Neon signs are the first thing you think of when anyone mentions New York City or Las Vegas. Neon signs illuminate the night sky and bring about beautiful, brilliant colors. The concept behind neon signs was first conceived in 1675, when the French astronomer Jean Picard observed a faint glow in a mercury barometer tube. Today many businesses use them to call attention to their company, while others simply use them to promote store hours or products they are featuring. For many years this type of advertisement set companies apart and brought with it business. Restaurants, taverns, stores, even tanning salons are frequent purchasers of neon signs.