Looking for the Next “Star” of the Collection

One of the most frequently asked questions ASM founder Tod receives is “What sign is still on your wish list?”

When you think of the “stars” for sign museums, such icons as the Speedee McDonald’s sign, Howard Johnson’s and Mail Pouch barns come to mind as must haves. The American Sign Museum is fortunate to have all of these on display. But there’s another sign in this exclusive club which the Museum only dreamed of acquiring, and that’s a Roto-Sphere.

Manufactured from 1960 – 1971, the Roto-Sphere was the creation of Warren Milks of Bossier City, LA. Milks’ design used both size and movement to create a sign that would draw attention by day and captivate at night. The Roto-Sphere features 16 aluminum spikes outlined in neon tubes. Each spike is mounted to a ball specially designed to spin in three directions. Watch the Roto-Sphere in action below in the video from Alan Whitaker!

Milks created 234 Roto-Spheres. Today, less than 20 remain with nine on public display and only four both lit and spinning. The Roto-Sphere just might be the most mesmerizing sign you have never heard of! With so few of these signs still in existence, the odds of the ASM ever acquiring one were a long shot… until recently.

Stay tuned for next month’s update for more on the Roto-Sphere and the ASM’s journey to find one. AND save the date! On Thursday, 8/12 the ASM and Society for Commercial Archeology will be hosting an online lecture on the Roto-Sphere!