Real Neon Signs Never Died — Just Harder to Find Because People Were Cheap
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Real Neon Never Died — It Just Got Harder to Find
There was a time when real neon signs meant something.
They weren’t cheap decor or TikTok backdrops. They were a symbol — of a better time, American pride, an investment in the future. Lit-up gas stations, diners, auto shops, motels — glowing red, blue, orange — with that faint buzzing and nostalgic glow; giving it a kind of magic that today’s LED junk just can’t replicate.
I heard a rumor once about 15 years ago that real neon signs were banned and made illegal. For the next decade, never saw another neon released and assumed it was true. It's not.
Come to find out, they weren't outlawed, just way more expensive to produce than acrylic with LED's. It's a sad reality that one of the most iconic, collectible, and nostalgic forms of advertising was damn near lost. People wanted cheaper products, faster and corporations wanted increased profits.
Real neon signs didn’t disappear though. They just got buried under cheap imitations.
The truth is it's absolutely destroyed the market's perception of value. As an auctioneer, I can attest to that. Anything that costs more than $20 or takes more than a day to be delivered is guaranteed to receive complaints and criticism.
There's always going to be a cheaper alternative, and there should be for those on a budget or just want the cheapest price. What about those who don't want a cheap acrylic and LED sign?
The true collector's who care about quality, value authenticity, and want their favorite vintage neon without the hassle of searching, locating, bidding, transporting, maintaining, or repairing an original vintage neon sign.
Well, I consider myself one of them when I was looking to buy one for my garage. I couldn't find anything even close to the neon sign I had in mind and there's no way I'm the only one looking.
How is it, that NOBODY offered an authentic quality neon reproduction (even for a ridiculous price.) I couldn't find anything that fit what I was looking for but it was pretty simple; a real neon with glass tubes, porcelain enamel (not a sticker or acrylic,) with a powdercoated steel can just like all the vintage neon signs still around today.
The closest I could find was a glass tube neon sign with a skeleton or open-back frame to secure the tubing and display the sign. There's nothing wrong with that kind of mounting it does a great job of highlighting the neon and providing a light weight option that's quick and easy to hang.
But those were popularized for bar signs and novelty signs which just wasn't what I wanted. I wanted one with a can. You know, that riveted steel housing about 7-inches deep that stores the neon components and has the neon tubes attached to the front? That's what I wanted because all the vintage neon signs I see have it. Somehow, nobody offered it.
After launching our porcelain signs for sale we received an overwhelming amount of requests to offer a neon sign. Well, I'd say, you asked, and our answer is going to blow your mind; single-sided neon porcelain signs with a 7-inch can.
What Makes a Neon Sign “Real”?
You can spot the difference from across the room. A real neon sign isn’t printed plastic or LED strips posing as glass. It’s made the hard way:
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Hand-blown glass tubes, shaped by fire and skill
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Noble gases like neon and argon for that unmistakable glow
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Porcelain enamel faces — kiln-fired over ¼” steel
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And a riveted steel can built to outlast whatever wall it’s hung on
It’s craftsmanship most people forgot existed.
Why It Still Matters
Today, most people can’t tell the difference. But the ones who can? They feel it.
They walk into the garage, flip the switch, and see that rich, warm glow — not the cold blue of cheap LEDs — and they know they bought the right one.
They remember when neon was everywhere.
When quality mattered.
And they want a piece of that back — not a knockoff.
A Sign That Stands for Something
We don’t mass-produce. We don’t rush it.
Each of our neon signs is made-to-order, with real materials and old-school methods.
This isn’t about decoration. It’s about keeping the craft alive.
Are you looking for a real neon sign like I was? Our handcrafted neon signs are guaranteed to exceed your expectations. Check them out and order yours today!
We make ours just like they used to — hand-blown, gas-filled, and built to last.