Should Signs be Regulated as Lighting Devices?

The answer is a very clear “no.” An article by FASI President/Executive Director Bill Dundas published in the January 2016 issue of Signs of the Times magazine explains that electric signs are not lighting devices, per se. Their purpose is not to provide light, but to deliver messages. Thus, they should not be regulated as […]

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Green Bay’s Historic Hotel Replicates Original Signage

As an officially designated, historic building, the Hotel Northland in Green Bay (WI) will soon be getting new, canopy-mounted signage to replicate the original and complete the overall restoration of the property. Check out the local news video which summarizes this project which is scheduled for completion by October 2019. https://fox11online.com/news/local/green-bay/six-months-after-reopening-hotel-northland-receives-approvals-for-a-sign

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Brief History of the Former Electrical Products Corp.

Examples of signs produced by the company that used to be the West Coast’s largest sign manufacturer endure in various California locations. Unique signs withstanding the test of time lend a strong sense of place and nostalgia to neighborhoods throughout America. https://la.curbed.com/maps/epco-signs-california-neon-los-angeles-bay-area

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The Picture Worth 1,000 Words

Certain jurisdictions across the nation have banned conventional, freestanding signs by enacting new sign codes which permit only monument signs. Sign companies and their advocates generally have opposed such bans and, in particular, have disputed the common rationale suggesting that pole-mounted signs somehow exacerbate traffic hazards. As this photo shows very clearly, however, a conventional […]

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Are You Ready for Summertime?

While it might be a distant thought for those still digging out of snowdrifts in the northern tier, summer will be here before you know it. When outdoor temperatures and humidity become oppressive, sign company managers must ensure steps are taken to protect employees working outdoors. Here are some tips from Signs of the Times […]

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Can Electric Signs Attract Attention and Save Energy at the Same Time?

Undoubtedly, the answer is “yes,” as clearly demonstrated by some of the nation’s largest electric-sign manufacturers, whose products are more efficient today than ever before. Here’s a link to a Signs of the Times article which challenges the notion that signs must be regulated more strictly to save energy: https://read.nxtbook.com/st_media/signs_of_the_times/april_2018/energy_masters.html  

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Amortization Explained

City officials often run afoul of their local business communities when attempting to enforce amortization schemes which specify specific time periods during which it’s assumed sign users have the opportunity to recoup their investments in existing, non-conforming signs. As explained here, however, the basis for amortization is fundamentally flawed because no actual compensation is received […]

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YESCO Bone-yard getting a new addition

Rebranding of the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas under its new owner, Richard Branson (founder of Virgin Group) made the 27-year-old guitar sign expendable. But the sign will be reinstalled for display at Young Electric Sign Company’s “Bone-yard” in Las Vegas. https://news3lv.com/news/local/hard-rock-hotel-las-vegas-guitar-sign-finds-new-home-at-neon-museum

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How the International Sign Association Ended up in Virginia

In 1980, the National Electric Sign Assn. was in turmoil. The January 1981 editorial in Signs of the Times magazine began with “This publication has been filled with anguish for many months now watching, sometimes in disbelief, the internal strife that has beset and virtually halted the progress of the National Electric Sign Assn. We […]

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