Roto-Spheres

	Super Signage

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ROTO-SPHERES

Roto-Sphere signs are perhaps the biggest and most dramatic neon signs ever mass-produced. They were created and produced by Warren Milks from 1960-1971. Milks made approximately 234 of them and only about 17 of them are left. Of these, only seven are fully operational. Roto-Spheres were promoted as sign add-ons and distributed nationwide, with a few sent outside the country. This map that I created shows their exact distribution.
Contrary to what many people say, Roto-Spheres were not inspired by satellites or anything space age. Milks got the idea for their design from something he saw on TV. While many of us thought the inspiration might have come from Playhouse 90, Milks doesn't think that was it. He thinks it was a commercial for a children's toy or a spinning Christmas ornament. When people began calling his signs "Sputniks", Milks began using the name himself. However, they were always marketed as Roto-Spheres.
Roto-Spheres feature sixteen aluminum spikes outlined in neon. These multi-colored spikes are each eight feet long. They are mounted on a ball that spins in three directions. Not only does the sign rotate on its pole, but the ball itself is composed of two counter-rotating hemispheres. A motor and three gears resembling an automobile's rear axle differential are used to power the ball. Sign shops made repairs with auto parts but Milks swears he did not use them at all in the construction of these signs. Restoring and maintaining Roto-Spheres can be tricky and costly due to their size, mechanics, and the amount of neon used. I believe the original sign cost about $2,000 with shipping. To fully restore one today costs about $15,000. Here is the patent for the Roto-Sphere design.

Joe's Liquor Store
Memphis, TN El Comedor de Anayas Restaurant
Moriarty, NM Jenkins Lincoln-Mercury
Lakeland, FL

Joe's Liquor Store opened in 1962. A newspaper advertisement announcing the store's Grand Opening featured a photo of its Roto-Sphere with the caption "At the Sign of the Sputnik". By the mid-1970s, their sign had fallen into serious disrepair.
In 1999, Joe's Liquor Store's new owners decided to have their sign restored. They were able to raise the full $12,000 needed through a fundraising event. This "Sputnik Relaunch Party" drew about 450 people from the community and featured live bands, a silent auction, and a fireworks display. The restoration took three months. Since then, Sputnik's motor has been replaced three or four times and it is now completely electric. Although the neon is extra-strength, about two tubes break each year and require replacement. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.
The El Comedor de Anayas Restaurant opened in 1952 and their Roto-Sphere sign was installed sometime in the 1960s. Their sign had deteriorated so badly over the years that the spikes were practically paint-free. However, in 2002, their Roto-Sphere was selected as one of nine vintage Route 66 signs to be restored with grant money. This sign features a four-way flasher that illuminates the four colors of spikes independently. However, the motor has been broken for several years and the sign no longer spins. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3.
The Jenkins Lincoln-Mercury Roto-Sphere was installed around 1960. It had fallen into disrepair over the years but was completely restored in 2007. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.