When Were Neon Lights Invented and What is Neon Light?

What is neon light?

A neon light is a type of light that uses a glass tube filled with gas. When turned on, a high voltage makes the gas glow. The color of the light depends on the gas inside: neon gas produces red light, while argon gas mixed with mercury creates blue, yellow, and other colors.

The history of neon light in USA

In 1923, car dealer Earl C. Anthony bought two "Packard" neon signs from Claude's company, marking the start of neon lights becoming popular in the U.S. This led to new colors and designs.

Neon lights soon became popular in car culture, decorating fast food restaurants, gas stations, motels, and bars. Times Square in New York is also well-known for its neon signs.

As neon lights gained popularity, many small workshops started making them, especially after the patent expired in 1932. This hurt Claude's business until designer Douglas Leigh came along. He created bold and creative neon signs that amazed people.

In the 1940s and 1950s, Las Vegas became famous for its neon lights, using colorful and dynamic designs to light up the city. The neon signs in Las Vegas became a major attraction on their own.

Canada also saw a neon boom, with Vancouver becoming the "neon capital" of Canada in the 1950s. The city had nearly 20,000 neon lights, making it a popular spot for people to see neon lights as entertainment.

How does neon light work?

When a neon light is turned on, a high voltage from the transformer makes the gas inside the tube glow. The high voltage causes particles in the gas to move quickly and collide with gas atoms, which then emit light.

The benefits of neon light?

High Efficiency: Neon lights use electrodes and high voltage to light up the gas inside, unlike regular lights that need to heat a filament. This makes it brighter for the same amount of energy.

Low Temperature: Neon lamps stay cool, even in hot or cold weather. They work well in any climate, and their light can cut through rain or fog.

Low Energy Use: New technology has made neon lamps more energy-efficient. They now use much less power than before, from 56 watts per meter to just 12 watts per meter.

Long Life: Neon light can last over 10,000 hours if they’re used continuously, which is much longer than most other lights.

Flexible and Colorful: Neon lights are made from bendable glass tubes. They can be shaped into any design and can produce a wide range of colors by using different gases.

Neon Lights Production Process

Neon lights are made through a similar process, whether they are plain, powder-coated, or colored. Here are the main steps:

Glass Tube Forming: Workers heat and shape the glass tubes into designs or text using a special burner. Skilled workers can make smooth and accurate shapes, while less experienced workers may create uneven or wrinkled tubes.

Sealing Electrodes: The glass tube is connected to electrodes and an exhaust hole with a burner. The connections must be just right—not too thick or thin—to prevent leaks.

Bombardment and Degassing: This is a crucial step. High voltage is used to clean the inside of the tube by burning off water vapor, dust, and oil. The tube is then evacuated to create a vacuum. If the temperature is not right, harmful substances may remain, affecting the light's quality. If the temperature is too high, it can damage the electrodes.

Filling with Gas and Aging: After cleaning, the tube is filled with the right gas and aged. This completes the neon light production proce