BF Goodrich Double Sided Neon – NS2785

H.J. Nick 101-Point Historically Correct Restoration

The sign was restored under the direction of master builder and artist H.J. Nick at ArtFactory.com using the company’s 101-point museum-quality restoration process.

Every major component was examined and addressed individually, including the porcelain face, neon pattern, electrical system, metal housing, supporting structure, wall hanger, fasteners, balance, fit, finish, and final presentation.

The neon glass was blown and hand formed in historically appropriate colors and patterns to follow the shape and lettering of the original sign. New transformers, wiring, mounts, switches, and electrical components were installed for dependable operation while preserving the appearance and spirit of the original period.

The restoration was completed as a working piece of American industrial art, not a decorative reproduction.

The Hanger Recreated in the Original Tradition

The heavy wall hanger, support arm, transformer housing, brackets, and mounting assembly were remade in the same materials and hand-worked tradition as the original by our master blacksmiths in wrought iron.

Rather than using a modern commercial bracket, ArtFactory craftsmen recreated the assembly from wrought iron using traditional forging, fabrication, and hammered finishing techniques. The spear-shaped wall plate, substantial horizontal arm, forged details, and textured metal enclosure were all made as part of one complete architectural presentation.

The result remains faithful to the character of the original installation while benefiting from stronger construction, more precise fitting, improved balance, and craftsmanship that may exceed that of the original commercial hardware.

It is old-world workmanship applied to the preservation of a genuine American roadside artifact.

More Than a Sign

When illuminated, this B.F. Goodrich sign once again has the power and presence of the roadside advertisements that helped define twentieth-century America.

It represents the era of independent service businesses, industrial supply houses, machine shops, roadside garages, and local dealers who kept the country moving. Before computer screens, plastic banners, and mass-produced light boxes, signs like this were built from porcelain, metal, glass, fire, and skilled human hands.

This example preserves all of that history.

The original porcelain carries the evidence of its working life. The neon restores its nighttime character. The hand-forged hanger returns the sign to a complete architectural form. Together, they create a rare piece of American industrial history, preserved and restored to live on for future generations.