Behind the YESCO scenes

[Erik Sine]

Behind the YESCO scenes

ST. GEORGE - Founded in 1920, Young Electric Sign Company has given radiance to the western United States for nearly 90 years.

Logan Everson, left, and Sam Fetzer work to instal neon tubes into

a hotel sign destined for Las Vegas at the YESCO building July 22

in St. George. Jud Burkett / The Spectrum

From the signs attracting customers to St. George banks, shops and restaurants, to the neon-bathed sidewalks of the Las Vegas strip, YESCO's signs are more than simple advertisements. To Ray Draper, the region's branch manager, the signs are works of art.

Vegas Vic, the legendary 51-foot cowboy sign greeting visitors to Fremont Street in Las Vegas, and the Hard Rock Cafe's oversized, glowing guitar stand out among YESCO's most prominent creations.

The company has had a presence in Southern Utah since 1974, but Draper said the new St. George facility, which opened in April, allows for sign construction on a much larger scale.

The new facility takes on local projects along with overflow from YESCO's Las Vegas location.

Upon entering the company's St. George office, visitors are greeted with a framed portrait of founder Thomas Young. Draper said Young's legacy remains present in the work of YESCO employees, encased within the company's luminescent bulbs.

"We want to produce high-quality signs at a reasonable price," Draper said. "Signs are a reflection of the client. If you have a quality sign, it reflects well on your business."

Draper said the company's larger signs can take six to eight weeks to construct, with up to 15 employees contributing simultaneously.

In the company's workshop, hulking metal sign frames were scattered about, each at different stages of production.

A nearly completed sign, standing 9-feet tall and 24-feet wide, for the Stagecoach Hotel and Casino in Nevada stood at the far end of the workshop.

Draper explained the lengthy process of constructing the massive electric sign as he navigated through the busy workshop.

The process begins with a sketch detailing the design and dimensions of the custom-made sign, Draper said. The sketch is then sent to a designer who converts the sketch into a series of detailed digital images and plans, adding any necessary changes.

Designer Burton Sant said the process is lengthy at times, with certain jobs requiring more than 80 hours of design work.

Draper emphasized the importance of a skilled designer's input when he said, "(Sant) takes the sketches and makes them actually look like signs."

After the design phase is completed, the YESCO employees begin construction.

To begin, a metal frame is built to the specifications detailed by the designers. The frame, or "skeleton" as Draper called it, is eventually sheathed with aluminum or sheet metal to ensure the sign's structural integrity.

Using computerized plasma cutters and routers, workers are able to make precise cuts in the building materials. Draper said the available technology helps to improve efficiency, but also holds an impressive price tag.

"We spent close to $1 million on new tools and equipment for this facility," he said.

After the frame is constructed, the electric work begins as workers wire the sign and add light sockets.

While the electrical work is under way, custom letters made out of plastic or metal are tailored to fit the sign. The lettering varies from sign to sign, said Draper, with some lit from behind with LED bulbs and others sporting open faces for neon lights.

The lettering for the Stagecoach sign was designed to hold neon light tubes, which must be hand-crafted to fit properly.

Supervisor Brandon Hersh said molding the glass tubes is "The best part about the business."

Hersh uses a ribbon-fire machine, producing a wide "ribbon" of flames to carefully bend the delicate tubes. To keep the glass from collapsing, Hersh said he must constantly blow air into the tube.

"There is no room for mistakes," said Hersh as he created a 180-degree double bend in the glass. "Once it's done, it's done."

Draper was impressed by his employee's prowess.

"He makes that look easy, but it is hard," he said. "It is an art."

During sign construction, other employees would be busy painting the sign and preparing for final assembly, while Hersh and his fellow glass blowers worked to complete their masterpiece.

The final stage of construction involves placing the neon bulbs and completing additional wiring. Also, any blemishes are touched up, and employees test the sign before it is shipped to the customer.

As a young worker painted over small imperfections on the aluminum face of the large Stagecoach sign, production manager Randy Campbell, a YESCO employee of 36 years, looked onward.

"We build signs of the highest quality," he said. "I think they are the best in the country."