Vintage Christmas Tree lights

[Heatercathodeshort]

All a very long way from our Christmas tree when I was a child over 60 years ago. It had little candle holders that were clipped onto the end of the branches. You had to take care that nothing was above the actual flame. It was lit for about 10mins in the evening.

Of course that was when people had brains and knew how to use them. These days you have to wear a space suit to turn the reading light on and carry a fire extinguisher [of the right type of course] to light a match..

How did we allow ourselves to get into this position?

Happy Days, John.

[Heatercathodeshort]

Originally Posted by Glowing Bits!

The lights on the beam look good, some tinsel wrapped round the wire (think garland) would look even better.
Personally, I prefer lantern type shades, on second thoughts, any shade is better than looking at bare lightbulbs.

Oooow OK.

I've put few glass ball things up [courtesy Broadway Bargain Stores Wimbledon Broadway 1946] with the tinsel as you suggest but sorry I draw the line at shades! I fear it might add an 'ANDY PANDY' look to my efforts. Next,you will be asking for a neon lit Father Christmas on the roof with carols blaring out of a Tannoy..

The living room is simple. One set of lights around the beams, no shades and a set of 20v olive cone lamps around one of the windows. Done.

Remember the more you put up the longer it takes to tear it all down.

Regards, John.

PS Do I need an RCD for the tinsel?

[Glowing Bits!]

Don't worry about the light up santa, the icicles, lanterns, light up snowflake & PA system, they're all currently going up in the garden!
I can't have one set, it has to be at least 20 before I'm happy!
If you were to meet me in real life, I'd probably do your head in, I have a screw missing!

[Glowing Bits!]

When it's all done, I'll take a picture.
Tinsel RCD's? why not, it's metal afterall!

[pifcolights]

Does anyone know if you can get glass or metal shaded lights in multicolours? All the multi-coloured ones i have seen are plastic. What is wrong with shaded lights at Heatercathodeshort?

[Heatercathodeshort]

Nothing wrong at all. We never had then as a child and I think this is where all this interest has come from.

When I see shaded lights especially the ones with snow scenes and cats painted on the shades it just seems a bit 'Nursery' to me. Not really Christmas lights but maybe something more in keeping with night lights.

I rather like the large lanterns with 15W SES lamps in them. I have a set left over from the shop somewhere but they are reasonably large and only suitable for external use. John.

[pifcolights]

Has anyone a set of Noma Arabian Lights? I have a set but i tend to think they are more all year round lights and particularly wintery than Christmas ones. If only Noma would produce a multi coloured set with glass shades.

[Glowing Bits!]

Originally Posted by Heatercathodeshort

I rather like the large lanterns with 15W SES lamps in them. I have a set left over from the shop somewhere but they are reasonably large and only suitable for external use. John.

At last, something we both like!
The good thing with these is the fact the bulbs are a standard fridge type.

[Heatercathodeshort]

Well yer asked for shades..

Found them! Covered in muck in the garage loft. They have not been lit for around 20 years and required four 15watt lamps.

Maybe a bit over the top so they will probably go back in the loft.

They are very well made with good waterproof holders and flex.
John.

[thermionic]

I remember them, very popular in the eighties. From memory I think they were made by FKI. Nice to see them again. Thanks for your digging, John!


SimonT.

[Nickthedentist]

Those would look good ouside the local boozer, John!

[Heatercathodeshort]

Exactly Nick!
That is why they are going back in the loft for another 20 years. I'll be 84 and smelling of wee next time they see the light of day. Cheers, John.

[Glowing Bits!]

They were around in the 90's too, I found a set recently on E-bay, I wonder who placed a bid on them? you've probably guessed it!
I seem to have too many sets, truthfully, I am a bit of a hoarder of cp I'm likely to never use.
Sorry to tell you John, those lanterns are coming back in fashion.
We do, however, have candles for the living room tree, they have a plug on them.

[pifcolights]

What would be the reason for my set of Noma 'Blizzard' fuse bulbs keep blowing? The normal non fuse lamps seem to be fine over Christmas but I have replaced about four. They are the correct watts and volts so is a mystery. I never had this problem with static or just twinkling lights particularly the old Pifco style.

[broadgage]

How old are the ordinary, non fuse lamps ?
Might they be a slighter higher wattage such as 12 volt 1.2 watt rather than 12 volt 1.1 watts ?
Or possibly cheap/unknown make imported lamps that have a slightly higher current draw than nominal rating ?

Or if the ordinary, non fuse, lamps are the right ones maybe they are old and internally damaged. If a lit filament lamp is knocked then part of the filament may become shorted out. If this happens to a number of lamps, then the current slightly increases to the point where rapid failure of the fuse lamp occurs.
This may be recognised by the damaged lamps being dimmer than the rest on account of the reduced voltage drop accross them.

[Hybrid tellies]

I have got a 20 lantern static set made by Noma. I think they date from the late 80's to early 90's. My teenage son begged me to put them up. So after a local hunt I found loads of W1 spares including the fusible bulbs. They put on a very good show especially against the modern LED light sets. They are of very good construction and look good enough for external use.

[ColinTheAmpMan1]

If anyone is interested, I found a company which will supply all sorts of spare bulbs for these kind of lights. Their range is pretty huge. They even had some which replaced a couple of blown bulbs in another manufacturer's set. The website is:

christmaslamps.co.uk

The company trades as:

AJ Hill Electronics Ltd
6 Stone Street
Gravesend DA11 0NH
United Kingdom

I have no connection with this company other than as a satisfied customer (on two occasions).

Regards, Colin.

[Herald1360]

Humph!

Theyre on holiday!

http://christmaslamps.co.uk/

[pifcolights]

@ Broadcage the light bulbs are the right wattage and voltage. The set is 2 years old so good as new. No idea what was the matter with them but won't worry about them.

[ColinTheAmpMan1]

Originally Posted by Herald1360

Theyre on holiday!

They're back, now.

Colin.