Neon + Signs is Cuba’s premiere neon sign restoration and production Company. Now two years old, the company restores historic signs as a public service http://thegrid.ai/habana-light-neon-signs Let There Be Neon is one of the world’s most important custom neon and sign companies working alongside artists, architects and numerous trades in the professional and private sector throughout the world. http://www.lettherebeneon.com For more information contact: Jeff Friedman 212 226-4883 info(at)lettherebeneon(dot)com or Adolfo Nodal 310 808-3594 habananeon(at)gmail(dot)com -END- CONTACT Jeff Friedman Let There Be Neon 212-226-4883 212-334-8481 info@(at)ettherebeneon(dot)com

ABSOLUTE SIGN is seeking an experienced sign and lighting technician. Qualified candidates must be knowledgeable in servicing, neon, parking lot lights, LED, fluorescent, diagnosing electrical issues. Electrical sign installation experience a plus. Must be a self-starter and motivated. Must have a California Driver's License. Must have the ability to perform well under pressure. Minimum of 3 years experience in the field. Competitive compensation. Fax your resume to 562-592-6198 or call the office. 562-592-5838. Can start immediately.

Tecnolux Neon Silicone GTO Now In Stock!!! GTO 15KV Integral Sleeve Siliflex 14AWG Silicone Cable for Gas Tube Sign Cable, single core, flexible, insulation in silicone rubber. Integral Sleeve - Made in Italy, NOT China! - 250' Black Roll - UL File E1913971 - CSA MC 212445 - Rated for 15,000 VAC, -50˙C to 150˙C - Conforms to UL Standard 814 for gas tube sign ignition cable - UL 879 These are now sold through our Online Shopping Cart or feel free to order by phone or contact us with any questions (858) 880-1400 or orders@thesignsyndicate.com

January 2016 Electric Sign Industry Neon & LED Test Comparison Results Below are the various categories of our test results made available for the electric sign industry. You can download the newest Sign Syndicate test comparison .pdf result sheet at the bottom of every Light Project Test entry with the most current date from the links below. Please remember....we have now made these light testing results available to you for free. If you feel like you have learned/gained something from these results or found that these results have saved you money by choosing one product over another please help support us in upgrading your free membership, or by purchasing various sign supplies we have available for you & your company. Many of our sign supply products are usually well below what you might pay for at one of the mainstream sign suppliers and some are bundles with free shipping. We've attached many various banners to the results in hope something may grab your eye. As always, enjoy the results and hope you learn as we do going down this adventurous path! The Great White Hope II (Year 1 & 2) The high powered white Neon & LED test comparison for large channel letters and sign cabinets, comprised of high powered LED modules 1watt+/3watt per foot+ and above with Tri-Phosphor Neon Lamps. (8,000+ hrs) This month we added in NC's HLC4 Samsung High Powered 1.8 watt Constant Current LED January 2013 Evaluation Download: GreatWhiteHopeII 010316.pdf Project Tighty Whitey - (Year 5 & 6) - The white exclusive LED only test comparison for mid (.95 modules or 2.99 per foot watt modules and below) to mini sized LED modules. (40,000+ hrs) This month we added in Hanley LED's Peregrine. January 2013 Evaluation Download:ProJectTight 010316.pdf The Red Light District - (Year 3 & 4) - The Red Neon & LED channel letter light source test comparison. (34,000+ hrs) January 2013 Evaluation Download:RedL010316.pdf Border Security - (Year 3 & 4)- The Neon & LED border tube lamp test comparison. (23,000+ hrs) January 2013 Evaluation Download:BorderSec 010316.pdf Blue Light Special - (Year 1 & 2) - The Blue Neon & LED test comparison for channel letter. (13,000+ hrs) January 2013 Evaluation Download:BlueLight 010316.pdf

It's not! It's not because it's still not publicly recognized as being so. ISA still has no clue, even though they tried to claim it here http://www.thesignsyndicate.com/forums/index.php?/topic/5689-neon-ul-green-leaf/ ISA goes out and gives speeches/talks to the public and city officials and when asked why don't they promote/discuss the idea/ fact that Neon is recognized as a green product NOT just LEDs, they shrug their shoulders and have never even had the slightest idea that Neon is. I thought Rich Gottwald said they had neon's best interests at heart, oh wait...I forgot he's now with the Pool and Spa Association now. Hard to keep track, was with the Plastic, then Signs, and now Pools. My bad. Anyhow, that's the big problem when you have individuals who take the reigns of the largest sign association, collect a paycheck who view it as a turnkey business model template that they used from one industry to another and not taking the trade or traditions into account or just going where's it's good to be popular and never taking on the real fight FOR the industry. Neon is green, great! Not that I ever gave one care in the first place as I'm not a greeney or one of those who have the belief that Man is killing the environment, or global warming. Green is nothing more than a marketing tool. Regardless of your own belief or mine, Neon is "recognized" as a Green Product (a marketing statement) why should a UL48 Custom Sign shop be required to pay more to have that extra sticker? Is Neon not part of the sign industry? How many subscribers of UL48 actually pay more for this recognition? Most reading this, probably 95% probably don't even know that Neon is recognized by UL as a Green Product that's on par with LEDs. UL started a program to test and evaluate "Green" products to define what is and what is not, or as they call it to expose the Green Washing. Simply put, Use fictitious facts and figures to define fictitious facts and figures BUT charging for it. It's ingenious for a stupid world, believe me. But who wants to pay to play? Maybe that's why it's a dead program, who would have EVER seen that coming? Well, yes you probably don't because UL has never even promoted it since they created the program. It just got boxed up and filed away in the vast many programs It's no surprise on ISA's part, they don't like Neon. Hell, there's no one in that Association even as a paycheck collecting employee to their board who even uses Neon, let alone has even seen a Neon tube or held one in their hand. I don't even know why anybody who produces or uses Neon would be a paid member of that cartel. Put your money elsewhere, buy an ice cream cone. The only place where you will actually even know that Neon still remotely exists is this forum as well as picking up a copy of Signs of The Times, that's it!

The Assault of our "Traditions" In another topic I started a week back or so is below but now I'm continuing in a new thread, because...jokes aside. http://www.thesignsyndicate.com/forums/index.php?/topic/6677-pillsbury-dough-boy-makeover-and-93-saving/ Something big has changed, a more understanding behind the news article. A look into "Sign Mythology" See Sign Proposal from Lawrence Sign below: wcms1p-122428.pdf It's not very often, but I just read this a short time ago and I have to say my stomach dropped, you know that sick disgusted feeling you get right there in the center of your stomach? I'm attaching a document that was made public on another site thanks to Mike for making it public. If this doesn't sicken everyone in the electric sign industry I don't know what will, and this should. There is something that everyone in the electric sign industry should uphold no matter what light source you prefer or what your opinion is on applications. I'm speaking about upholding our traditions, and never giving them up to mis-characterization and mis-information. Neon has been around for a long time and there a place for it like everything else in life based on it's own merit and function in upon which it serves. Neon is also a tradition, OUR tradition no matter what you produce in this trade! You may have not been in the electric sign industry for a long time, you may be relatively new, and you may have never even touched, fabricated or installed any before ever. But that should not keep you from appreciating it's function and pure elegance. Right now it's being assaulted, mis-characterized, and outright LIED as a whole, just to make a buck for something that will not last as long as it can. There is a time and place in everything when it comes to the electric sign industry but Flexible LEDs should NOT be used to replace a historical sign, especially when the person doing the push sell of a repair or retrofit is doing so with false information and mis-leading the buyer. Well, that's what Lawrence Sign is doing right now. It's one thing to read an article online or in a newspaper, it's another to see a proposal from seller to buyer in print with false information which does nothing but desecrate and annihilate our traditions, that they themselves are apart of. LED Flex Strips do not have usable light at 100,000 hours. Red LED's degrade in light, Red pumped Neon does not. Red neon does NOT consume 20 WATTS per foot, that's ABSURD!!! That diameter neon lamps for that size project consume 3 to 3.5 watts per foot. it does not take $15k a year in cost of operation vs $1,000 a year to convert over to LED Now that we have a real proposal to go off of we can calculate/estimate the cost of operation. We can estimate that with the 11' letters have approx 93 feet of Neon (3 rows inches x 8.5), the lowercase and small capitals have 56' of lamps = 1,258' of lamps 1293' x 3 watts per foot = 3,774 watts 3,774 watts x 12 hrs x 365 days a year x $.15kwh / 1000 PC = $2,479.50, NOT almost $16,000 in annual cost of operation ​When it comes to the supposed "Yearly Maintenance" I don't even have a comment on that part, it just gets more ridiculous. If hail is a big concern for breakage then clear polycarbonate can come in real handy. So can hinge system. A Industry as a whole, this sign trade needs to care no matter what your preference is and how long you've been in this industry, as someone new to it, 2nd, 3rd generation....otherwise we will loose a big part of who we are and we shame those who came before us, we shame those who started our grand traditions. It won't come from our leadership in the form or associations, their just as guilty if not enablers of mis-information and mis-characterization of our traditions. The trade magazines? Just as bad, only trade magazine that actually reports now and IS "journalism", is "Signs of The Times". In the end, it's about how you and I conduct OUR business, how we sell to our clients, and how we want our "Signs" left behind. We're forgetting why we came into this industry, what it is to look back at something long after we put it up, long after. Lately it's just been bastardized by outsiders who just want to take our trade and traditions and turn it into a cheap commodity all because THEY have something THEY want to sell to us, we can even go a step further to say what THEY want force on us and what THEY want forced upon the end user. Integrity - To do what's right and not what comes easy, even when no one is looking. Traditions - It's who we are, and what we want to pass on to those after us.

October 2015 Electric Sign Industry Neon & LED Test Comparison Results Below are the various categories of our test results made available for the electric sign industry. You can download the newest Sign Syndicate test comparison .pdf result sheet at the bottom of every Light Project Test entry with the most current date from the links below. Please remember....we have now made these light testing results available to you for free. If you feel like you have learned/gained something from these results or found that these results have saved you money by choosing one product over another please help support us in upgrading your free membership, or by purchasing various sign supplies we have available for you & your company. Many of our sign supply products are usually well below what you might pay for at one of the mainstream sign suppliers and some are bundles with free shipping. We've attached many various banners to the results in hope something may grab your eye. As always, enjoy the results and hope you learn as we do going down this adventurous path! One big add we did this period was change over all projects from the Tutorial Board to our forum board, mainly because we are getting ready to go through a major software upgrade for the site. This period we also added a new side by side comparison from project start to current activity. Amongst our various light projects this month we added in some LEDs from Principal LED as well as NC LED The Great White Hope II (Year 1 & 2) The high powered white Neon & LED test comparison for large channel letters and sign cabinets, comprised of high powered LED modules 1watt+/3watt per foot+ and above with Tri-Phosphor Neon Lamps. (7,000+ hrs) Project Tighty Whitey - (Year 5 & 6) - The white exclusive LED only test comparison for mid (.85 watt modules and below) to mini sized LED modules. (39,000+ hrs) The Red Light District - (Year 3 & 4) - The Red Neon & LED channel letter light source test comparison. (31,000+ hrs) Border Security - (Year 3 & 4)- The Neon & LED border tube lamp test comparison. (23,000+ hrs) Blue Light Special - (Year 1 & 2) - The Blue Neon & LED test comparison for channel letter. (12,000+ hrs)

I'm sending a notice to all that I'm going to be trimming down on our testing and purging a lot of LED products that are either out dated or the manufacturers are no longer vendors here. Currently we have just too many and a lot are out dated and some of those companies have downsized or pretty much non-existent, or I just no no desire to pursue them since their either not widely used or advertised as much as they used to be. I'm going to keep the mainstream guys because well, that's who a lot liek to watch and observe to see if their products last as long as they claim in the full sized magazine page ads say it does, like GE, USLED, Agilight, Sloan, and probably Sylvania / Osram. All others unless their vendors from this site I'll be tossing those out, I may keep some smaller vendors around but I'll pay that by ear. Anyone know if Permlight is still around? Haven't seen them at a show for awhile now and not sure if they even advertise in magazine anymore. So, if you're not one of the named above, shoot me over a message if you still want to stay on board, otherwise the "Purge" is coming to make room for others in the following tests The Great White Hope II Project Tighty Whitey The Red Light District Blue Light Special Nothing will be changing for Border Security, maybe just drop one or two. Thanks!