The word neon originates from the Greek term neos, meaning the new gas. In 1902 the French inventor Georges Claude was the  first to apply an electrical discharge to a sealed lamp tube of this gas lamp to create a light. After displaying the first of these lights at an  auto convention in Paris in 1910, Georges Claude and his French company, introduced signs to the United States in 1923, by selling two to a Packard car dealership in Los Angeles. This lamp attracted so much attention, that the benefits for outdoor  advertising signage were undeniable. Visible even in daylight, people would stop and stare at the first neon signs dubbed liquid  fire. These lights took off in 1933 with the repeal of prohibition, which created a need for eye-catching lamp advertising signs above  bars. In the 30's and 40's,  became synonymous with Art Deco and dominated the American urban landscape. By the 50's, lamp had become inextricably linked with drive-ins, diners, and the glamour lamp of Las Vegas. Nothing catches the eye like these, and  it has been the most effective medium for lamp signs all over the world ever since.

A gas discharge lamp containing primarily this gas at low pressure. The term is sometimes used for similar devices  filled with other noble gases, usually to produce different colors.

A small electric current lamp, which may be AC or DC, is allowed through the tube, causing it to glow orange-red. The exact formulation  of the gas is typically the classic Penning mixture, 99.5 percent  and 0.5 percent argon, which has lower striking voltage than pure.  The applied voltage must initially reach the striking voltage before the lamp can light. Once lit, the voltage required to sustain  operation is significantly -30 percent lower. When driven from a DC source, only the negatively charged electrode cathode will glow.  When driven from an AC source, both electrodes will glow each during alternate half cycles. These lamp operate using a low  current glow discharge. Higher power devices, such as mercury-vapor lamp or metal halide lamp use a higher current arc  discharge.