Signs of the Times: Arlington Man’s Americana Neon Sign Collection Continues to Grow

By Office of Communication

Posted on July 18, 2018, July 18, 2018

While some people collect coins and stamps, snowglobes or even post cards from around the world, Arlington resident Michael Brown's assortment of vibrant neon sign outshines the typical hobbyist's collection.

Brown's passion for Americana road art has taken him around the country looking for original neon signs. Today, his collection is nearing 100 signs, with some dating back to the origins of neon in America almost a century ago.

"It's a connection to part of our past that likely will not be the same and a rationalization, I guess - but, I'm doing my small part in saving a few unique pieces of early to mid 20th century pop culture history," Brown said.

Arlington Today recently put Brown's growing neon sign collection in the spotlight in an article titled Road Art, which you can read by clicking here.

Brown's latest acquisition is 12-foot Paramount Pictures sign that had been sitting on the back lot of the studio in Hollywood. This highly sought-after porcelain and neon collector's prize dates back to the 1930s.

Transporting and mounting the really big ones requires a combination of skills Brown describes as "lifting a Sherman Tank with elements as fragile as raw eggs."

You can see more of Brown's impressive collection in this Neon Collection in Texas video on YouTube.