 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
email: agilitynut@hotmail.com |
 |
| Satellite Signs (page 1) |
(hit "refresh" to get the most recent version of this page; click on photos for larger images)
| Dixie Liquor Dyersburg, TN |
One Stop Auto Sales Austin, TX |
Walli's Restaurant Burton, MI |
|||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Dixie Liquor has a neon sign topped with what looks like a giant toy jack. The six metal spikes are outlined with neon and mounted on a square central element. This star-like add-on measures 13 feet across and was mass-produced in the 1960s by the Standard Neon Supply Company. This was their Neo-Lectra model which featured "scintillating" flashing action. This type of sign did not rotate. Dixie Liquor has restored this sign a few times but it is a frequent target for rock-throwing vandals and they have stopped repairing it.
One Stop Auto Sales also has a Neo-Lectra. The neon looks in good shape. Does anyone know if this sign is still lit at night? The Walli's Restaurant sign is surmounted by two Neo-Lectras. Walli's had at least four restaurants in the Flint, MI area. One of their signs had a Roto-Sphere which is not located at the Dort Mall. |
| Century Motorcycles San Pedro, CA |
Ranch House Cafe Vaughn, NM |
Sav-Mart Wenatchee, WA |
|||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Century Motorcycles opened here in 1962. This Neo-Lectra was put up at that time. The plastic part of the sign was still intact in 2006. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.
The long-closed Ranch House Cafe has another surviving Neo-Lectra. Sav-Mart has been here since the 1960s. In 2004, only one of the Neo-Lectra arms was lit at night. |
| Grigg's Motel Richmond, KY |
Mohr & Mohr Housing Elkhart, IN |
||
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
The Grigg's Motel has a Neo-Lectra and a neon sign. The Neo-Lectra is missing one of its arms.
This Neo-Lectra is installed on top of the sign for Mohr & Mohr Housing which is obviously a recent tenant. Just down the road is Tops Home Center which has a sign using this same top-like shape. It's my hunch that whatever this sign advertised for originally might have been related to that business. Does anybody know what was here? |
| Brown Boys Yakima, WA |
Hockomock Plaza West Bridgewater, MA |
||
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
The Brown Boys Neo-Lectra is partially lit at night. The flasher works on four of the six arms. The sign was moved here around 2003 from Courtesy Motors in Union Gap, WA. For more, see this website.
The Hockomock Plaza star is a Neo-Lectra Jr., also produced by Standard Neon Supply Company. This sign used to spin but I don't know if it still does. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. |
| Bridge City Cleaners Bridge City, TX |
|
 |
 |
| The Bridge City Cleaners Sputnik has stumpier arms than the Neo-Lectras shown above. I don't know if it was produced by the same company. Bridge City Cleaners was closed in 2011 when this photo was taken. I don't know what will become of this sign. |
|
More Neo-Lectras:
Sinbad Motel (Miami, FL) [gone] Roxy's Drive-in: 1, 2 (Benton Harbor, MI) [gone] Dickman's Wayfarer Inn (Rolla, MO) [gone] Baricev's Restaurant (Biloxi, MS) [gone] 28-70 Food Mart (Lexington, NC) [gone] Milner Western Motel (Santa Rosa, NM) [vintage; gone] Motel Shawford (Santa Rosa, NM) [vintage; gone] King Dragon (Yankton, SD) |
| Montana Motel El Paso, TX |
Lone Star Motor Company El Paso, TX |
Cascade Car Wash El Paso, TX |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
The Montana Motel features a satellite element that I haven't seen anywhere else before. It doesn't look like it ever rotated but I could be wrong. There is another identical sign element nearby at Viva Chevrolet.
This satellite sign stands on the lot of the Lone Star Motor Company building. It looks identical to the one at the Montana Motel. The Cascade Car Wash sign is similar but with fatter arms. |
| Premiere Lanes Santa Fe Springs, CA |
||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| The Premiere Lanes sign features nine Sputnik additions. The bowling alley closed in 2008 and its contents were auctioned off. The buildings will be demolished and this sign is endangered. For more, see this website. |
| Reno Arch Reno, NV |
||
 |
 |
 |
| The Reno Arch was originally constructed in 1926. The sign has changed and been rebuilt over the years. In 1964, a star-like element was added to the top. In 1987, a new arch was created by YESCO. This current sign still includes a giant star. The lights at the tips of the star are lit at night. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. |
| City of Cars [gone] Orlando, FL |
Double A Motel Fremont, OH |
|
 |
 |
 |
|
The City of Cars sign appeared to have been inspired by the Roto-Sphere. This style sign featured a greater number of spikes. These spikes were also fatter and edged with neon. There were originally two of these rotating signs at this car lot. I believe this design was called a Moravian Star but I don't know how many were produced. This is the only one I have ever seen. It stood on this vacant lot for many years until 2008 when a new car dealership was built. I believe this sign was demolished.
The Double A Motel and Dixie Liquor Store signs feature fewer spikes and square central elements. The metal spikes on the Double A star are each tipped with a light bulb. Management has found it impractical to replace them due to the sign's height. |
| Satellite Signs (pg. 2) | Roto-Spheres |
| Main SCA Page | Main Signs Page |
| RoadsideArchitecture.com |