Dresden shines: Historical Baroque lettering revived!

Dresden shines: Historical Baroque lettering revived!

in Dresden-Kaditz recently light up a piece of history. The restored baroque lettering, which was installed in 1957, is officially inaugurated in the Baroque event park. This fluorescent sign, which the Cologne residents are sure to be interested in a visit to the city, now illuminates the roof of the former ink factory in Emilienstrasse and attracts numerous visitors.

The revision of the approximately two meter high and almost ten meter wide lettering was made possible by a strong financial commitment to the Pieschen District Advisory Board, which provided an impressive 15,300 euros. Despite a previously failed crowdfunding campaign, in which only 3,633 euros were collected from a target of 15,000 euros, the operators Torsten Meisel and Benjamin Venter managed to secure the necessary funds for the renovation. The entire project cost the proud sum of around 17,000 euros, whereby the lack of financing was applied by the event park and other sponsors.

a relic from GDR times

With the restoration of the Baroque lettering, a heart desire from the event park chief Torsten Meisel came true. Before the turn, the factory was an important manufacturer of school and office inks as well as stamp cushions and color band cassettes and offered over 400 jobs in the GDR. In recent years, however, bankruptcies and the final closure in 2011 have ensured that the memories of the glorious times faded. Today, diverse leisure activities are offered on the site of the former production location, including mini golf and escape rooms.

Technologically up to date, the lettering uses LEDs in plastic hoses that not only enable a customizable blue tone, but also have low energy consumption. The light can be controlled via a cell phone or a timer, which of course is fun and is practical. A special highlight to celebrate the renewed advertising: Octopus Fluids has released a limited special edition of the baroque ink in stylish glass barrels.

A look at the history of the neon sign

The baroque lettering is one of the last relics from the GDR period and makes it clear how the representation of light advertising has changed over the years. The history of the neon sign in Germany goes back to 1896 when the first light advertising systems came up. Especially in the 1960s, neon signs became popular, which made a variety of new designs possible. But in the GDR, light advertising was undesirable for a long time, which gives this lettering again. Today there are only a few striking advertising systems, of which the best known at Dippoldiswalder Platz is listed, as Wikipedia notes.

Overall, it would be said that the Baroque lettering not only keeps the memories of a past era, but also as a cultural heritage of the city is a lively attraction for locals and tourists. Over 25,000 visitors annually use the Baroque event park as a place of relaxation and experience and at the same time enjoy the radiant nostalgia that the lettering promises. One could say that this is an excellent business for the region, because stories are known to have their price.

It is clear: Nostalgia is a good business and the Baroque lettering is further proof that the past can still shine today.

For everyone who wants to learn more about the historical luminaire, there is also a look at the records and developments since 1853, which illuminate the development of this special form of advertising, as on Pieschen Aktuell emphasized.