Page 31 - Journal of Antiques and Collectibles June 2019
P. 31
Looking to add some historic flair to your collection?
Neon signs are true pieces of craftsmanship. Artisans called
“glass benders” shape the tubes into whatever the sign calls
for, and this medium is ideal for fun typography displays
and branding. Whether you like a particular company for
its product or the look of a neon sign for its aesthetics,
craftsmanship and chemistry combine into a display piece
that’s hard to beat, and one that may be worth the
investment. You can find neon signs at flea markets,
auctions, and antique stores, but you may also want to
purchase a piece from a dedicated restorer/dealer who has
brought the light back to its original glory, ensuring the
technology works as it’s supposed to. Rejuvenation, in
Portland, Oregon, currently offers eighteen neon signs,
including a nearly sixteen foot long “Music Box” sign that
was salvaged from an old Portland theater. The sign features
original paint and construction, but the team has restored
the neon so that it will function on into the future.
“From the beginning of time, darkness has brought fear. Lighting lifts spirits.” Douglas Leigh made elaborate electric
and neon displays part of American culture through his work on Times Square’s iconic lightscape. Leigh worked with
neon signs during their heyday before World War II. “Times Square’s Glitzy Look was One Man’s Bright Idea,”
Smithsonian.com, April 28, 2017. This image of Times Square is ca. 1940.
photo: ephemeralnewyork.wordpress.com
This 1940s Falstaff
Beer back bar neon
sign, 12 1/2” tall,
sold on eBay for $249
and shows the neon
used as an accent to
draw the viewer’s eye
At left: Some of the offerings from Rejuvenation, Portland:
The “Music Box” sign can be yours for $16,000, while the
“Grill” sign, ca. 1940, is offered at $2,800
OVER 11,000 SQ FT OF AUTHENTIC ANTIQUE COLLECTIBLES!
NEW YEAR’S
THE DAY 2020
2020 TH E
PRESENTED BY WEATHERVANE ENTERPRISES, INC. 2020
JANUARY 1, 2020
10am-5pm
STURBRIDGE HOST HOTEL
TICKET & VENDOR INFORMATION
theantiquecollectiblesshow.com • weathervanepublishing@gmail.com
FB: theantiquecollectiblesshow • 508-347-1960 x 402
July 2019 29
Neon signs are true pieces of craftsmanship. Artisans called
“glass benders” shape the tubes into whatever the sign calls
for, and this medium is ideal for fun typography displays
and branding. Whether you like a particular company for
its product or the look of a neon sign for its aesthetics,
craftsmanship and chemistry combine into a display piece
that’s hard to beat, and one that may be worth the
investment. You can find neon signs at flea markets,
auctions, and antique stores, but you may also want to
purchase a piece from a dedicated restorer/dealer who has
brought the light back to its original glory, ensuring the
technology works as it’s supposed to. Rejuvenation, in
Portland, Oregon, currently offers eighteen neon signs,
including a nearly sixteen foot long “Music Box” sign that
was salvaged from an old Portland theater. The sign features
original paint and construction, but the team has restored
the neon so that it will function on into the future.
“From the beginning of time, darkness has brought fear. Lighting lifts spirits.” Douglas Leigh made elaborate electric
and neon displays part of American culture through his work on Times Square’s iconic lightscape. Leigh worked with
neon signs during their heyday before World War II. “Times Square’s Glitzy Look was One Man’s Bright Idea,”
Smithsonian.com, April 28, 2017. This image of Times Square is ca. 1940.
photo: ephemeralnewyork.wordpress.com
This 1940s Falstaff
Beer back bar neon
sign, 12 1/2” tall,
sold on eBay for $249
and shows the neon
used as an accent to
draw the viewer’s eye
At left: Some of the offerings from Rejuvenation, Portland:
The “Music Box” sign can be yours for $16,000, while the
“Grill” sign, ca. 1940, is offered at $2,800
OVER 11,000 SQ FT OF AUTHENTIC ANTIQUE COLLECTIBLES!
NEW YEAR’S
THE DAY 2020
2020 TH E
PRESENTED BY WEATHERVANE ENTERPRISES, INC. 2020
JANUARY 1, 2020
10am-5pm
STURBRIDGE HOST HOTEL
TICKET & VENDOR INFORMATION
theantiquecollectiblesshow.com • weathervanepublishing@gmail.com
FB: theantiquecollectiblesshow • 508-347-1960 x 402
July 2019 29
