Restoring A $30,000 Neon Sign From The 1940s | Refurbished | Insider

[@jeshkam]

Mr. Cohen is such a wonderful story teller, I could listen to him for days. I love neon signs so much. We used to have so many of them here in Poland from the 1930s to mid 1990s, now though most of them are sadly gone...

[@kobalt.nogowsk]

do you know any places in poland where there’s a lot of neon sights?i know about wrocław but how about other neon havens?

[@jeshkam]

@@kobalt.nogowsk Sadly not a lot anymore. There are quite a few left in Poznań, with my all-time favorite being the bright red "Centra" atop the Jowita student house, another classic surviving one is the Rialto cinema neon. Still though there are two neon museums in Poland you can visit, one in Warsaw, another one in Wroclaw. Hope it helps. 🙂

[@hcohenful]

Thank you for the comment

[@jeshkam]

@@hcohenful You're welcome, Mr. Cohen. 🙂

[@eddiemendoza5010]

@@hcohenful please do more videos like this or with some kind of commentary!

[@CLB30ROX]

He sounds like the wood shop teacher that everybody loved in school. I love it

[@hcohenful]

I spent most of my adult career as a high school health teacher.

[@CLB30ROX]

@@hcohenful I knew it! That's awesome

[@louiearmstrong]

He sounds like Lewis Black's happy brother who doesn't need to shout and rant like Lewis

[@ladeseddy5994]

Mr. Cohen has restored a couple of my neon items. Most notably, a neon red/green pedestrian WALK/DONT WALK traffic signal from the 1940's. I believe it was his first one. It is beautiful.

[@hcohenful]

I remember that sign well. Thanks for reaching out. Hope all is well with you.

[@tonypridham1253]

I used to work in the signage industry and the highlight of my day was to go and watch the neon guys make up the glass letters, such an art form in itself. True craftsmen and I was very jealous wishing I could do what they do. The years of experience are now, sadly, all but gone, so its nice to see people like Howie keeping the industry going, if only in a small part. Much respect to all the people who keep all these dying crafts alive for us to enjoy.

[@HiiPANDA_]

i can listen to this gentleman tell me all about the history of neon signs and be so thrilled to learn all of it.

[@pendaco]

He has the most soothing story telling voice! I need MORE!

[@liamnorth555]

Check out Baz Luhrmann- Sunscreen Song

[@hcohenful]

Thank you so much for the kind words

[@brynnashcroft3734]

You can tell he loves his craft.

[@hcohenful]

Its really passion for me. I spent 33 years as a public high school teacher and tennis coach. I just love what I do.

[@lindsaythomas2283]

Beautiful work. I love neon. I worked at Bellows Sign company in Akron Ohio from 1969 to 1973. I built 30' Firestone bowtie signs with neon lettering. (red with white lettering). They went to Firestone tire store all around the country. We built all types of neon signs. We had a separate glass room where they blew all the glass. Fond memories.

[@joesmith6972]

Very appreciative of him taking the time to share his craft. I miss seeing neon lighting and signs everywhere decades ago.

[@sophiaisabelle027]

That Neon sign should be preserved more. It contains history that should never be lost.

[@Anuhea_Silverheart]

Totally agree!

[@Phsyc0Wkey]

Love to see people delve into something they enjoy, notice how clear and well spoken he is and constantly makes contact with the camera

[@hcohenful]

After 33 plus years teaching high school students, it’s sort of natural for me. Thanks for the comment

[@skiracer8148]

What a legend, had him as a teacher in high school!

[@hcohenful]

Thank you Rob!!

[@007Julie]

@@hcohenfulthank you Mr. Cohen for sharing your knowledge with us, you’re a true master of your craft.

[@hcohenful]

@@007Julie Thank you so much. Insider may want to cover my next project. Just waiting to hear from them.

[@lucianoromero777]

I had him as my teacher in space class too

[@BlenderStudy]

The neon sign looks brand new..!! That was an awesome job..!! (Thank you for the update, Insider..!!)

[@patsquach4080]

I worked installing neon signs …. Always loved helping in the shop building them . Learning how to craft the neon tubing …was the most satisfying…. THANKS FOR POSTING THIS :o)

[@hcohenful]

You are so welcome. I have reached out to Insider to request another video. I have many signs on deck to be restored. Thank you again.

[@ericamoss1497]

This was great fun to watch. It really takes me back because I used to work at a custom neon shop in NYC back in the 90s. It's kind of a dying art today so I'm very glad to see it's still being done well by Mr Cohen.

[@hcohenful]

Thank you Erica. I appreciate those kind words. I am certainly trying to keep neon alive and well. It’s a daunting task but it’s working!!!

[@cannedheat2264]

I’ve always been fascinated by neon. It makes me so nostalgic. You can tell he loves his job dearly.

[@hcohenful]

Thank you. It’s certainly a passion for me

[@rightweaponry908]

Between the music and this lovely man passionately explaining his craft this felt like meditation.

[@hcohenful]

Come visit someday.

[@mrblond750]

Thank you so much for keeping neon lighting alive. Neon is so vibrant and has a very soothing characteristic that can’t be replicated by LED. I hate seeing this beautiful lighting system getting replaced by LED.

[@hcohenful]

Indeed. LEDs have their place. Every light bulb in my home is an LED bulb. And neon has its place. Thanks for loving the craft as much as I do.

[@mernokimuvek]

@@hcohenful I prefer fluorescent lamps over L**s

[@Kales0505]

Please have him on this channel again! I love this! I am so intrigued 😊

[@hcohenful]

Reach out to Insider and request another video. I have many more projects on deck that would be really nice subjects.

[@jimzucker]

it is so nice to see people who master crafts and are still passionate about it. This is something we've really lost.

[@hcohenful]

Thank you so much

[@robertbragg9364]

Absolutely amazing. Definitely a lost art. I have 100s of porcelain signs and I'd love to have any one of them wrapped in neon. Great job 👏🏽 👍🏽 👌 🙌

[@hcohenful]

Call me anytime to discuss.

[@Flaubert]

No LED can have the same magic as neon

[@Jason-ml3vs]

He is really a good narrator. I’d love to tour his shop and watch something be created.

[@hcohenful]

Next time you are in upstate NY, reach out to me.

[@lou2408]

This man's voice makes me feel like everything is going to be alright

[@hcohenful]

Thank you for your kind words

[@jaysato]

this was fun to watch. Mr.Cohen is so cool and i love the way he talks.

[@psychoween]

I love neon! When I bought my two pinball machines, I had to have a Game-room neon sign. It adds so much to the room.

[@hcohenful]

Love neon and Pinball too. I have the Willy Wonka CE. Love it.

[@Epiphany380]

You see passion and love for what he does. He loves to share knowledge and I can listen for days

[@andrewreynolds912]

I absolutely love Neon signs I fell in love with them months ago and last Christmas, I got my own real gas glass real neon sign with it its letters saying in white glow *On Air* with a red retangle tube shape around the letters. It was in a rectangle box in a clear plastic I did the rest by painting the outside of the plastic in multiple coatings of black and good God it turned out so well! I love how the inside is all reflective with the glow of the neon sign from the transparent plastic while the outside is just black and stuff gosh it's amazing.

[@heavylogic4204]

The level of skill to restore neon signs! Nice video

[@13_13k]

I'm one of only a couple electrical contractors used by all the film and television studios and production companies in Hollywood / Los Angeles and a few year ago while working on Quentin Tarantino's last film Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, one of the many projects I got to do was to get very large neon signs on top of buildings on Hollywood Blvd working again as well as the neon that ran around the marquees for a couple of movie theaters. The film was set in 1969 so a lot of restoration happened. I worked with a sign contractor and between one of the sign technicians and myself we were able to get the original neon signs and movie theater marquee neon and the original incandescent flashing and "running" lights working that were made in the 1940s, one was for the over 100 year old restaurant Musso and Frank, one of the others was for the Supply Sergeant surplus store, the Vogue Theater, Pussycat Theater, and the Vine Theater. A lot of work to get them working again.

[@glennjiles436]

You're not doing too bad I've been bending glass since 1975 48 years and still do it full time

[@travismiller5548]

Thanks for sharing. We still bend out here in Des Moines, IA. Since 1945!

[@hcohenful]

Keep neon alive!!

[@4am.758]

Great watch !!! My father has been doing neon for over 30 years. Always amazing to see him do his magic

[@hcohenful]

Have him teach you before he is gone

[@Theupstateidiots]

Mr.cohen, your narration reminds me of "goodfellas". Beautiful craftsmanship. Love from Lake George, NY.

[@hcohenful]

Thanks for the comment. Love Lake George and some of the historic neon signs there. I remember working on the Montreal Motel. I think that’s the name. If you see a sign not working in Lake George, be sure to tell them about me. I can make it shine yet again. Cheers

[@Maazzzo]

Fabulous video, thank you for posting.

[@TheLawnCareNut]

Fascinating. Such artistry.

[@Jabberstax]

Neon signs look so much nicer than modern-day LED signs.

[@kurtbarlow9402]

I'm currently attempting to recreate a 3/8 scale version of the Bates Motel sign from Psycho (1960)

[@robruss0222]

Anyone else get mister Rogers vibes listening as well hearing the music in the background !

[@TheTarrMan]

Fascinating work. Glad to see theirs still market for it.

[@hyperakt1v]

he should be a narrator great voice perfect clear precise pronunciation

[@remlezar2693]

This is so awesome, I absolutely love neon signs. I wish they were used more often still because they have so much energy to them

[@armageddontools]

How do you change a colour ?Different gas inside tube? Different voltage?

[@hcohenful]

We use two gasses for the most part. Neon glows orange red and Argon glows a pale blue/violet.

[@psych3009]

man his voice is magical, could listen to him talk for hours. He kinda sounds like Joe Pera.

[@hcohenful]

Thank you for those kind words

[@rickydlp]

I wish I could learn this artform.

[@johnmarkhatfield]

do different gasses fluoresce different colors? how does that work?

[@hcohenful]

A few things. The gas we use, the glass color we use, and the fluorescent powder inside the glass we use. A combo (we don’t mix the gases) will give you all the colors and hues for the most part.

[@santiagobydesign]

Amazing job and skill... it's awesome how he gives such a dynamic shape and glow to those previously bland glass tubes

[@ooohsnap7016]

He was my old teacher and this shop is down the street from where I live

[@hcohenful]

Thanks for remembering me.

[@hankpikuni7024]

Are the huge Budweiser horse lights worth anything? The ones that went over pool tables.

[@ivopires5116]

BEAUTIFUL!! ♥️

[@dananguyen6403]

I strive to have this wisdom and passion for something so beautiful in my life! thank you for your knowledge.

[@peterkiral]

I like the Krusovice beer sign :). Great video btw. Thank you for sharing it.

[@hcohenful]

That sign is for sale in my shop and for the few years that I have had it, you are the first to even recognize the sign. Is the beer tasty? Who makes it? Where?

[@ADHD_Devil]

Beautiful work. I really wish craftsman like this were a more popular trade. It's good to see niche crafts maintaining work.

[@robertrootes]

I drove by that place a few times when I lived in New Hartford

[@rn6380]

True Craftsmen like this are getting harder and harder to find these days.

[@hcohenful]

Thank you so much.

[@TonyTaurisano]

Did anyone in Utica hear about this? This is amazing.

[@hcohenful]

Thank you Tony. Certainly the OD doesn’t cover any local news and items of interest any longer. How sad.

[@TonyTaurisano]

@@hcohenful You're welcome. I'll be down soon. Have a Crouse Hinds neon pedestrian signal that needs a little work. See you soon!!

[@Jaydentylor-nb9xz]

I love neon sign and it has very good impact at night time. It's truely art and everyone can't do it. Mr. Cohen does good work and told nice story. I love the idea.

[@elbartoyoutube2915]

I'm was waiting for him to say "I have Spoken" 😅

[@hcohenful]

Funny!! Believe me, I am not the only one doing this kind of work out there but I certainly can tell you I do it with great passion. I spent 33 years as a high school teacher and yes, that gave me great satisfaction to see my students achieve but this gives me, dare I say, even more. Thanks for viewing.

[@DIESELISGREAT15]

This is what I want not those led to lights' flurecent styles, and always be the better option

[@DIDYOUSEETHAT172]

COOL! Not all the artists hold a paint brush. 😊😊👍👍

[@NYHeeb]

Always loved neon signs wish had time to learn to do this.

[@Livlifetaistdeth]

I really enjoyed listening to and watching this episode.

[@franky2473]

Wow really enjoyed this 👌🏽

[@The.Half.Blood.Prince]

Doc would be proud. Doctor Huston Hudson

[@liamnorth555]

I love this guys voice, reminds me of the guy who narrated The Sunscreen Song.

[@IPreferLoLtbh]

He could absolutely do voiceover work or voice acting his voice is near perfect imo.

[@hcohenful]

Thank you so much. Would love to do that kind of work.

[@CristianSalles1]

it ended already? didn't even seen those 8 min pass Beautifull

[@hcohenful]

Wow. Thank you. That means a lot to me. Reach out to Insider and ask for more like this. I have plenty of very cool signs on deck ready for the “neon treatment”.

[@maxknuckles13]

Always been fascinated by neon signs..

[@Chunkerdunkers12]

Incredible art. I could watch this all day long

[@MrKidi39]

I loved hearing his story.

[@dahlbergt]

Fantastic work, very inspiring!

[@RestorationAustralia]

Super cool.😊

[@BigInjun05]

The west taghkanic diner has a huge neon Indian head sign from the 50s. The new owners want to get rid of It because it's not depictive of the native americans from this area. Well the citiots that bought the place surely aren't depictive of this area so maybe we should get rid of them. I'd love to have the sign though.

[@hcohenful]

I would be interested in the sign as a restoration project. Save that sign!!!

[@maryannecross4220]

Amazing 👏👏👏👏🇬🇧

[@toxin911]

i have my old budweiser neon from my first grocery store in the early 70s and i opened the m oving box to find it broken. no one in Florida that i can find will do repairs anymore...can you?

[@cziegle3794]

Yay top 46 comments. Love this content and this channel. Best to all.

[@GearsGirlsGuitars]

Dude you are a legend that was amazing!

[@hcohenful]

Thank you so much

[@SuperSkandale]

That was interesting. Well explained.

[@hcohenful]

Thank you.

[@hcohenful]

Thank you so much. I enjoyed making it. Would you like to see another? Reach out to Insider and make a request. All the best to you

[@ericherbert1003]

Booking?

[@hcohenful]

You have some neon to be restored?

[@Prosecondamendment2A]

What is the song name

[@jackbart1960]

Is this sign from Franklin Ma.?

[@hcohenful]

I have no idea where it “grew up”. I believe it’s been bought and sold many times over. Now it’s in a private car collection and probably will stay there for awhile.

[@Smokie1523]

I love seeing a real craftsman practicing their trade.

[@hcohenful]

Thank you. I just love what I do

[@jeffreystpierre6898]

👍 Nice Work

[@awesomeyeahroxs]

he has such a lovely voice. has he narrated other things?

[@hcohenful]

Thank you so much for those kind words. Love to do more projects. Involved with lots of new projects in the neon shop. Find me on Instagram to keep updated

[@awesomeyeahroxs]

@@hcohenful you rock!

[@hcohenful]

@@awesomeyeahroxs Thsnks a million!

[@sih1095]

Magical to watch.

[@boltonky]

I really hope he has had some apprentices or least taught classes cause you know a master/some one great at what they do when nothing is complicated and is very clear about it looks easy but its not

[@FAMINE_R1]

As someone that used to build these signs for a small private company, $30k for that sign is a load of crap. I mean, c'mon, the craft is already cool enough without having to lie about the money involved

[@hcohenful]

Have you seen the signs sold at Mecum or Barrett Jackson? Some of the money is insane

[@travismiller5548]

$30k won't even get you in the door for a Daktronics or similar electronic message center. They start at about 40. You know, the LED signs every church or school has these days to tell you about the upcoming PTA meeting or bake sales? Commercial signage is stupid expensive if you didn't know, and then you'll (usually) have to have it installed by a licensed contractor. There's permitting, and sign law can be a real booger too.

[@jamesokeeffe4614]

Is this 33 coe? Can I use 33coe?

[@travismiller5548]

You'd want boro electrodes, but yeah.

[@jamesokeeffe4614]

@@travismiller5548 thanks. Will do

[@wiwingmargahayu6831]

computer scanner also use neon lamp if i'm correct super mini i mean the diameter size Sir

[@scorpioninpink]

This is actually very cool.

[@SympathyM]

Anyone know the music played here?🧘‍♂️

[@mark-7089]

Please! Trying to find it myself

[@guyfawkes6657]

so beautiful !

[@jennglow4647]

Cool 😃

[@rayisland23]

Lost Art, Beautiful

[@3c3c3c]

There are sadly only a few ones left in my city and they are have a very faint glow because there is no one left to restore them

[@DJYOUNGKT]

This man is good at what he does

[@hcohenful]

Thank you. Lots of broken glass and crappy bends to get to this point.

[@arsonfly]

Apparently neon signs are more expensive than I thought.

[@rickydlp]

such an art form and what a great story teller! I love neon sign. I hate the new LED signs. they don't compare!

[@BigInjun05]

I thought for sure he was going to say hudson N.Y. I was gonna be like I live 20 min from there lol.

[@zainkhan5502]

great storyteller i see❤