Changeable Neon Radio Frequency Sign

Changeable neon sign powers individual neon letters via radio frequency. The sign was acquired from Jacob Fishman and included a number of boxes of letters (green when illuminated). Manufactured by Wr-Tronics based out of Austin, TX.

This sign works through a radio frequency field that ionizes or “excites” the gas inside the letters, so they don’t need to be connected to any circuit! The excitation of the gas’s electrons and their subsequent “relaxation” is what creates light.

Object Number : 2001.0011.0001

Type : signs/displays

Sub Types : Array

Decade : 1950 - 1959

Object Height : 12 in.

Object Width : 36 in.

Object Depth : 6 in. at bottom; 2 in. at top (triangle-shaped profile)

Object History :

Originally purchased from Jacob Fishman for $400.00 on or around 1985. He and a friend discovered the former warehouse of the original manufacturer.

City of Origin : Chicago

State of Origin : Illinois

Status : Exhibit

Location : Neon Era Room

Donor Name : Tod Swormstedt

Contact Donor : 1

Company : American Sign Museum

Signature : Left side of back cabinet

Signature Location : Left side of cabinet

Condition :

Good: Many of the letter only light-up partially.

Restoration Description :

Bruce Suba, Suba Neon, Scotts Valley, CA, restored the sign by replacing the radio tubes for trade in books. Cost to Museum was approximately $50.00, not including shipping.

Maintenance History :

9-2-2017: Troubleshooting sign at cost of $11.00 in labor

Current Value : Letters are valued as a set worth $50.00

First Contact Date : 6/15/1985

First Contact Description : Donor visited Jacob Fishman to do an article for Signs of the Times magazine

Follow Up Date : 3/15/2001

Follow Up Description : Donation to museum

Object Received Date : 3/15/2001

Object Cataloged Date : 5/23/2001