“Eat Heavy” says the bold sign just off of Route 3 in Clifton, New Jersey. Below it is the infamous Tick Tock Diner, a staple of classic American dining since 1948. Open twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year, the retro façade oozes contemporary, metallic art deco and a spectacle of vibrant neon lights. Or does it?
Last fall, the Tick Tock Diner reached out to us for lighting expertise. As part of extensive renovations to the building, the restaurant would be adding neon-like fixtures reminiscent of mid-century diners. One option to achieve this classic look is to go for traditional neon signage. Unfortunately, many disadvantages exist for neon signage. Once a neon sign is fabricated, it is permanent. You cannot change shape, color, or easily dim neon fixtures which are often very fragile. Neon fixtures also make use of a variety of gases and, occasionally, mercury to create their colors. They consume, on average, 4,800 watts over a twelve hour period.
Solid Apollo’s Neon LED Strip Lighting is the perfect alternative to traditional neon fixtures with seemingly endless benefits. Our neon LED strips are flexible, able to form to unique contours and shapes, and can be easily moved without fear of breaking. The unique structure of these strips gives the light the appearance of a neon fixture with no hot spots effectively diffusing the individual LED lights to create a glow. In contrast to neon, LED neon uses up to 75% less power than traditional gas fixtures.
Solid Apollo’s neon strips come in two formats, mini neon which functions at a low voltage of 24V DC, and the neon 120V which plugs directly into any 120V AC outlet for easy installation. Mini neon strips are more compact with a short two inch cut point, perfect for intricate designs. With longer 18 inch cut points, the neon 120V is great for long linear runs. Both strips come in a variety of colors and the 120V neon is available as an exceptional RGB flex neon that offers eight static colors and six color changing programs for ultimate control of your visual goals. All of our neon strips are fully dimmable and rated IP65 waterproof, suitable for locations inside and outdoors.
For the Tick Tock Diner, striking blue and red strips shoot around the building occasionally intersected with green diamond accents, created with our mini neon. Bolder red lines crafted with our neon 120V form eye catching accents. The addition of these fixtures further cements the diner as a New Jersey beacon, adding to its 70 year history. The Tick Tock Diner will now shine a little brighter with their new Solid Apollo LED Neon strips.
Do you have an LED project in mind we could assist you with? Reach out to us today at info@solidapollo.com or 425.582.7533 to begin planning your bright future.
Photos provided by courtesy of the Tick Tock Diner.
