With Thanksgiving 2021 a mere memory (except for the leftovers) and a hint of snow in the air, our thoughts have turned to Christmas and all the joy that comes with it! This year I am joining the ever-growing number of families who are decorating “vintage.” Thinking you might do the same? Here are some ideas.
From 1955-1969 the living rooms of America were glistening with silver flocked Christmas trees. The earliest trees, from 1955-1959, were manufactured by Modern Coatings Inc. of Chicago. The majority of the trees from 1959-1969 will be marked Aluminum Specialty Company of Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Their first, and most purchased, tree from this era was their “Evergleam.”
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 the big box stores. Many vintage trees were sold through the Sears catalog for $25. They were considered quite pricey for their day but nothing compared to the $400-$500 cost of acquiring a vintage tree for Christmas 2021.
1946 saw the introduction of the first bubble light, the NOMA biscuit. Sold by Montgomery Ward and inspired by the Bubbler Jukebox, it came in a nine light set with “alligator” socket clips. By 1948 other companies entered the market, with their own variations on the bubble light, most of which were manufactured through the 1970s. Those of particular interest to collectors include the delicate Deco-style Raylite Kristal Snow, which used oil in the fluid tube producing the effect of bubbling champagne and the Royal Electric Sparkling Bubble Lamp with methylene chloride filled tubes that produced fast bubbles. These are quite beautiful but note that they can be dangerous if the lights and cords are not in mint condition, so inspect your stand of lights each Christmas season for cracks in the glass.
Vintage ornaments are a fast and simple way to give your home a vintage feel for the holidays. Brightly colored glass balls, known as “Shiny Brites,” first appeared in the U.S. during the mid-1930s and are sold today at area antique shops. 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 a Santa or snowman.
Ceramic trees appear to be at the top of everyone’s “must have” list again this year. Early issue trees from the late 1967-1970 will have tiny little lights that lit individually. In 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 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. 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.
Vintage decor continues to go up in price, but there are deals to had for the savvy shopper. Before going online to an antique mall consider the local charity resale shops and flea markets. You might be surprised at the bargains you can find. 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
