76 Neon Sign – Genuine Americana – SSN039

Vintage Neon Signs

An original Union 76 neon sign from the 1940s-50s. This vintage neon sign features the pre-ball logo design for Union gas. This rare and highly collectable vintage sign features the "76" in blue on the classic orange background. The neon on the sign features blue neon over the "76" and orange neon on the top and bottom of this old neon sign.

Condition - as is, see photos - not a reproduction
Dimensions - 48" T x 24" W

Vintage neon sign for Union 76 Gas from the Union Oil Company founded in 1890 by Lyman Stewart, Thomas Bard, and Wallace Hardison in Santa Paula, California. After reorganizing the company in 1983 they renamed the company Unocal Corporation. They sold to Tosco Corporation in 1997, and were later acquired by Phillips Petroleum.

All antique signs and collectables offered are genuine memorabilia and appreciable assets, not fake reproductions. All items are fine collectable art at the highest world class collector level. Contact us to order vintage Americana, antique signs, old gas pumps, and classic collectables at 1-800-292-0008.

Antique Neon Sign Advertisement Specifications:

• Type: Single sided neon
• Company: Union Oil Company
• Product: 76 Gas
• Era: 1940s-1950s
• Color: Orange and blue
• Dimensions: 48" Tall x 24" Wide
• Condition: Good working order. Original, as-is, see photos for details

Collectables, American Restorations and Vintage Memorabilia information:

• Vintage Memorabilia & Man Caves
• Historical Gas Pump Information
• Vintage Restoration

Vintage Signs, Antiques and Collectables

Due to our earned reputation, we have the good fortune to be in high demand by collectors. We always have a waiting list for most items. We suggest if you are looking for a specific collectable, please ask to be placed on our first-come, first-served list. (Refundable deposit required.) Call us at 1-800-292-0008.

This Rare Sign Was Before The Ball Design

Union 76 - Interesting Historical Facts

Union Oil (for many years based in El Segundo, California, near Los Angeles) first introduced "76" gasoline in 1932. The name referred to the American "Spirit of '76," and was also the octane rating of the gasoline in 1932.

76 signs are orange balls with '76' written in blue on them. Many stations had the 76 ball rotate when the signs were lit up. The first such sign was designed in 1962 by advertising creative director Ray Pedersen for the Seattle World's Fair.

In 2005, new corporate owners ConocoPhillips began a rebranding campaign to unify the design elements of each of the merged brands (76, Phillips, and Conoco). As a part of this re-branding, there was an initial decision to pull down all the Orange Ball signs and replace them with monument-style signs in the red orange and blue color scheme.

In response to overwhelming negative publicity generated by a grassroots Save The 76 Ball campaign, ConocoPhillips backtracked on this decision in January 2007, agreeing to donate several of the classic orange 76 balls to museums and to erect approximately 100 balls in the new red orange and blue color scheme.

The 76 ball is a very popular logo in the "Cult Style" of European car tuning (especially on VW Golf Mk 1 GTIs due to the debut year of 1976), and is also used on many clothing items in Japan as of 2005. The 76 Ball also made a brief appearance in the 1991 film Point Break during the final airport escape scene.

Source: wikipedia.org