Vintage Pifco Fairy Lights

[liberatordeluxe]

Anyone collect vintage Pifco fairy lights such as 'London Lights'?

 

[whirlcool]

Do you have a photo example of these?

 

[davetranter]

Fairy lights

I don't collect them, but do have a quantity of the tiny ES type bulbs for old-type fairy lights. I think I am in posession of one working string of old lights, not sure of make/model....

All best

Dave T

 

[liberatordeluxe]

These are the sort I am talking about. Quite popular in the 70's though I wasn't alive then.

 

[liberatordeluxe]

And these sort

 

[liberatordeluxe]

And these Pifco 'London Lights'. Do you think these were far more 'Christmassy' than the modern Christmas lights with shades? Interesting to know what others think.

 

[fido]

They all look a bit modern to me! I think I gave my parents old tree lights away at a vintage radio swap meet. They would have been early '60s ones as there are family photos of that era showing the decorated tree.

 

[whirlcool]

I remember those. They were also popular on this side of the pond in the late 60's.
I haven't seen the London version before though. Those look quite nice. This is the first time I have heard them called fairy lights.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Over here, they were just called miniature lights. We saved a favorite string that were little white sugary-looking bells maybe an inch and a quarter from top to bottom with little lights inside them. We had a string with all blue lights with the little clear plastic petals in a tulip or cup shape around the light.

 

[circlew]

When I was a little kid, my dad's Aunt Hazel had some of these. She referred to them as "Italian lights".

 

[tomturbomatic]

In the 60s, at least, the strings of miniature lights were Italian made. The last sets I saw several years ago were made in China and there was a warning about wearing gloves, washing up after handling and not allowing children to touch them because of the lead residue on the sets. I don't know how the lead got on the sets unless it is part of the atmosphere in the Chinese factories. American corporations have the factories there because they can't have lead in the air in factories here. Pity.

 

[tolivac]

Lead is in the cords and cables that make up the light set-the vinyl insulation.Don't panic-normal use of these is very safe--its dangerous if the vinyl burns.The lead is a fire retardant-and makes the plastic more weather resistent.Now other chemicals are used in vinyl instead of the lead.Again don't worry-the vinyl insulation is quite safe when used normally.And the lead was used in older vinyl window blinds and shades.Only time they were really dangerous is if they were weatherworn and starting to have a white powder residue on the surface.Then you replace the item.And of course don't let children or pets suck,bite, or chew the item.In thrid world areas where cords and cables were burned to free the copper from the insulation-people in those areas were in danger-esp the ones doing the burning and handling the burnt wire afterward.In more advanced wire recycling operations-a machine can strip the insulation from the copper-and save it for recycling along with the copper-no burning involved.

 

[fido]

I think modern lights are normally low voltage and come with a power supply adapter but at one time they tended to run low voltage bulbs wired in series, with the ends of the string connected directly to the mains. This was a pain if a bulb blew because the whole string went dead. You had to get a new bulb and try it in every holder until the string lit up again.

 

[liberatordeluxe]

I think the term fairy lights is a British term but those above I would class as Christmas lights as I can't imagine them being used for any other event except Christmas as they would look a little out of place.

 

[liberatordeluxe]

Pifco lights were made in Hong Kong and some other sets were made in Taiwan during the 70's and 80's.

 

[optima]

Pifco

Don't know if this 20 screw in set is Pifco or Noma but i'm sure these Xmas lights are well over 40 years old & are still used every year.

 

[liberatordeluxe]

@ Optima I believe they are by Vesta. They look immaculate condition for over 40 years old! Can I ask do you personally find the lights with shades more 'Christmassy'?

 

[optima]

Vintage

Never have liked shadeless lights.

 

[lemniscate]

Takes me back!

I remember those 'London Lights' well. I must have been about 8 years old and my grandmother gave me the money to buy a set which i then strung across my bedroom. They came with a bayonet plug on them which went straight into the ceiling light fitting. i think they cost about £2.50 for the set. The whole set is long gone but I still have some of the large shades in the Christmas decoration box and can't will myself to throw them away. Yes,in answer to your original question, I do think lights like these are more Christmassy than modern ones but is that my age i wonder lol.