Collectible Vintage Aluminum Christmas Trees
A Revival of the Metallic Artificial Tree From the '50s and '60s
Aug 20, 2009
Everything old is new again. Design styles of the '50s and '60s are back and there are numerous antique shops specializing in what's known as "retro chic." With the advent of retro chic, homeowners as well as collectors of vintage Christmas decorations are looking for vintage holiday trimmings and aluminum Christmas trees are making a comeback.
The Aluminum Christmas Tree is Born
Aluminum Christmas trees were originally made by Modern Coatings in Chicago in the late '50s. It was the beginning of space age and people wanted ultra-modern decor. Homes shined with chrome and glass and aluminum was a great design choice for an artificial tree.
Modern Coatings
The manufactures thought it would be a short-lived fad, perhaps lasting three years, but the trend continued for a decade. Modern Coatings held the patent and sold licenses to other companies and as a result, over one million trees were produced.
The Evergleam Christmas Tree
The tree named Evergleam was the most popular and it was manufactured by Aluminum Specialty Co. in Wisconsin. If someone wanted an aluminum Christmas tree, the old Kresge's Department Store on Maine Street, USA, was the place to find one. They could be found in 2 foot tall table-top models or standing trees up to 8 feet tall.
The Evergleam was packaged in simple kit form, so the purchasers could put them together with ease. The trunk was a wooden pole with drilled holes to hold each of the aluminum branches, sized for accurate placement in forming a tree shape. They came in a variety of colors, but the most popular was silver.
The Color Wheel
These aluminum Christmas trees were not decorated with electric lights due to electrical shock concerns, but they had the ability to shimmer without the lights. The sparkle was exaggerated on those that had color wheels. The color wheel was essentially a spotlight. It had rotating colored lenses and when the wheel turned, it changed the color of the tree. Later, came the rotating tree stand. Since the tree itself wasn't plugged in to an outlet for lights, it was an obvious innovation. The aluminum Christmas tree had gotten kitchier, but it was still a popular choice.
The Pink Aluminum Christmas Tree
The rarest aluminum tree was pink and it is also the most sought after today, prized by collectors of vintage Christmas decorations. Today, the pink aluminum tree can cost the buyer well over $1000. The silver trees can be found more easily for about $75 to $150.
Sadly, most aluminum trees eventually made their way to land-fill sites, but the few that remain still have the sparkle. Collectors may find vintage aluminum Christmas trees at yard sales, rummage sales, auctions and thrift shops. Their value as collectibles isn't widely known. Ebay is a great place for searching out anything vintage or nostalgic.
New Aluminum Christmas Trees
As present trends in decorating lean toward retro and contemporary style, more and more people are looking for vintage aluminum Christmas trees. As a result, companies are reproducing them. Expect to pay up to $500. for a new aluminum tree, depending on height and quality.
Permission granted for photo use.
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