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St. Louis based Neon Time refurbishes a 70-year-old sign.
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By Dave Hutson
Because neon signs’ business-district presence continually diminishes, movement continues to preserve and restore these signs, which were once everyday landmarks.
In the world of neon-sign preservation, two diverse approaches help acquire vintage neon signs. The first approach focuses on recognizable “standards,” nostalgic stock signs that were distributed to promote petroleum products, beverages and appliances, among others. The second preserves signs unique to a local community and, when possible, leaves them on the streets they’ve occupied for decades.
Whereas the first approach likely yields the most pieces for an enthusiast, preservation is my background. I save signs to which I relate, those that tell the stories I know and inform my history. Restoring signs fortunate enough to remain within their native architecture – whose owners have made the commitment to preserve and maintain them – is a very satisfying endeavor. I enjoy this because more people will enjoy the design’s original aesthetics, notice the craftsmanship and appreciate the remaining nostalgia.
Neon laid bare
Our subject, a unique and reasonably sized sign, dates to 1935. It hung in front of a cobbler’s shop in Webster Groves, an old St. Louis suburb. Though this sign will never go back to the street where it stood for more than 70 years, I approached its restoration as if it would.
I strive to restore something altered, and partially obliterated over the years, to its original, carefully crafted appearance, without complete renewal. I let the patina of its age be revealed while making it functional and brilliant again. Rarely is there justification to make an old sign look brand new. When that’s done, almost all intrinsic value is lost.
When I removed the sign in October 2006, the neon had been defunct for at least 30 years, perhaps 50. The original, porcelain panels have been recently painted over, presumably to disguise decades of weathering. Interestingly, the painter replicated the porcelain’s original details and, fortunately, the original porcelain housings were left in place.
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