Vintage Pifco Fairy Lights

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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
 
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.

liberatordeluxe++10-15-2013-08-34-12.jpg
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.

optima++10-16-2013-06-38-32.jpg
 
@ 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'?
 
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.
 
I bought a set off Ebay today. Glitter Lights I think they were called.

I think most fairy lights today are just general purpose i.e. year round use whereas the ones from the 70's to late 80's were regarded as real Christmas Lights.
 
Regarding the older single insulated cable can these still be sold in charity shops? Were there incidents of people getting electric shocks off the older sets to make them go over to double insulated cable? A lot of it is common sense but I don't recall from personal memory anyone having problems with them but I was rather young at the time.
 
To liberatordeluxe

Hi Liberatordeluxe
I have been reading your thread about the Pifco fairy lights, I agree with you these lights look way more 'Chrismassy' than the LED versions!!
I have a set of Pifco Lanterns and Carriages from the early 80s, we used to put them on the tree when I was a kid, and then later... wait for it, around the archway between the living room and dining room!! They are still working.. I think.. I have them packed away with the decorations tho, I will see if I can get them out to take a pic for you.. I havent used them for a few years but most of the bulbs still work! I cant ever part with them!
I remember the London lights too... There is a store in Newcastle called Fenwicks and they used to have a great Christmas Decs dept (they still do!) and I remember buying Lametta to put on the christmas tree! Very Retro now I guess..
Are you building up a collection of them? I can imagine as the years go on they will become more sought after!
I will try and get the pic on soon for you !
Cheers Ian
 
Another thought

Have you seen any of the old PIFCO adverts? They were class!!
Not sure if there are any knocking about on youtube?

Here's a woolworths christams ad....they dont make em like this anymore!!

 
oh yes

I ceratainlty do collect vintage christmas lights, with what must be going on over a hundred sets. Pifco have always been my favourite, with in my opinion the Mini lanterns being my favourite of all, they are my first memory of looking up into a tree and just being facinated.

And in my mind these coulours and designs say christmas in a way flashing leds will never do. Even a push in bulb is too modern for me.

For me growing up in the 70's it was all those electrical manufacturers who accompanied my growing up, and still are special to me, as music might chart someones growing up. Names like Pifco, Qualcast, Black and Decker, and of course Hoover and Hotpoint would be the sound track to my life.

Mathew
This is part of my hall christmas decorations, a swag with pifco london lights and pifco gleam lights. on the other swags are cinderella lights and jewel lights, merry lights, harlequins etc.

And if you think collecting washing machine and christmas lights isn't enough I've also got a collection of electric mowers from the 60's to the 90's

keymatic3203++10-31-2013-15-56-56.jpg
 
Like minded

Hello Mat
Like you I was a 70s kid and yes pifco lights figure heavily in my current collection of lights, cheap and tacky yes but fun.
I have also been collecting the Osram candle lights from the 50s, here is a picture of the latest set I bought from ebay, they have metal bases with crocodile clips to attach them to the tree (or whatever else takes your fancy), and occasionally from one set you get a little buzz if you touch the bases, see what fun these old sets can be :-)

Gary

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