Illuminated signs, the bright, glowing displays we see everywhere today, have a history filled with innovation and rivalry between some of the greatest inventors of all time. Let’s take a journey through that history, starting with the late 1800s, when electric lighting was first making its mark.
Photo by Claudio Schwarz on Unsplash
The Early Days of Illuminated Signs
Before electricity, signs were pretty simple—usually just painted wood or metal, sometimes lit up with gas lamps or candles. But everything changed when Thomas Edison invented the light bulb in 1879. This new technology opened the door to illuminated signs, allowing businesses to light up their names and messages in ways never seen before.
Tesla vs. Edison: The Battle of the Currents
The real turning point for illuminated signs came in 1893 at the Chicago World’s Fair, also known as the World’s Columbian Exposition. This event was not just about showcasing the latest inventions but also about a fierce rivalry between two brilliant inventors: Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla.
Edison was the inventor of Direct Current (DC) electricity, while Tesla was pushing for Alternating Current (AC). The fair organizers had to choose which type of electricity would power the event, and this decision was a big deal because it could influence the future of electricity in the United States.
Despite Edison’s efforts, Tesla’s AC system won out because it was more efficient for lighting up large areas. The result? The entire fair was lit up with brilliant AC-powered lights, wowing visitors and proving that AC was the way forward. This event also marked the first major use of illuminated signs, with bright lights that could be seen from miles away, showing off the future of electric signage.
The Rise of Neon Signs
Though Tesla’s victory at the fair was a major milestone, the real boom in illuminated signs came in the early 1900s with the invention of neon lights. In 1910, a French engineer named Georges Claude created the first neon lamp, which glowed with a bright, eye-catching red color.
Neon signs quickly caught on, especially in the United States. By the 1920s and 1930s, neon was everywhere—from theaters and restaurants to the bright lights of Times Square in New York City. Neon signs became a symbol of modern advertising, lighting up cities with their colorful glow.
Illuminated Signs Today
Fast forward to today, and illuminated signs have come a long way. We now have LED signs, digital displays, and all sorts of new technology that allow businesses to create stunning visual displays. But no matter how advanced our signs become, they all trace back to the early days of Edison, Tesla, and those first glowing lights at the Chicago World’s Fair.
Your Illuminated Signs Tomorrow
When choosing your signage and graphics partner, we feel knowing this history adds depth to the work they do, being proud of their rich and historic heritage in a nerdy way. Whether you’re looking to create a sleek LED sign or a vintage-style neon display, you’re continuing a tradition of innovation that started over a century ago with the pioneers of electric lighting. Your signs are not just about lighting up spaces—they’re part of a story that began with the quest to illuminate the world. Trust Signage Print Identity with your next project to continue this fine tradition.
