These kitschy relics of mid-century cheer are making a comeback with collectors. Here's how to shop for these vintage Christmas trees.

Aluminum Christmas trees from Etsy
Find vintage aluminum Christmas trees

Charlie Brown introduced me to vintage aluminum Christmas trees, though I didn’t really know it. A Charlie Brown Christmas has aired on television every year since it premiered in 1965, and when I was young it was a much anticipated part of the holidays. At one point in the show, Lucy sends Charlie out to buy a big aluminum Christmas tree, preferably one that was pink, for their school play. My parents were antique dealers and favored decor closer to Colonial Williamsburg than mid-century modern, so we always had a real tree—there were no other options. A big pink Christmas tree was unimaginable, a sort of holiday unicorn that existed only in stories.

When were aluminum Christmas trees popular?

Aluminum Christmas tree from Aristocratic Vintage SHOP: Aluminum silver trees

Aluminum Christmas trees became popular in the 1960s and enjoyed a brief but spectacular period of fame that propelled this item into the realms of classic, kitschy Americana. They were novel and different, something shiny and modern that spoke of a new era. The tinsel trees ranged from two to eight feet high, and while most were silver, aluminum trees were also available in pink, gold, teal and flocked versions. They could be mechanized and illuminated and ensured that your Christmas decor would be the finest on the block. Pink aluminum Christmas trees, though a bit more rare, became popular in the '60s as well.

Rom Rom Royal Pine vintage aluminum Christmas tree

SHOP: Vintage pom pom aluminum Christmas trees

Artificial trees were not unheard of—feather trees dated back to the 19th century and bottle brush trees were patented in the 1930s. Aluminum was considered a rare metal in the 19th century and was more costly than gold or silver per ounce, but mining processes improved and by the 20th century the metal was far more commonly used. Lightweight and reflective, shiny silver aluminum would prove to be an ideal medium for this Christmas decoration.

Vintage aluminum Christmas tree from Starr Retro

SHOP: Silver Christmas trees

History of the aluminum Christmas tree

Though there were manufacturers in several parts of the United States—including reports that Modern Coatings, Inc. of Chicago was the first to manufacture the tree in 1958—the great preponderance of commercially-made aluminum trees were created by the Aluminum Specialty Company of Manitowoc, Wisconsin. When their "Evergleam" line debuted in 1959, many embraced the silver tinsel trees as an expression of the new Atomic Age. The trees were made from a slim wooden trunk and with aluminum “branches” notched into holes and feathering out into spindly aluminum “needles.” The trees appealed to a Jetsons-style notion of modern living where life was clean, automated, and easy; with an aluminum tree, needles never fell, it could be stored compactly and re-used every year, with none of the fuss of a real tree. As the aluminum trees gained popularity, they were even sold in the popular Sears catalog.

Can you decorate an aluminum Christmas tree?

Aluminum vintage Christmas trees are festive enough to stand alone, but they can be decorated with sets of vintage glass ornaments made by manufacturers such as Shiny Brite. Wide hooks on the ornaments were recommended so as to not crush the aluminum needles.

Vintage ornaments from Etsy

SHOP: Vintage tree decorations from Xmas Vintage Items, prices vary $2 and up

Another important accessory was the color wheel for lighting the aluminum tree. Because adding strings of lights to an aluminum tree was a fire hazard (metal tree + electrical sockets and wiring = not safe), another means of lighting and decorating the tree was developed. The color wheel was a device that sat on the floor next to the tree and shone a spotlight on the branches. A slowly spinning panel of translucent colors created a constant variety of effects on the reflective surface of the tree. Two wheels could be used simultaneously to heighten the effect.

Vintage color wheel for aluminum Christmas trees

SHOP: Vintage color wheels

If deluxe lighting were not enough for you, the color wheel could be coupled with a special base that slowly rotated the entire tree. Some bases were mirrored or included music boxes with a favorite Christmas carol for a full multimedia experience.

The Charlie Brown Christmas tree and the aluminum Christmas tree decline

Charlie Brown may be in part to blame for the decline of the popularity of the aluminum Christmas tree. His small, scraggly evergreen was seen as superior to the gaudy aluminum version: a triumph of the true and authentic over the fake and commercial. The 1965 airing of his Christmas special, A Charlie Brown Christmas, occurred at the peak of aluminum tree production, as the trend was reaching its saturation point. Nowadays, Charlie Brown Christmas trees are sought out as their own type of vintage decor.

Silver and green aluminum Christmas tree

SHOP: Vintage silver and green aluminum Christmas trees

Certainly, the more extreme a style, the shorter its life span, and aluminum trees were decidedly not subtle. As the 1960s progressed, tastes changed towards an earthier style and the manufacture of aluminum trees slowed. Evergleam ceased production in 1969, and by the early 1970s aluminum trees were a thing of the past.

Are silver Christmas trees still popular?

Appreciation for the trees has increased in recent years, though, and they have become very collectible, especially when found complete and in good condition. Vintage Christmas trees have more recently been proudly displayed in places such as the Children's Museum of Indianapolis (which also displayed a color wheel in full effect) and the Wisconsin Historical Museum. Outside of museums, vintage aluminum Christmas ​​trees are widely available—some even feature the iconic color wheel that gave these trees such appeal. Once purchased, take care selecting beautiful vintage glass Christmas ornaments to decorate your tree. Add a festive advent calendar and let the countdown to Christmas begin. 

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