The best way to add a real Vintage look to your Christmas tree is to find a Vintage Light!
It is from 1880 that we start to see the first electric bulbs in the United States.
One of the most famous brand for Christmas Lights since that time was probably Noma’s company.
Noma was originally created in 1926 and came to the UK in 1939. It’s the oldest Worldwide brand in Christmas lights. The company, a family owned business, has been supplying some of the most famous names in retailing with Christmas Lights for over 40 years. And if you want the all story about Noma, here is a great link to learn all about Noma: The Noma Story.
You also had the english company PIFCO: for Provincial Incandescent Fittings Co. The company is established in Manchester since 1900! One of the oldest in England. They have been expert in electrical for over 100 years. Here are some examples of their Vintage Christmas Lights:
The lanterns
Cinderella Lights for little and big princesses!
The Merry Lights
You also could find lots of other brands such as Mazda, G.E., Dina-Lite, Royalites, Clemco, Elcolite, Osram etc… All were really fantastic lights!
What a wonderful Christmas Tree when the dark comes and we have to switch on the lights and enjoy this wonderful atmosphere!
You can still find a lot of those vintage ones (some in working order, some not). Be aware that some vintage ones are heating a little when they are working, so don’t hesitate to ask before buying, or don’t switch them on…
Where to look to find those?
- For sure, you will be able to find a lot on ebay, within the Uk or abroad, especially in the USA, where they are quite expensive…
- You can also find some on Etsy.com. They will offer you a wide range of items from all over the world, most from the United States of America.
- And if you want to find some new ones but with the Vintage Style, try on ChristmasTimeUk.com or Amazon.
- The online sites Preloved (The Joy of Second hand) or Gumtree can also be good spots to find any treasures!
- Otherwise, try all junk shops close to your area, they might have some.
Of course if you are hunting for them in December, you will pay the price, but if you try to find some in june or july you may find some great bargains!
Here are the 15 best Vintage lights I could find:
And for the gourmet: here are some chocolate ones. According to my enquiry, they were from Coblentz Chocolate Company in the US but I went to their online site, and don’t seem to exist anymore. I think they were pretty cool!
I just want to add some really nice vintage bulbs from Japan, so beautiful!
For more Vintage Christmas Ideas have a look here
And come and visit our new website to find some Original Vintage treasures: www.LaBoutiqueVintage.co.uk
Some of those figure Christmas light bulbs are simply beautiful. I collect them and also cut open and re-illuminate them with either grain of wheat light bulbs or leds then glue them back together. I think they’re a joy at Christmas and remind me of my childhood.
Hello Mark,
Thank you very much for your comment. What a great idea you have! They must be really beautiful. Indeed, they also remember me my childhood. If you have some pictures of your creation and collection, I would love to see them and if you’re agree to put them online. You can send them to my address: laboutiquevintage.co.uk@gmail.com.
Have a lovely day,
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Warm Regards,
Helen
Dear Helene,
I hope you might be able to help me. I am looking for some vintage Christmas light bulbs in working order to complete a set dating from the 1950′s and I believe the ones you illustrate in the bottom seven photos above are the correct type. The ones I’m looking for are rated 20V 0.75A 15W and have a 10mm screw thread. I need six, but would take eight so as to have a couple of spares. Are you able to help?
Thanks and regards,
Daniel
Dear Daniel,
Unfortunately today, I don’t have anymore this kind in stock. If I find some, I will be more than happy to let you know.
I will advise you to have a look at ebay.com, make a search for vintage christmas bulbs. Each time I tried it, I found definitely more choice than on ebay uk. Hope it will help.
Good luck for your research.
Kind Regards,
Helen
Really interesting to see so many old Christmas lights… It brings it all back, including the smell of the tree – and the lamps themselves!
We had some Philips (or were they Pifco?) pre-war Chinese lanterns, just like the Japanese ones, complete with silk tassels. Anyone know anything about them? They failed way-back-when so we ended up with Pifco Jack Frost bulbs from Woolworth’s – not a patch on those early ones!
Wish we’d kept the lanterns – they were still in their original box too.
Happy Christmas!
PS, I think my Philips Chinese lanterns MAY have been called “Harlequin” or “Carnival”… anyone know any different?!
I have recently found in our attic a set of 20 Pifco Cinderella lights.
I think they are around 45 years old!
They are in excellent condition complete with display box……any idea of what they may be worth?
Dear Jon,
Thank you for contacting me.
You have a lovely treasure! Those Pifco lamps, and particularly the Cinderella coaches become quite rare to find!
My daughter (who is 6!) would die to have some on her Christmas tree!
I have seen some in the past sold for £70!
If you really want to sell them, go on ebay at the end of this month, beginning of December and you will see the price going up and up!
Otherwise, keep it and pass it on to the next generation!
I wish you a fantastic Christmas and all the best for next year!
Kind Regards,
Helen
Hi,
I have just bought a set of vintage DisneyLights – Mazda – Snow White, set of 16 – UK produced. Can you please advise what type of bulbs/watts these take? Thanks!
Hello,
Sorry for the late answer.
I really would like to help you but don’t know what kind of bulbs they do need.
Hope you did figure out, otherwise try to check on Ebay if someone is selling those lights and maybe ask them?
Good luck,
Kind Regards,
Helen
Hi there,
Im after purchasing some Christmas lanterns which ive found on here they are called ( The Lanterns ) and the picture of them is situated just above the cinderella lights. Could you give me a price and where do i go to get them?.
We had those exact lanterns on our ceiling when we were kids and id love for my children to experience the beauty they offer as we did.
Dave
Hello Dave,
Thank you for contacting me.
Those lanterns are really nice indeed.
I don’t have any but I am pretty sure you can find some on Ebay, if not in UK maybe in the US.
Good luck for your search!
Kind Regards,
Helen