Our Vintage 1950s Aluminum Christmas Tree

Photo of vintage tree from Go Retro.

Aluminum trees were first manufactured in the late 1950s.  We never had one, but an aunt had one, and I thought it was very pretty. The tree consists of a center pole with holes drilled in at an angle, to which branches covered in aluminum "needles" are attached. By placing the branches in the holes, a tree shape is formed.  A rotating color wheel is used to light the tree, because it's not safe to put electric lights on it. 

The trees were in common usage until the late 1960s when they fell out of favor. Today, however, they are once again becoming popular with collectors.  Check out this blog, Go Retro,  for more information about these trees.  Pink aluminum trees are very rare - according to AluminumChristmasTrees.net, only one out of every 10,000 trees made during their height in popularity were pink.

Our vintage aluminum Christmas tree at Chatfield house.

After we furnished our Chatfield house living/dining room with vintage 50s furniture and accessories, I began my search for one of these trees.  Luckily several years ago I found one in an antique shop. It is in perfect condition, and it even has the rotating color wheel.  Most holidays I set up and decorate this vintage tree in the Chatfield house as I did the other day when I was in Cleveland County.