Other than a live Christmas tree, a retro aluminum tree — like reader BusyBhive’s tree, above, from our uploader Tinselmania: 73 vintage aluminum Christmas trees — is one of the most authentically vintage ways to decorate for the holidays. Golly, do we love our aluminum Christmas trees! Unless you are lucky enough to have one that’s been in the family for years, you’ll have to do a little searching to locate one of these tinsel beauties. I’ve scoured the internet and racked my brain to bring you this list of 6 places to find vintage and reproduction aluminum Christmas trees to add a little — no, a lotta! — sparkle to your holiday decor.
Please note, my list only includes real aluminum trees – not tinsel ones or ones made from plastic with some sort of metallic coating — but those look pretty nice these days, too!
Above: Reader MrsErinD’s retro 60’s aluminum tree.
Where to find new reproduction aluminum Christmas trees
1. Amazon
Alas, within the past decade there was a company out of North Dakota that sold wonderful looking aluminum Christmas trees, but it dropped out of site a few years ago.
Right now (holiday 2019), the only aluminum tree I can find made new is on Amazon (shown below in the selling widget).
Where to find authentic vintage aluminum Christmas trees
2. Ebay
That leaves us with: Vintage. There are — of course — a wealth of vintage aluminum Christmas trees to be had on Ebay. Many different styles, heights, colors and branch types — For example: Vintage Pom Poms, like reader Drew’s above, are hot hotter hottest. While there are still some bargains to be had on Ebay, be prepared to shell out some of the green stuff — some vintage trees can fetch several hundred dollars at auction.
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But if you love vintage you might love this video — How to Make a Christmas ornament wreath — too:
Piece together a tree from vintage parts
Tip, including from readers: You can also buy Just Branches and Just Poles (or drill your own pole, although that likely will take skillz) and try to put together your own tree from parts. Yes: On ebay and other sites, some sellers harvest the branches and sell them.
3. Etsy
A variety of vintage aluminum trees can also be found on etsy.com, and you bypass the frustrations of an auction. Once again, sizes, colors, styles and price points vary widely. Above: Reader modshawn found his gorgeous vintage hunka metal on etsy.
4. Facebook Marketplace:
One of my new favorite places to shop due to its ease of seeing photographs and changing location selections to cast a wider net.
5. Craigslist
… Is always worth checking. I use SearchTempest to widen my search — I think there are other such sites that help you do the same.
Don’t forget: You can also post a “wanted” ad — someone in your local area may have one on their basement or attic they are happy to get rid of. I got one of my aluminum trees — along with some vintage ornaments to go with — that way!
6. The hunt: Estate sales, yard sales, vintage shops, Craigslist & “Mom’s attic”
I can’t say for sure, but I’m guessing blogger Uncle Atom probably got his aluminum Christmas tree (above) from one of these sources. There are some real deals to be had on vintage aluminum Christmas trees — most likely you will find the best deals available when you are on the prowl at estate sales, yard sales, vintage shops, craigslist and everybody’s favorite — family attics and basements. The best time to do your aluminum tree hunting in the off season — when prices aren’t driven up by holiday demand and folks are doing their annual house purges.
Pam adds that, while she generally does not go to estate sales early (because she has way more than “enough” stuff already,) if you are on the hunt specifically for vintage Christmas, this might be a reason to get up early, grab a cuppa and get in line. Conversely, though, in the dead of summer, when folks just aren’t in the holiday mood, she often sees vintage Christmas decorations still available in the final hours of the sale at half-price, or better. Throw everything in a big box and ask very very nicely, “How much?” and you might be surprised by the price you are quoted to take the stuff off the estate sale organizer’s hands.
Particularly collectible aluminum Christmas trees:
While you’re on the hunt, why not look for rare aluminum Christmas trees — like Lori’s Evergleam Peacock tree. As you can see from the photo above, it stands flat on one plane, with the branches arrayed like the tale of a peacock. See more photos of Lori’s wonderful tree story here.
- We’ve also seen Stainless Steel Christmas trees!
- There are colored aluminum Christmas trees!
- And I have a small aluminum Christmas tree that is, like 180 degrees full — like an orange cut in half — that is meant to hang on a door like a wreath. I need to assemble it and get a photo up!
No matter where you find your vintage (or new) aluminum Christmas tree — REMEMBER — these types of trees were not made for electric lights. Remember: NOEL – NO Electric Lights on aluminum Christmas trees …. AND: Be aware that vintage products may contain various hazards, such as asbestos in flocking and fake snow and lead paint on old ornaments, etc. When dealing with old materials, get with a properly licensed professional to know what you are dealing with. Read more – Be Safe / Renovate Safe.
Rick S says
Kate.
This really brings back memories. My dad’s parents had an aluminum tree and color wheel. I remember them turning off the livingroom lights and us kids laying on the floor watching the room change colors. It did seem odd that they didn’t cut one of the pines on their farm like my other grandparents.
I don’t know where the tree is now but my wife wishes she had it.
rick
Kate says
What a great memory! That must have been magical…
RetroSandie says
Rick, I used to do that, too! Lay on the sofa and watch the color wash over the ceiling and walls. Just beautiful!!! I loved our tree!!!!
The Other Robin says
I didn’t really appreciate aluminum trees until this post. They’re very pretty actually. A few years ago I bought a little 3′ fiber optic tree. I’ve become very fond of it. We like to turn the lights off and watch it spin its colors. It reminds me of the fiber optic ball my dad had in the 70s, so I guess technically my tree has some retro roots. I don’t see myself getting an aluminum one, I wouldn’t want to hurt my tree’s feelings.
Kate says
I’m glad you have an appreciation of them now — I have a silver tree, but it is not aluminum. I like putting lights on my tree too much to have an aluminum tree, though if I decided to put up a second tree in my den, I might spring for a 4 ft aluminum tree….I’d have to find the perfect one first though… 🙂
Kayla says
Grew up with my grandparents having the 5 ft aluminum tree and color wheel every Christmas of my childhood. Once they passed on, I inherited the task of cleaning our their home… and low and behold, in the attic in it’s original box, all branches ‘sleeved’ and in wonderful condition, sat the Christmas Tree! Was a life-saver for us the year our holiday party was on December 26 and the ‘real’ tree we purchased early in the season turned brown! Out with the brown and up with the silver! Was quite the ‘conversation starter’ that year! A year or so later, my daughter found the color wheel in the bathroom cabinet!
Kendra says
Shoot. Guess i’ll put some lights on it and cross my fingers? Just keeeeeeding. Wal-mart had some fabulous 7 ft. tinsel trees last year at a great price-$90, I think. That’s our usual tree of fabulousness.
Sarah g says
Went to an estate sale… Was digging around the garage and came across a peice of a color wheel… Kept digging and found all the parts and assembled it. I was so excited! Went and put it in my pile by the checkout (the people saw me, in fact urged me to make a pile!) I come back to checkout and they took it out of my pile and sold it to the person who was buying a Xmas tree bc they said it went together. I had to call BS on this! They didn’t have them priced together, they didn’t have them in the same room, in fact they didn’t even know there was a color wheel in the GD house! I was sooooo angry I think I didn’t pay much of anything for the rest of my finds to try to appease me.
Rebekah says
Sarah
You might be able to buy a color wheel at your local Walgreens. My mom bought a silver X-mas tree a few years ago and two years ago we went into Walgreen and bought a color wheel there of all places. Last year I went into BigLots at X-mas time and they were selling the color wheels as well. Good luck to you in finding one.
Rebekah
cebette says
I have seen color wheels at Target the past few years. Haven’t checked this year though. Might try Target.com.
kitschywoman says
I’ve got 6-ish or so vintage aluminum trees in varying shapes/sizes. Most were bought through local sellers (antique shops, etc.), got one from family, and I may have picked up one or two small ones on eBay. I also have several styles of color wheels and revolving tree stands, purchased through the same venues.
Mid-Century-Mark says
Found ours on eBay (the color wheel too) several years ago. We had one when I was a kid for many years. My father ditched the color wheel after a couple of years and hung C-7 bulb strings all over it. What with the aluminum branches and nylon/rayon carpet, if you came within about an inch of it a spark would jump (from built-up static) that sounded like a cap-gun & would actually hurt..! Oh, those were the days. I prefer the color wheel anyways. We have collected quite a number of vintage & retro-inspired ornaments… 😉
PF Flyer says
Kate, check out Lin’s Antiques and Collectibles. They usually have a good selection of aluminum trees in their Holiday section.
Kate says
Thanks for the tip! I will.
julia [lifeonchurchill] says
great roundup! I hope to have one someday but can’t afford to pay premium prices…will keep a lookout at estate + garage sales
john tayloir says
When you least expect to find something, that is when you usually find it. Keep looking on a regular basis, I have discovered that many of my friends for some unknown reason other than fear don’t like to venture out to Auction Sales, they have plenty of them in our area, and they are a hoot to attend. You might find a tree there, and also make a few new friends. Remember those that attend these are as off the beaten path as we are when it comes to treasure hunting. Good luck in your search. JT
Jukebox Jim says
I’ve been kicking the idea of finding an aluminum Christmas tree, I guess this article is meant to be a sign!