Black plastic enclosure with perspex front encapsulating neon tubing spelling "Gray"

Part of the Bob Gray collection of electrical objects.

Bob (Robert) Gray had this illuminated neon sign made for his electrical service contracting business based in Wrexham. Bob collected a wide range of electrical appliances and installation components as a hobby whilst running his business between 1948 and 2012. Bob had this sign made for him by a neon contractor whom he met regularly during the time when he supplied electrical services for events, exhibitions and trade shows. Neon gas itself glows red but the term 'neon light' is used to describe lots of gas and metal-vapour tube lamps. Mercury glows blue, carbon dioxide glows white, helium glows gold. Neon signs became popular in the 1920s when they were used extensively for advertising.