Icon Neon

We did this for a bit of fun 6 months ago. It has become somewhat relevant of late!

4' square. Portait by Scott Mansen. Neon by Icon Neon.

For sale. If interested, please PM.

Good afternoon Neon fans!
Sorry it has been awhile since our last post. Covid has had its impact on our time available for social media work. However, the flow of interesting restorations through the shop has actually increased.

This sign has an interesting history. Originally made in the autumn of 1951, this sign was a point of sale display for hardware stores and ironmongery shops. Budges had just patented the very first practical hand held electric drill and these signs were used in the introduction. Within months, Budges was purchased outright by Stanley Tools who used the patent to create the company we know today.

This sign had been in storage for quite some time. The Neon and the case window were both broken, but the artwork and enclosure where still vibrant and solid.

The biggest challenge to this type of restoration is the Neon. Bending techniques have come a long way since 1951 allowing for letters to be formed with tighter bends and fewer sections where the Neon has to turn under from the display plane. To accurately reproduce this section meant painstakingly gluing the broken Neon back together using superglue in order to make an accurate pattern for the new Neon. Bowing the glass using letter formations from 70 years ago was a real challenge even with the pattern.

With a new modern power supply and updated electrics, this sign now holds pride of place in a private collection where it should be ready to face the next 70 years!

Team Icon Neon