On 19 January 1915, George Claude received US Patent No. 1,125,476 for a “System of illuminating by luminescent tubes”.
Neon signage helped turn a laboratory effect into a scalable commercial medium. It reshaped advertising and branding, and it changed the visual identity of cities, from shopfronts to nightlife.
A patent that did not just protect an invention, it helped launch an industry.
George Claude and his US Patent No. 1,125,476 for a “System of illuminating by luminescent tubes”.
| Country | Kind | No. | Published | Title | Download |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | Patent | 1,125,476 | 19.01.1915 | System of illuminating by luminescent tubes |
Last updated on 18 February 2026