The Year Neon Jammed Britain’s Radios

1939’s Strange Neon vs Wireless Battle

It sounds bizarre today: on the eve of the Second World War, the House of Commons was debating glowing shopfronts.

Mr. Gallacher, an MP with a sharp tongue, demanded answers from the Postmaster-General. How many complaints had rolled in about wireless sets being ruined by neon signage?

The figure was no joke: roughly one thousand cases logged in a single year.

Think about it: ordinary families huddled around a crackling set, desperate for dance music or speeches from the King, only to hear static and buzzing from the local cinema’s neon sign.

Postmaster-General Major Tryon admitted the scale of the headache. The difficulty?: there was no law compelling interference suppression.

He said legislation was being explored, but admitted consultations would take "some time".

Translation? Parliament was stalling.

The MP wasn’t satisfied. He said listeners were getting a raw deal.

Another MP raised the stakes. Wasn’t the state itself one of the worst offenders?

Tryon deflected, saying yes, cables were part of the mess, which only complicated things further.

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Seen through modern eyes, it’s heritage comedy with a lesson. Neon was once painted as the noisy disruptor.

Jump ahead eight decades and the roles have flipped: the menace of 1939 is now the endangered beauty of 2025.

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Why does it matter?

Neon has always been political, neon signs London cultural, disruptive. It’s always forced society to decide what kind of light it wants.

In truth, it’s been art all along.

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Our take at Smithers. We see proof that neon was powerful enough to shake Britain.

Call it quaint, call it heritage, but it’s a reminder. And it still does.

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Don’t settle for plastic impostors. Authentic glow sign makers (content) has history on its side.

If neon got MPs shouting in 1939, it deserves a place in your space today.

Choose glow.

You need it.

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