Neon Signs Ms. Prinkey

History of Neon Signs Theory of Neon Lights dates back to 1675. French astronomer Jean Picard* observed a faint glow in a mercury barometer tube. The glow occurred when the tube was shaken from the static electricity and was not understood at the time. This was before electricity.

1855, HeinrichGeissler Invented the Geissler tube. Experiments were conducted using electricity and various gases. * When the tube was put under low pressure and electricity was applied, the gases would glow.

1898, London The word neon comes from the Greek "neos," meaning "the new gas." Neon is a rare gaseous element present in the atmosphere to the extent of 1 part in 65,000 of air. It is obtained by liquefaction of air and separated from the other gases by fractional distillation.

Georges Claude The French engineer, chemist, and inventor Georges Claude (b. Sept. 24, 1870, d. May 23, 1960), was the first person to apply an electrical discharge to a sealed tube of neon gas (circa 1902) to create a lamp. Georges Claude displayed the first neon lamp to the public on December 11, 1910, in Paris

Neon Signs Most neon signs are made by hand. The fragile glass tube is bent by hand and an inert gas is sealed in the air tight tube. When electrified at a high voltage, the gas gives off a color. Neon gas gives off an orange/red color. Argon gas gives off a blue color.

Neon Signs Other colors are the result of tinting the glass or adding other chemicals to the inside. A transformer is used to achieve the voltage necessary to make the gas light up.

Neon Signs