I'm really excited now. After years of looking I've finally found an old postcard of the diner and it shows the great original signs! I have long searched in vain for references for what I knew had to have been a good sign, the current box sign just isn't worthy of the old style. The real diner seems to open and close every few years and somewhere along the way they removed them but my digital version will soon have the original signs restored.
Edit: Yesterday i started building the modern Lincoln Lodge signs, but now also have discovered the vintage Rose Haven Motel sign in this postcard, so that's replacing the modern one. Really glad to be able to bring the old style back.
Edit: Motel sign blocked in (now to do the neon