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![]() The State of Electric Signage, Part I
With such a broad term as electric signage, it is easy to see how people will associate neon, LED and fiber optics with electric signage. Although all of these fit under the electric umbrella, to understand the term electric signage, it is first necessary to determine the basic core or what is it that powers (pun intended) this segment of the industry.
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Electricity permitted signs to be illuminated by light shining onto them, but the real revolution occurred when light bulbs were used to form the images and words on signs. Light bulbs flashing on and off made new demands on the attention of passersby. Light bulbs blinking in sequence could also simulate movement. Add this property to the mix, and a dramatic transformation of American streets resulted.
In the beginning
Moving signs were not unknown prior to the advent of electricity, for wind-driven signs had made their appearance in the nineteenth century. But electricity gave signs an unparalleled range of motion. This movement added yet another element to the life of the street.
In 1882, Edison displayed the first electric advertising sign at the London International Electric Exposition. It spelled out "EDISON." The first electric sign company, the Federal Electric Company, an offshoot of Commonwealth Edison Co., was founded in 1900. By 1906, there were some 75,000 electric signs in the United States. Mass-produced signs, with on and off flashing bulbs, were introduced in 1909.
The first electric sign erected in New York, on the site of the present Flatiron Building, was the well-known Manhattan Beach electric sign, first lighted May 1892. It was on the uptown wall of the old Cumberland Hotel at Twenty-third Street and Broadway. However, this display was the forerunner of all the wonderful advertisements, which have since adorned the Great White Way. By the use of those somewhat primitive electric bulbs this sign flashed its story - "Manhattan Beach - Swept by Ocean Breezes." It was 50' x 80’ and used 1,457 lamps.
One of the most interested spectators of this sensational new kind of advertising was H.J. Heinz, and as he sat in his hotel watching the electric light message, a great idea formed in his mind. The following day he communicated with O. J. Gude, and not long afterward another electrical sign dominated the same spot. A huge green pickle flashed on and off, and some of the 57 varieties were featured in electric lights.
A quick history lesson
Where we are
Each jurisdiction has adopted its own sign code. Whether it is an existing code or one drawn up by the city or county authorities, they are meant to serve as safety measures for the public. They also act as a guideline implemented by environmentalists and so-called beautification experts.
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Whether you are installing fluorescent back-lit signs, LED or neon, keeping up to date on the latest government regulations and codes is the best way to assure that your sign creation will be installed correctly the first time. The placement and the physical parameters of your sign are controlled either by a section of the zoning code or by a separate "sign code." Sign codes are written to protect the public health, safety, and welfare while remaining reasonable. Two main categories of governmental regulations of electric signs are:
Material, electrical and structural
Land use or zoning issues For example, if the customer is in an older building, point out how your sign will contribute to the rejuvenation of the area as a whole. You also may want to point out that enforcement of the code may create a signing deficiency in that the sign cannot be detected in time for drivers trying to find your business to safely respond under existing roadway design and designated speeds.
Where we are going Once installed, your electric sign is a semi-permanent fixture on the landscape. Except for some minor routine maintenance (bulb changing, letter changing, etc.), you may never visit the sign again. For example, neon signs can last 50 years, although 20-25 years is more typical. When a neon sign fails, it is not because the gas has "failed," but because the system surrounding it has broken down. The glass tubes have been broken, for example, thus letting the gas escape, or the electrodes or transformers have failed. If the tube is broken, a new one must be made by a highly skilled "glass bender." After the hot glass tube has been shaped, it must undergo "purification" before being refilled with gas. The point is get it right the first time and let the customer call you back only for a new sign or as a referral to someone else. The possibilities are unlimited in the realm of electric signage. Anywhere your imagination takes you, you can create an electric sign. Sometimes your creativity is what will sell the customer on using you for their signage needs. In Part II, we will explore in more detail some of the installation techniques used for electric signs.
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