Q. What makes a custom vintage-style sign superior to an actual antique sign?

A. Many things. Many antique signs actually contain toxic materials such as lead, PCB's, etc. Our signs do not.

Old signs are often very large, heavy, and cumbersome.Ours are custom-made to fit any space, and by using current technology we can create a sign that is a small fraction of the weight of an antique neon sign.

Our signs also do not buzz, do not interfere with radio waves, and are fire safe due to their ground fault protection.

When you add all of this up and consider that I can make the sign look like an antique sign, the choice for a custom-made retro neon sign is clear.

Q. Why do you give the signs a rusty, aged patina?

A. Simply put, that is what makes them art. There are a few companies out there trying to get on the bandwagon by making nostalgic-style neon signs, but they cannot match the design and weathering techniques that took me a lifetime to perfect.

Q. Are neon signs and sideshow banners from Roadhouse Relics a good investment?

A. Yes, absolutely. These signs aren't cranked out in an assembly-line fashion. They are handcrafted by skilled artisans in Austin, Texas, And because they are fine art pieces, their value can only increase.

Q. Do the new retro-style neons use much energy?

A. Due to solid-state technology, these signs use a small fraction of the energy compared to their antique counterparts.

Q. How do you get the signs to look so close to the original antiques?

A. Weathering techniques aside, the signs are designed by hand. Computers were not used to create neon signs in the 1930's - 1950's, so we simply don't employ computer graphics when designing our art pieces.