I’ve always loved neon signs and their aesthetic. The subtle glow is always so nice to look at. Neon signs used to be very popular in storefronts. They’re attention-grabbing and unique, the designs for them can be very intricate and creative as well. 

In 1902, French inventor George Claude figured out a way to capture specific gases from the air, and by 1910 he created the neon light. Well how does neon lights work? Well basically, a neon light is made by sealing specific gases inside a glass tube, and putting special electrodes on each end. These electrodes can send an electric current through the gas, exciting the electrons and making a reaction that sends out photons, therefore creating the familiar neon glow. Regular light bulbs use incandescent filaments which can burn out pretty quick, but neon signs can easily last for 4 decades before the gas burns itself out.

Making an intricate sign out of neon is no small task, the glass tubes are very fragile and can shatter easily. The artisans who make neon lights and signs are called tube benders, there was one in every city when neon was popular, particularly around the 1930s. 

Even though we call them neon lights, neon isn’t the only gas used to make these lights. Different colours are made from different gases. Neon gas gives off an orange-red glow, krypton glows a silver-white, argon is lavender, helium glows a pale pink, and xenon produces purple. These base colours can be combined with colour coated tubes to produce other colours.

Sadly neon signs have been considered out of style for a while now. They’re pretty hard to find nowadays and the ones that are available are very pricey, especially if you want one custom made. It’s a shame cause I really like how they look, and I would definitely want one for my room if it didn’t cost so much. Maybe one day I can find a simple one with purple lights for a reasonable price.