The Pre-War Fight Over Neon Signs And Radio

When Neon Crashed the Airwaves

It might seem almost comic now: in the shadow of looming global conflict, MPs in Westminster were arguing about neon signs.

the outspoken Mr. Gallacher, demanded answers from the Postmaster-General. Were neon installations scrambling the airwaves?

The figure was no joke: the Department had received nearly one thousand reports from frustrated licence-payers.

Picture it: the soundtrack of Britain in 1938, interrupted not by enemy bombers but by shopfront Bright Glow London.

Major Tryon confessed the problem was real. But here’s the rub: the government had no legal power to force neon owners to fix it.

He promised consultations were underway, but warned the issue touched too many interests.

In plain English: no fix any time soon.

Gallacher shot back. He pushed for urgency: speed it up, Minister, people want results.

From the backbenches came another jab. Wasn’t the state itself one of the worst offenders?

Tryon deflected, basically admitting the whole electrical age was interfering with itself.

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Looking back now, this debate is almost poetic. In 1939 neon was the villain of the airwaves.

Fast forward to today and it’s the opposite story: neon is the endangered craft fighting for survival, while plastic LED fakes flood the market.

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Why does it matter?

Neon has never been neutral. It’s always pitted artisans against technology.

Second: every era misjudges neon.

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The Smithers View. When we look at that 1939 Hansard record, we don’t just see dusty MPs moaning about static.

That old debate shows neon has always mattered. And it always will.

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Forget the fake LED strips. Glass and gas are the original and the best.

If neon got MPs shouting in 1939, it deserves a place in your space today.

Choose the real thing.

We make it.

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