One of the most popular holiday trends is the celebration of mid-century hipness. Nothing captures the Christmas season of 1960 quite like an aluminum Christmas tree. Though most people are content with reproductions, originals can still be found. Just a few of the manufacturers of the time include Sears & Roebuck, Silverline, Peco, Evergleam, Sapphire, and Sparkler.
If you are interested in displaying an original aluminum Christmas tree, bear in mind that they're not made from solid metal. Instead, most models from the 1950s and 1960s are actually made from aluminum foil-covered paper and are highly flammable. Their arms are also fairly fragile and can't handle a great deal of weight. Both these factors change the way the tree is decorated.
First, you won't want to put lights on a vintage aluminum Christmas tree. Instead, use an electric colorwheel "footlight" that shines red, blue and green on the tree. Colorwheels by one of the most popular tree makers, Evergleam, can still be found, as can those of other manufacturers, like Penetray and Fairyland.
To capture the play of light even more, revelers can place colorful aluminum "reflectors" on the tree, instead of ornaments. This makes the trees sparkle beautifully. Finally, rotating tree stands make aluminum trees look like something out of a space-age Nutcracker ballet.
Aluminum trees work as well outdoors as they do indoors. Lit by spotlights or floodlights, they can easily become the centerpiece of your yard's decorations. Plus, being sparkly and reflective by nature, they are as visible in daylight hours as they are when lit at night.
