Now THAT is an impressive collection of Christmas equipment-the NOMA lights and bubble lights are the same ones we used when I was a kid.If you tried to run that collection all at once-would be like the Griswalds-and the power comapny may have to go to BACK UP NUCLEAR.I don't collect christmas stuff-but that sure impresses me-makes me want to buy up Christmas lights and all from yard sales and swap shops.those turn up now and then here.There was a fellow at my workplace that collected christmas lights-he liked the Sylvania flourescent ones.Those were the main focus of his collection.He long retired and moved.
Donalds Christmas Light Building!
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polkanut
Well-known member
Hans,
Very impressive indeed! What decade is your cutoff date, 1960's?
Very impressive indeed! What decade is your cutoff date, 1960's?
Thank you and Donald so much!
I remember those little NOMA trees with the plastic bases and a bubble lite at the end of the branches. Some had artificial needles and other were more of a molded arm type branch made to look like it was heavily flocked with snow. One was on a counter in a business in Ottawa, IL, when I was 4 and I still remember it. Nothing gave a tree the shimmering appearance that bubble lites produced. The collection is amazing and your comments are as bright and delightful as any of the lights. How does Donald keep it all clean and dust free? Were drop clothes taken down so that you could take pictures?
I have to tell you that modern Christmas decorations, at least the ones I see for the mass market, look like junk. They are made for people with no taste. Have they stopped producing the silvered glass hand-blown ornaments in Germany and Eastern Europe that used to be so beautiful? When I see the dreck they hang on UGLY artificial trees in the offices, it make me want to hurl. How can such an important holiday in the Christian religion be celebrated with such cheap, ugly, tacky decorations?
If you want to see beautiful Christmas trees look in magazines from the 40s and 50s, when illustrators did them instead of photographers. Illustrators could produce the apotheosis of the Christmas Tree. Old moves also have great trees. The office tree in the library in the movie DESK SET is beautiful. The dressing rooms on the set towards the end of HOLIDAY INN feature beautiful trees, but I guess, like the appliances in a movie, they are either noticed and loved or not noticed at all. One of the great things about Christmas trees in older movies is that they used the old C6, C7 and C9 bulbs. I am a captive of the time in which I grew up and nothing beats them.
I am going to be chauvinistic here and say that I believe the most beautiful trees I have ever seen were trimmed by gay men and it can help if the man is Jewish. There is nothing like working out the frustration of wanting a tree all through childhood as you decorate one of your own, or a friend's tree you help trim. Think of the beautiful trees in businesses trimmed by gay staff of the display department or wealthy homes where a florist is called in to do the tree.
I remember those little NOMA trees with the plastic bases and a bubble lite at the end of the branches. Some had artificial needles and other were more of a molded arm type branch made to look like it was heavily flocked with snow. One was on a counter in a business in Ottawa, IL, when I was 4 and I still remember it. Nothing gave a tree the shimmering appearance that bubble lites produced. The collection is amazing and your comments are as bright and delightful as any of the lights. How does Donald keep it all clean and dust free? Were drop clothes taken down so that you could take pictures?
I have to tell you that modern Christmas decorations, at least the ones I see for the mass market, look like junk. They are made for people with no taste. Have they stopped producing the silvered glass hand-blown ornaments in Germany and Eastern Europe that used to be so beautiful? When I see the dreck they hang on UGLY artificial trees in the offices, it make me want to hurl. How can such an important holiday in the Christian religion be celebrated with such cheap, ugly, tacky decorations?
If you want to see beautiful Christmas trees look in magazines from the 40s and 50s, when illustrators did them instead of photographers. Illustrators could produce the apotheosis of the Christmas Tree. Old moves also have great trees. The office tree in the library in the movie DESK SET is beautiful. The dressing rooms on the set towards the end of HOLIDAY INN feature beautiful trees, but I guess, like the appliances in a movie, they are either noticed and loved or not noticed at all. One of the great things about Christmas trees in older movies is that they used the old C6, C7 and C9 bulbs. I am a captive of the time in which I grew up and nothing beats them.
I am going to be chauvinistic here and say that I believe the most beautiful trees I have ever seen were trimmed by gay men and it can help if the man is Jewish. There is nothing like working out the frustration of wanting a tree all through childhood as you decorate one of your own, or a friend's tree you help trim. Think of the beautiful trees in businesses trimmed by gay staff of the display department or wealthy homes where a florist is called in to do the tree.
norgeway
Well-known member
yes
the early to mid 60's and very little in the very early 70's, mid 60's is when all the lighting started to be cheaponed and massproduced also that is about the time Halmark and others started there colectible ornaments. also thats when the drug,five and dime stores and mom and pop hardware stores started to drop christmas from there stores.
the early to mid 60's and very little in the very early 70's, mid 60's is when all the lighting started to be cheaponed and massproduced also that is about the time Halmark and others started there colectible ornaments. also thats when the drug,five and dime stores and mom and pop hardware stores started to drop christmas from there stores.
turquoisedude
Well-known member
WOW!!
What an amazing collection!! You have gotten me in the mood to break out the C6 lights, candoliers, and 'swirl' outdoor bulbs way too early...
Thanks for sharing this!!
What an amazing collection!! You have gotten me in the mood to break out the C6 lights, candoliers, and 'swirl' outdoor bulbs way too early...
Thanks for sharing this!!
If you run C6 lights especially, use a lamp dimmer. Just cutting the current slightly will greatly extend the blub life.
Wonderful collection!
Those shelves look like they'd hold up a car collection!
Hans, let me know what Donald is looking for and I'll keep my eyes open for him. Every estate sale seems to have a room full of decorations that I see people looking through but the vintage stuff seems to not move very fast. I wonder if people are afraid of the older electrics? Anyway, I'm starting to pay more attention to the lights and goodies myself as I bought a set of the white LED lights this year for a small tree we put on the front porch and was horrified with the hideous glow and vowed to never buy them again!
Those shelves look like they'd hold up a car collection!
Hans, let me know what Donald is looking for and I'll keep my eyes open for him. Every estate sale seems to have a room full of decorations that I see people looking through but the vintage stuff seems to not move very fast. I wonder if people are afraid of the older electrics? Anyway, I'm starting to pay more attention to the lights and goodies myself as I bought a set of the white LED lights this year for a small tree we put on the front porch and was horrified with the hideous glow and vowed to never buy them again!
Hans Great collection.
norgeway
Well-known member
dan man tn
the bulbs are inside paint GE C-9 they have a swirl pattern made in the glass, these were made from the late 30's to the late 50's these were very expensive to make and are not as plentiful as the later outside paint bulbs I will get more pic's that will show the detail of the bulbs, also ther is a difference in the colors of the old inside paint from the outside paint
the bulbs are inside paint GE C-9 they have a swirl pattern made in the glass, these were made from the late 30's to the late 50's these were very expensive to make and are not as plentiful as the later outside paint bulbs I will get more pic's that will show the detail of the bulbs, also ther is a difference in the colors of the old inside paint from the outside paint
norgeway
Well-known member
gansky1
the color of the old bulbs is so vibrant and bright, I try to use GE bulbs from the 50's or before they are just so prity. the shelves won't hold up a car colection but they work for the lights,they are some things I saved from the crusher at a couple department stores I worked at.
the color of the old bulbs is so vibrant and bright, I try to use GE bulbs from the 50's or before they are just so prity. the shelves won't hold up a car colection but they work for the lights,they are some things I saved from the crusher at a couple department stores I worked at.
norgeway
Well-known member
tomturbomatic
all the lights,candles and other items are always put on a dimmer infact most of the dimmers are in place all year because of the outlets being behind things, also Hans has built a special dimmer just for the tree.
all the lights,candles and other items are always put on a dimmer infact most of the dimmers are in place all year because of the outlets being behind things, also Hans has built a special dimmer just for the tree.
Beautiful collection! I love this old Christmas stuff. I've got several strings of old lights, a number of vintage tree toppers including the star of Bethlehem like yours, and a vast color wheel/aluminum tree collection. I saw your color wheels hiding on a shelf there!! Would love to come and see in person!
norgeway
Well-known member
tours/visits
Yes I can give tours and or you can visit, just let us know when you will be in the area (Mocksville,NC) and we will try and work somthing out.
Yes I can give tours and or you can visit, just let us know when you will be in the area (Mocksville,NC) and we will try and work somthing out.
norgeway
Well-known member
sambootoo
I would love to see some pic's
I would love to see some pic's
booandsue
Active member
OMG!!!
That is just so so cool. I have a collection of many vintage strings of lights from the late forties and fifties, and in working order. A few 8 bulb candoliers. I have quite a few of the light bulbs to fit in these light strings. I like to use them, but sometimes put off as I would hate to burn out the bulbs. Do you have any aluminum trees?
That is just so so cool. I have a collection of many vintage strings of lights from the late forties and fifties, and in working order. A few 8 bulb candoliers. I have quite a few of the light bulbs to fit in these light strings. I like to use them, but sometimes put off as I would hate to burn out the bulbs. Do you have any aluminum trees?
norgeway
Well-known member
Oh YES!
I think 5 or 6 aluminum trees, and a bunch of color wheels, to prolong the life of antique bulbs, we put everything on a dimmer,we probably reduce the voltage by at least a third, we hardly ever have a burned out bulb.
I think 5 or 6 aluminum trees, and a bunch of color wheels, to prolong the life of antique bulbs, we put everything on a dimmer,we probably reduce the voltage by at least a third, we hardly ever have a burned out bulb.
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