Schlitz Neon Sign Full Restoration

[Fordiesel69]

Got a fully working schlitz sign that was stored outside for years when the outer tube broke. The prior owner had a new outer tube made, but left the frame, transformer, and the existing "schlitz" scripting tube a total mess. I tore the sign down and am getting an action plan together. The outer clear glass tube is standard clear glass filled with neon, and as such is retina piercing bright. So no doubt I will re-apply the grey paint to the backside to cut back of some of the red light bleed.

Where I am stuck is that the "schlitz" tube is aged very nicely and has lost most of its blockout paint. I am torn to leave it this way or to reapply the grey blocking paint. Your thoughts?

Here is a photo from google showing one with almost identical wear (not mine). There is nice blueing and some dimmer areas of the tube that really stand out.

 

[hrv]

Got a fully working schlitz sign that was stored outside for years when the outer tube broke. The prior owner had a new outer tube made, but left the frame, transformer, and the existing "schlitz" scripting tube a total mess. I tore the sign down and am getting an action plan together. The outer clear glass tube is standard clear glass filled with neon, and as such is retina piercing bright. So no doubt I will re-apply the grey paint to the backside to cut back of some of the red light bleed.

Where I am stuck is that the "schlitz" tube is aged very nicely and has lost most of its blockout paint. I am torn to leave it this way or to reapply the grey blocking paint. Your thoughts?

Here is a photo from google showing one with almost identical wear (not mine). There is nice blueing and some dimmer areas of the tube that really stand out.
View attachment 250394

That looks cool. I have been looking for a Blatz vintage neon...

 

[wings&wheels]

Nice! I would reapply the paint, as original and makes the lettering cleaner.

 

[SeaJay]

IIRC, it was the one beer to have when you are having more than one.

 

[Fordiesel69]

Any other opinions on the blockout paint. Want to get the stuff ordered tonight.

 

[hrv]

IIRC, it was the one beer to have when you are having more than one.

Schaefer Beer commercial was ...when your having more than one...

 

[hrv]

 

[Fordiesel69]

Oye!.. thread derailment. Any more opinions on the schlitz script blockout paint? Got the frame restored and the new tube supports installed.

 

[Fordiesel69]

Used phosphoric acid to clean the rust off the frame and found rustoliem professional Stainless steel spray paint to be a spot on perfect match.

I used all metal replacment tube supports and decided to use 8-32 x 3/8 flat truss head screws to hold them in for a more vintage look.

I was able to use nail polish remover to clean and brighten all 6 original rubber window bumpers, however they have had their fiar share of sunlight and nicotine so some good patina in that regard.

Did a test fit of the tubs and will need to do lots of adjusting to get the alignment where it needs to be.

 

[mk378]

Isn't the frame usually black? You're not supposed to see anything except the neon when it is on.

"When you're out of Schlitz, you're out of beer!" was their slogan.

 

[k1xv]

Jerry Lee Lewis, "What made Milwaukee famous, made a loser out of me"

 

[Fordiesel69]

Isn't the frame usually black? You're not supposed to see anything except the neon when it is on.

"When you're out of Schlitz, you're out of beer!" was their slogan.

The vintage signs were usually silver / grey. Mid to late 1980s and forward were black. This is a 1981 sign,

 

[Fordiesel69]

I need to retract my statement about black vs silver grey. I will keep it more generalized. Most vintage signs such as this Schlitz was a silver frame with a grey transformer. Awsome reason for this. The union factory that made the frame most likely negotiates a very large batch of paint and hundreds of frames were made onsite. The neon benders would make the tubes, and during final assembly a transformer from an outside vendor would be installed. These would come from multiple vendors and would often not match the same color as the frame. These were made of such amazing quality it would blow your mind.

 

[Fordiesel69]

Before:

After paint:

All finished, painted, tubes dipped and razor bladed, as well as tied in with silver ties. Need more tie wire but that can wait till tomorrow.

 

[Fordiesel69]

Here is the final product all lit up. Turned out quite well. Room for improvement on the next one but still very happy with how it turned out.