Neon Signs Can Last Over 50 Years

The remarkable endurance of neon signs stems from their simple and elegant design, a technology first demonstrated by French inventor Georges Claude in 1910. Inside each handcrafted glass tube is a small amount of a noble gas, which is exceptionally stable and does not break down. When a high-voltage current is passed through the tube, it energizes the gas atoms, causing them to emit a brilliant light. This process is purely atomic, with no filaments to burn out or moving parts to fail, which is why the core component of a neon sign can operate for decades. The longevity is a testament to the quality of the materials and the skill of the artisan who bent the glass and sealed the gas inside.

While the name "neon" is used for all such signs, only the fiery red-orange glow comes from pure neon gas. To create a rainbow of other colors, sign makers use different noble gases, such as argon for a lavender hue, or coat the inside of the glass tubes with fluorescent powders. These powders glow in vibrant colors when excited by the ultraviolet light produced by gases like mercury vapor. The first commercial use of this technology was for a Parisian barbershop in 1912, and it quickly became a symbol of modern commerce, famously arriving in the United States in 1923 to advertise Packard automobiles in Los Angeles.

Although the gas-filled tubes are incredibly long-lasting, other parts of the sign assembly are subject to wear. The high-voltage transformers that power the signs, for instance, typically have a lifespan of 8 to 15 years and may need replacement. The electrodes at either end of the tube can also degrade over thousands of on-off cycles. For a neon sign to achieve its maximum potential lifespan of 50 years or more, it requires high-quality components and protection from harsh environmental conditions.