When Radio Met Neon in Parliament

It might seem almost comic now: while Europe braced for Hitler’s advance, Parliament was wrestling with the problem of neon interfering with radios.

Gallacher, never one to mince words, rose to challenge the government. Were neon installations scrambling the airwaves?

The reply turned heads: the Department had received nearly one thousand reports from frustrated licence-payers.

Picture 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. But here’s the rub: there was no law compelling interference suppression.

He said legislation was being explored, but warned the issue touched too many interests.

In plain English: no fix any time soon.

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

From the backbenches came another jab. What about the Central Electricity Board and their high-tension cables?

Tryon deflected, admitting it made the matter "difficult" but offering no real solution.

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Seen through modern eyes, it’s heritage comedy with a lesson. Back then, neon was the tech menace keeping people up at night.

Fast forward to today and it’s the opposite story: the menace of 1939 is now the endangered beauty of 2025.

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What does it tell us?

Neon has always been political, 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.

So, yes, old is gold. And it always will.

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Ignore the buzzwords of "LED neon signs London neon". Glass and gas are the original and the best.

If neon could shake Westminster before the war, it can certainly shake your walls now.

Choose craft.

You need it.

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