Patent Pending: The Neon Can Design We Built to Last
Darrien EouseIf you’ve been around vintage signs long enough, you start noticing something.
A lot of neon signs online look good in a photo… but when you get them in person, they don’t feel right.
They’re light. Flimsy. Cheap.
The materials don’t have that old-school weight.
And the build quality doesn’t match the price tag.
That’s exactly why Porcelain Advertising exists in the first place.
We didn’t get into this business to sell “close enough.” We got into it because the market was flooded with shortcuts — and collectors were stuck choosing between overpriced originals or reproductions that don’t hold up.
And when it came to real neon signs, we realized something important:
The face can look perfect, and the neon can glow bright… but if the structure behind it isn’t engineered correctly, the sign will never feel like the real thing.
So we did what we always do.
We built it right — and then we protected it.
The Problem Most Neon Buyers Never See
Here’s what most people don’t understand about real porcelain enamel:
Porcelain enamel isn’t a sticker. It isn’t a vinyl print. It isn’t a plastic face.
It’s fired in a kiln at extreme temperatures — and that process creates a finish that’s incredibly hard, glossy, and authentic… but it also introduces a challenge:
During firing, porcelain enamel faces can contract, shift, and sometimes warp.
That warping might be minor, but even small changes can create real issues when you’re building a neon sign that’s supposed to last:
- Misalignment during assembly
- Stress on mounting points
- Strain on brackets and supports
- Added pressure on neon tubing
- Fitment problems that lead to flexing or rattling over time
A lot of neon makers ignore this.
They build everything as if every face is perfectly flat and identical — and that’s where problems start.
Because porcelain isn’t mass-produced plastic. It’s a fired material with real variation.
So instead of fighting that reality… we engineered around it.
What We Designed (And Why It Matters)
We developed a can design that focuses on what collectors actually care about:
strength, longevity, and correct construction.
At a high level, our approach centers around a more modular, controlled build system — one designed to handle the real-world behavior of porcelain enamel signs after firing, not just in theory.
That means the structure is designed to support:
- better assembly consistency
- reduced stress during mounting
- improved fit and alignment
- more stable support for neon components
In plain English?
We built a better foundation so the sign holds up like it should.
Not just for a week.
Not just for a few photos.
For years.
Why We Filed the Patent
We didn’t file this patent because it “sounds cool.”
We filed it because this is the kind of improvement that actually separates a premium neon sign from everything else in the market.
It protects the work we put into solving the problem the right way — and it helps ensure we can keep investing in better manufacturing, better systems, and better products without being undercut by copycats who didn’t earn it.
There are a million people willing to sell neon and the market for authentic petroliana is booming.
Still. Not many are willing to engineer it.
What “Patent Pending” Actually Means
You’ll see a lot of companies throw around words like “exclusive” or “proprietary.”
That’s not what we do.
So here’s the straightforward version:
Patent pending means we officially filed the invention.
It’s documented. It’s on record. And it marks our commitment to building something worth protecting.
It’s not hype.
It’s a sign that we’re serious about what we’re building — and we’re building it for the long haul.
What This Means for You as the Buyer
When you buy a neon sign, you’re not just buying light.
You’re buying a piece that becomes part of your garage, your showroom, your collection, your business — something people notice the second they walk in.
And you want it to feel like the real thing.
Our patented approach is designed to deliver exactly that:
- Stronger construction that feels substantial in person
- Better long-term stability and structural integrity
- More consistent fit and alignment during assembly
- Less stress on critical components over time
- A better-built neon sign overall — the way it should be made
This is what happens when you stop chasing the cheapest way to make neon…
…and start building it like it matters.
We’re Not Here to Make “Good Enough” Neon
Porcelain Advertising was built on a simple belief:
If you’re going to recreate something iconic, you should do it the right way — with real materials and real craftsmanship.
That’s why we use heavy steel construction.
That’s why we use porcelain enamel.
That’s why we use real hand-blown neon glass.
And that’s why we took the time to engineer and patent the structure behind the sign — because the details matter, and collectors can feel the difference.
If you’ve been burned by cheap reproductions before, we get it.
We built this company for people who are tired of that.
