Well, I’m just having a party analyzing all the retro Christmas decorations that readers have uploaded. How about this one: A special slide show of all 62 73 aluminum Christmas trees. Mini, small, medium, large… Found at the Goodwill, in Aunt Bertha’s attic, or on ebay… Decorated with vintage ornaments, elves, Barbies — even pickles. Above: Steve Conley says his aluminum tree is in the kitchen. Of course, that fireplace, yum, too. Nice photo, Steve, got ya on the homepage. 🙂
Pom Pom seems to have been the big-name manufacturer of aluminum Christmas trees back in the day. Above: Steve got his Pom Pom from his aunt. I own a Pom Pom, too — a Pom Pom for Pam, tee hee — found at an estate sale in Pittsfield a few years back. I remember the Bingo! moment well. Other names in aluminum trees, which I spotted in your uploads seem to have been Peco, Revlis, Evergleam, Spiral Lit, Raco (Australia). And don’t forget the color wheels — although working vintage models seem to be more elusive finds. Click on through to see all 62 73 –>
Aluminum Christmas tree slide show:
hannah says
Hi Diane –
Just watched the video and what a fantastic project! Our (I’m in Maine) Freeport Historical Society had planned an exhibition this Christmas of how people would decorate for the holidays 50 years ago but they cancelled a week prior due to not having enough authentic items. I wrote straight away and offered to loan some of my collections, but never heard back. Such a shame.
Ohio is doing it on a much grander scale though. Freeport was only going to display a living room, den and kitchen set in the era. I’ll be interested to see the online tour when it’s completed. Thanks for sharing!
hannah
Diane Hinkle says
My local (Columbus Ohio) newspaper published an article about a new exhibit highlighting American life in the 1950’s opening next year at the Ohio Historical Society. They are looking for donations of items typical of this slice of time, so of course the first thing I thought of was the wonderful folks on this website. Here’s a video about the exhibit. If you want to donate anything (which will not be returned), respond to:
collections@ohiohistory.org, or call 614-297-2522.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQP2U2AooJU&feature=channel_video_title
Mod Betty / RetroRoadmap.com says
We have a vintage white Christmas tree, found thrifting in DE for the affordable $7 ( half price after the holiday) but you all have me jonesin for an aluminum tree!
Lisa T. says
I have wanted an aluminum Christmas tree since the first one I saw in the 70’s. My mother was aghast. She tried to tell me how tacky they were. I have been determined ever since. FINALLY this summer I found one at an auction for $20.00. We based our entire Christmas on that tree. Heck yeah, there are pictures (on my blog).
We don’t have a pure mid-century home, more of a mash up, but Pam thank you so much for all the inspiration! Merry Christmas!
Smiles,
Lisa
hannah says
I hear ya Lisa. Our house while probably considered filled with MCM items does in no way ‘make sense’ as some of the settings we see that are pristine and true to the time. We’ve got a mash here going on ourselves…I want it to be more cohesive, but it’ll take time. Pam did an article on my NOS grape lamp kit if you want to see pics. Geeze, maybe 5 months back?
Glad you got the aluminum tree at such a steal! It’s what makes my Christmas because it’s what my Dad loved so much back in the day.
hannah
Victoria says
Love the trees! My atomic xmas tree in the slide show is also a PomPom in the very same box pictured above. I realized years ago that the perfect tree skirt for an aluminum tree was a piece of silver lamé. I swirl a length of lamé fabric around the base and it looks like silver whipped cream. You can’t really see it my photo very well, unfortunately.
Also, you can’t see it in the picture, but I have a odd color wheel that I’ve never seen anywhere else. It’s box says Spartan or sparkler (I’ll have to dig the box out) and is dated 1961. It’s pretty much all metal with 4 round colored glass lenses. Has anyone seen one of these?
hannah says
Great story, Kelly – progressive for a 9 yr old I’d say!
@ Annie – thanks for the tip! I’d have never thought of that as halloween isn’t one of my favorite holidays. Will do!
Kelly says
I begged my grandparents for their aluminum tree when I was 9 years old (along w/their Heywood Wakefield dining trio, frieze sectional sofa, etc. – I just knew they were awesome and I needed to have them when I was older.). When I moved to Seattle after college, my grandpa dug the tree and the color wheel out of the basement, in their original boxes, and handed them over. I even scored one of his old bowling shirts used as “packing material” in with the tree. (still one of the best shirts I own) The furniture followed soon after!
Years later, when questioned by her other grandkids why I got all the “cool stuff”, my grandma replied: “Because Kelly asked for it years before you guys realized it was worth anything.” I miss her honesty. She loved knowing all of her treasures were going to be cherished in my home. Hopefully, one of my kids will snag the tree on his way to college. 🙂
pam kueber says
What a wonderful story, Kelly!
Kelly says
You were wise beyond your years! This Kelly just caught on around age 40.
jalaine says
Be careful what you wish for! Three small aluminum trees have found there way off to college but did not survive the move to first apartment or back home! Sticky fingers?
Ann-Marie Meyers says
I won’t know if I get my aluminum tree until early January. I am bidding on one in an online auction, and the real bidding isn’t even going yet. So far I have it for $5. That won’t last. I am not saying what my top bid is, but it is a lot higher than $5!
I got a sweet vintage felt tree skirt and a needlepoint one for $25 just last week in another auction. I figure the felt one is worth the price alone.
Can’t wait to get our tree all finished this year with the vintage ornaments we have and the tree skirt. We are late in decorating, but will leave the tree up until el Seis de Enero (January 6th, the Feast of the Three Kings).
hannah says
Proud to be a part of the Festival of Aluminum!!!! What a wonderful sight to see!
As my pic caption says, mine was purchased off eBay from a seller in Canada. I knew it wouldn’t arrive in time for THAT Christmas, but the next year she was all decked out in turquoise and lime green bulbs (in memory of my Dad who was extremely picky about how the aluminum tree was decorated – ONE BULB COLOR ONLY!! lol) That Christmas was true serendipity as everywhere I went I found turquoise and lime green bows, wrapping paper, and decorations. The next year I wanted to do pink and orange bulbs. Finding true orange glass bulbs proved to be a bit too much of a challenge. *sigh*
Here’s to the past! Thanks to everyone for sharing their pictures. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
hannah
Annie B. says
Hannah,
Shop for your orange glass bulbs at Halloween.
Pamela Price says
YAY for metal trees! My grandparents had one, with the color wheel thingy.
I scored two little ones last year on clearance for $10 at a little shop. Not only were they great for this holiday season, they did a turn at Halloween as Halloween trees, too.