Neon Signs as Collectibles   by Carla Simms

in Other    (submitted 2012-02-01)

Neon signs, which originated over a century ago, are one of the advertising world's most enduring tools, and have been helping businesses to attract new customers for decades. Collectors flock to open signs because of their long-lasting popularity and seemingly endless styles. The remainder of this article will cover the basics of starting a sign collections and provide some ideas of where you can purchase classic signs.

Over the last century, neon signs have been produced in hundreds, or even thousands, of styles. For instance, bars and restaurants have displayed neon signs promoting brands of alcohol and various foods for decades. There are a variety of other businesses, such as cinemas and gas stations, that have also employed neon signs for decades. Most of these companies manufactured a single sign style for a certain period of time and then phased it out as their logo or advertising needs evolved. These discontinued signs are extremely popular with collectors, as there is a finite number of them available.

There are particular styles of vintage neon signs for which collectors are willing to pay extremely high prices. In the same manner as all antiques, signs increase in price with both scarcity and demand; that is, the less common and more desired an item is, the higher the price will be. Signs that advertise classic models of cars are incredibly popular with collectors, and often command a high price. Car dealerships would often leave these signs, intended to advertise new automobile models, hanging on the walls for years. Because of this, they hold a certain nostalgia for people who grew up seeing them each time they purchased a vehicle.

If you are interested in collecting neon signs, it's important to do some research into the type of signs you want to buy before making any purchases. This research will help you discover the median price for the types of signs you want to purchase. It will also allow you to figure out if you can afford that particular type of neon sign, as some styles cost thousands of dollars per sign.

Instead of searching through antique shops and auctions right away, you might want to start your search for vintage neon signs by speaking to your friends and family. Relatively often, people happen to own old open signs that have been unused in a basement or garage for years. If this is the case with any of your friends and family, you might be able to buy the sign for a great price. Online auction sites also sometimes have great prices for vintage neon lights.

If you don't instantly find signs that capture you, don't fret. Many open signs collections are the product of years of hard-work on the part of the collector. Keep in mind that the most important thing to do with any collection is to enjoy the process!

About the Author

Carla Simms