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.
Neil says
Going to estate sales over the years, I’ve come across quite a few aluminum trees, but over the last three years or so the supply has completely dried up! But I was lucky to find a few years back, and keep for myself, natch, a 6-foot AND an 8-foot PINK aluminum christmas tree. I tell you, they are simply Fab-u-lous.
John says
I got my Peco tree from the rafters of a beach house my parents bought. The old lady died and her entire house was covered in pre 1970 stuff. The kids later came in and cleared it out but did manage to leave quite a bit of cool stuff. They even threw out her liquor which was luckily saved. Still need a color wheel for the tree though.
Meg says
I have the old-fashioned color wheel but I upgraded to a wheel by Phillips. It is in a sleek, white “bowl” shaped design with bright colors that turn. Or you can “lock” the wheel on one color. This color wheel is much less obtrusive than the older models and lights my aluminum tree much better, too.
I might get out the old-fashioned wheel and I thought I’d try experimenting with using both of the wheels simultaneously.
Allen Parker says
I have an aluminum tree I bought at a resale shop several years back. It didn’t have a box, so I stored it in a long plastic box.Last year, as I took it out to set it up, needles fell off, in great numbers. Anybody got a suggestion how to repair it and keep more from falling off?
cathy says
i am looking for a pole for my sparkler 6 ft Christmas tree
Carol says
Hello, hoping someone can help with this…..I have all the aluminum branches and the box, but no pole!!!! Have been trying to find replacement pole and standing brackets to no avail. It was my Nana’s tree and I have no idea where the pole went. Thanks for any help at all.
Carol
Trudy says
Hi Carol,
You should be able to purchase two 1″ – 2″ wooden dowels from a hardware store to use as the tree trunk. You’ll need to spray the dowels with metallic silver paint (or brush on would work too), and get a heavy metal pin to hold the two dowels together. Drill holes in the middle of the dowel ends that will meet, the metal pin should be long and strong enough to hold the top of the tree with branches in place on the bottom half of tree.
Using a long piece of cord/yarn/thread start from the top of tree and wind the cord around until you get to the bottom of tree. Use a permanent marker and mark dots along the winding cord until you reach the bottom of the tree. The number of branches you have will be the best way to know how many dots to make, because every dot will be where you need to drill to make a hole that will hold one of those branches.
Once you have the dots marked, drill holes slightly larger than the branch thickness, and drill then at an angle doing down into the trunk from the top (so when you put your branches in they look naturally positioned).
When your tree is ready to go getting a base to hold it is an easy thing to do. You could use an everyday, run of the mill tree stand, you just will never have to water your “new” tree. You could also spray paint the old green stand silver, so it would not be an eyesore under your glittering tree.
Hope that makes sense and helps!
Trudy
Jude says
I have a 3ft aluminium tree whose branches are a bit worse for wear. Have you thought of selling your branches-providing they are in good condition? Thank you
Cynthia says
I do have one! Seems like every summer, I run across a silver tree. This time, scored big with a 7 ft sparkler, color wheel and original red spun silk decorations. All in box, well cared for, original instructions…amazing sight to see. See the video on youtube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XR7ZDG1U9EI
pam kueber says
WOW! I am jealous!
Pauline says
I just bought a aluminum tree at an auction. The branches are silver and blue. It was made by US Silver Tree Co. Scranton PA. Can anyone tell me about this tree. It is 4 1/2 Ft.
Carla Marie says
Did anyone’s parents have a aluminum Christmas Tree stand; along with the color wheel that played a few Christmas Songs? We did..1964 or 1965…I’m looking …thx everyone
pam kueber says
these come up for sale on ebay frequently…
Kathryn Lynne says
I went to an estate sale. The adult kids were selling off their folks stuff. I looked up in the rafters in the garage and noticed some boxes. I pointed them out to the daughter, as I didn’t want them to overlook something important to them and she told me “Oh thats Mom’s old Christmas crap. I didn’t get it down, because there’s nothing worth selling”. I offered her $5 for everything and hauled home 5 boxes to go through. I nearly had a heart attack. One 5ft aluminum tree. boxes and boxes of shiny brite and european ornaments, noma bubble lights etc. everything in original packaging.
So so so glad I asked.
pam kueber says
OMG, a motherlode. That’s why it pays to look EVERYWHERE at an estate sale!
Joanna Meise says
I have one but in my last move the pole was lost. Any ideals on where I can get another pole? Please email me jmeise@mowodessa.com
Carol says
Me too Joanna, have you found one yet?
carolsue_1999@yahoo.com
Trudy says
Poles are relatively easy to replace. I wrote a note to Carol (below) concerning replacing the pole with a DIY tree trunk that will work wonderfully with any vintage aluminum branches.