Christmas 2020 is fast approaching. Feeling a bit nostalgic this year? Why not make it a vintage Christmas? It is easier than you might think to give an MCM feel to the holidays and here a a few ideas to get you started.
Ceramic trees appear to be at the top of everyone’s list. But, if you truly want a “vintage” tree, you need to know what to watch for. Early issue trees from the late 1960s and early 1970s will have tiny little lights that lit individually. As we moved into the later part of the 1970s that changed over to one light bulb that was inserted into the tree to light small plastic “bulbs” in a variety of primary colors. Take a close look at the bulbs on the tree you are considering. Older trees will have glass bulbs, while the newer ones will have plastic.
A date on the bottom does not necessarily denote when it was made. A tree may be marked 1972, the date the mold was first issued, when it was actually manufactured in 2015. Factory produced trees will sometimes have a model number on the bottom which you can research along with the factory name to determine age, and craft trees were often crudely incised with the date that they were fired. Most of the vintage trees you will find are from the late 1960s through the late 1970s. However, there are two exceptions: the ceramic trees made in the late 1940s by private craftsmen and the first commercially designed trees issued in 1958 by Atlantic Molds. These are rare. If you have one cherish it.
In 1957 the first compressed-air Christmas blow molds hit the market and the characters of the season took over the yards of America. Two of the most highly sought blow molds — Santa and Frosty the Snowman — were manufactured by the L. A. Goodman Company in the early 1960s.These were soon joined by candles, carolers, elves, angels, full nativity scenes and reindeer. Old molds will be marked and dated. Watch for marks from: Artistic Latex Form Company 1940-1960, Beco Products 1950-1960, A.J. Renzi 1960-1970, Blinky 1960-1980, and Irwin Products 1960s. In the 1980s companies began to outsourcing production and by the time we reached the 1990s most all blow molds were being imported from China.
Aluminum trees and color wheels from the “Atomic Age” of the mid-20th Century, were the first artificial Christmas tree to be introduced in America. All the rage from 1955-1967, the bulk of these trees were sold through the Sears Christmas Catalog which assured buyers that their tree would be “the talk of the neighborhood.” Serious collectors watch for trees from two main manufacturers, Modern Coating Inc of Chicago (1955-1959) and The Aluminum Specialty Company of Wisconsin (1959-1969). Adding strings of lights to these trees presented a fire hazard so they were “lit” by a four panel color wheel. Vintage wheels are readily available online but make sure to carefully inspect the wiring before you use one. Old color wheels are notorious for overheating so you may want to opt for one of the newer versions you will find at hardware and big box stores.
Vintage ornaments are a fast and fun way to give your home an MCM feel for the holidays. Brightly colored glass balls, known as “Shiny Brites,” first appeared in the U.S. during the mid-1950s and are sold today at area antique and resale shops, often in their divided brown cardboard boxes which hold 12 ornaments. European Diorama ornaments found their way to America in the late 1950s. These ornaments, with a hollow center, will contain snowy landscapes and winter scenes. Quite similar, but a bit more whimsical, are “Goose Egg” ornaments, which are made of spun cotton and mercury glass and will house Santas and snowmen.
Whether your a Baby Boomer, GenXer, a Millennial, of GenZ, there is probably a decoration from a Christmas past that is special to you. So dig through the closets (or call Mom and have her dig through hers) and let’s get started towards a vintage Christmas for 2020. Until next time . . . Linda.
Linda Kennett is a professional liquidation consultant specializing in down-sizing for seniors and may be reached at 317-258-7835 or lkennett@indy.rr.com
