By Jenny Callison
Enquirer contributor

Neon Novelties co-owners (from left) Tom Wartman, Greg Pond, and Steve Weeks show some of their creations. (Glenn Hartong photos) | ZOOM |

WEST CHESTER TWP. - The three owners of Neon Novelties are having a gas with their fledgling venture.

Jeff Pond, Tom Wartman and Steve Weeks, who have sign-related businesses of their own, joined forces last Thanksgiving to open a shop where they could create and sell neon signs for residential use.

"It's the only retail place I know of that both manufactures and sells neon signs," Weeks said. "Most places will take your custom order to a subcontractor."

While Neon Novelties stocks ready-made neon signs for home decor, its specialty is bending tubes to produce just what the customer has in mind.

"Many of our customers are folks who have bars or entertainment areas in their homes," Wartman said. "This gives them something to dress up the area."

The idea of opening a store was something the three partners kicked around for several years. It was sparked by the number of requests for custom neon signs that Pond and Wartman fielded at their company, which makes commercial neon signs.

Tom Wartman, co-owner of Neon Novelties in West Chester, uses a set of crossfires to bend classic glass tubing Friday morning. | ZOOM |

"A lot of average Joes found us and wanted to purchase things for their homes," Wartman said. "It was very time-intensive and didn't work well with our business. We thought, 'Wouldn't it be great if we had a retail store where we could just send them?' "

Sales were brisk before the holiday season last year, but it has taken a while to build an inventory and a consistent customer base.

Said Wartman: "It's been a hold-your-own kind of year for us, with the economy. We felt good that we were holding our own and had some busy streaks."

"The business is evolving, and we have more stuff on the shelves now," Weeks said.

In addition to neon creations, the store carries bubble-gum machines, slot machines and other rec room staples. The studio is on site.

Neon Novelties' owners are gearing up for the holiday season, hoping that custom signs are on a lot of Tristate wish lists. Eventually, they'd like to expand their business with a second location, perhaps in Northern Kentucky.

Said Weeks: "It's fun. I love being here on Saturdays and talking to people."

Getting a charge out of neon

Neon signs are made from artistically bent tubes, but what makes them glow?

Neon Novelties co-owner Tom Wartman explains that the inside of the tubes is a vacuum into which a small amount of neon or argon gas is injected. An electrical charge is applied at each end of the tube. As the electrical current passes through the gas, the electrons are set in motion, producing the glow.

Neon gas is red, and argon is blue. Clear tubes allow the gas's natural color to appear. Color-coated tubes are used to produce other colors.

A neon tube can be expected to last five to ten years with proper care.

Neon Novelties is at 9016 Sutton Place. Information: 860-0050.

E-mail jcallison@zoomtown.com