Back in 2014, I contacted Neon Shop Fishtail, a well-known neon shop in Chicago, and inquired about the possibility of fabricating a neon Apple logo for my home.
I contacted the general email address on the website and quickly received a response from Tom Brickler, whom I later learned is the owner of the shop. I sent a Photoshop mockup of the idea I was envisioning. He told me that he liked the project and that he could start it later that week.
On a whim, I asked if the shop allowed customers to watch the fabrication of projects. I was very surprised when he invited me the next Friday afternoon. They not only allowed me to watch the fabrication, but they very generously allowed me to take photos and video, all captured on my iPhone 6—my personal iPhone at the time.
The experience was fascinating to watch, and it became immediately clear that the three men involved in the project were extremely skilled craftsmen. Before I arrived, neon artist John Noga had already shaped three pieces of the logo, but he had not yet fused them together. I was able to watch him create the leaf part of the logo from a straight white glass tube. He then trimmed and joined the larger pieces to form the lower apple part of the logo with the top, bottom, and “bite.”
The next step was to bring the project to the shop basement where the two pieces were electrified with 15,000 volts of electricity, heating them to 550˚F to burn out the impurities inside the glass. The white tubes were then pressure-filled with argon gas so, when electrified, the piece would produce a white glow.
The last two steps, completed by Chevo Carreño, included “burning in” the tubes with electricity so the entire shape would glow evenly. As the burning-in commenced, it was easy to follow the path of the glow getting brighter until the entire piece was even. He finished the project by painting the non-glowing parts of the tubes with a foul-smelling substance that effectively blocked out the light. He let me select the color, and I went with gray. I was also able to select the wire color and chose white.
I took the logo home that day.
About one month later, I finished the installation with help from my then-neighbor and owner of a painting company, Alex Tenuta. The logo is supported by clear plastic clips attached to the wall, and the wiring is a simple series circuit that attaches to a dimmable transformer that plugs into a standard outlet. The logo is mounted on the half-wall of my loft, about 15 feet up.
Tom Brickler, also known as “Neon Tom,” named Neon Shop Fishtail after a fishtail ribbon burner used for making sweeping curved bends with glass over fire. After nearly 40 years, he describes his business as strong with “work in the major motion picture industry, business signs, custom art for residential, and signage for the industry.” The website adds, “We specialize in making our own signs in the handmade custom way neon is made and take great pride in what we do!”
Neon Shop Fishtail is located at 2247 North Western Avenue on Chicago’s north side, and handmade work can be viewed in the store. Brickler invites anyone to visit, “even if you are not in the market for a neon sign…after coming in, you will now be noticing neon everywhere, and hopefully you will come up with an idea that we can create in light.”
I distinctly remember recording the process at Neon Shop Fishtail, and to this day I very much appreciate that they timed the completion so I could watch and learn part of the process. I still remember how effortless they made process seem and the obvious experience and artistry in every step. I also remember being surprised by the specialized tools and open flames that were burning around the shop in unexpected locations.
Using my many clips, I created a “making of” video back in 2014 and posted it on YouTube. Neon Shop Fishtail has included on the front page of their website since I sent them the link in 2014. Over 10 years later, my video has well over 14,000 views—BY FAR the most views of any video I have ever made!
Of course, this neon artwork is not an official Apple product, but I consider it among my most prized Apple collection items.
Source: Neon Shop Fishtail
