Rigby Neon Inc.: Creating lasting impressions in neon.

Hi, and thanks for visiting our site. We're a neon design and manufacturing company. Rigby Neon was started in the garage of my grandfather Walt Rigby in 1945 in Detroit, Michigan. At that time Walt was a journeyman "glass blower" and member of the local 58 electrical union.

The picture above is him working at Walker Sign Co. in 1933 as an apprentice glass blower, he's on the far right. Back then glass blowers had to serve a 3 year apprenticeship, then take a bending test that required them to bend the most difficult type of design created to challenge even the most talented journeyman bender. If the apprentice was able to pass the test he would then receive his journeymans card that would immediatly get him a pay raise. The journeyman glass blowers also wore dress shirts and ties. I can't imagine how tough some of those hot summer days in Detroit must have been on a man working 10 hours a day in a shirt and tie standing over fires. Unfortunately in the late sixties glass blowers were no longer regulated by the union and the level of expertise was allowed to fall off.

In the late eightys and into the nineties things got even worse when there were neon schools spitting out "neon experts" every six months or so. The reason I'm educating you a little on the neon industry is to let you know that, like many other forms of industry, there are many levels of ability in the neon manufacturing world.

I was taught this trade by my father who was taught by my grandfather. The glass blowers that work for me, and there aren't many, have all been taught by me. My name is Ron Rigby, I am currently 52 years old and have been bending neon since 1988.

I don't mean to sound like a neon snob but you need to know that just because someone can make a neon tube, doesn't necessarily mean they are good at what they do. I have no way of knowing if you are a golfer or not but golf can be a good analogy. There are people who golf for years and years but would never be considered any good at it.

When asking about the ability of a glass blower the first thing you'll here is how long he or she has been doing it. Because you've been doing something for a long time doesn't mean you are good at it. There is a very realistic possibility that the neon person wasn't taught properly from the beginning so they will go their entire "glass blowing" career thinking they are very good when they really have nothing or no one to compare their work to because often time neon benders work alone.

So, all that being said, please understand that you looking at a neon sign will not be able to tell if the sign was made properly or not because it will probably light up and look bright and pretty. Could you tell the difference between a real Rolex and a knock off? Probably not, I doubt I could. But (please excuse the pun) time will tell. As in any quality product, and I hope that is what you are looking for, time will reveal the good from the bad. And purchasing the bad doesn't always mean the least expensive because the bad neon person knows that you will have no idea if you are purchasing a product that was made properly or not.

Thankfully you have me to help you out. Call me, email me, skype me, twit me, or facebook me if you have a question about anything to do with neon.

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