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The Aluminum Christmas tree. Love it or hate it? Now with Color Wheels!!! |
8FT Tiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 30, 2003
Posts: 1172
From: Kansas City, MO
|  Posted: 2004-11-27 7:11 pm Permalink
After putting up our tree last night I got to thinking about how many TC'ers have these classic artificial beauties from years gone by. While doing a search I found another thread from last year which was actually about what to do with a real tree after Christmas. Replies came from several members who metioned they had an aluminum tree.Including:
SULLTIKI
LANEY
SJARVIS
SUZYWONG
TRAITOR VIC
We actually have 10 different aluminum trees.
I have my Grandparents one and have found several at yard sales over the last few years. We always put up at least one every year. The trees range in height from 2 feet to 6 feet. Most are the larger ones and almost all are in the original boxes. We also have several of the color wheels. You do need to be home when using them just in case the old wiring gets too hot or it stops rotating while the light is on, that can melt your color wheel.
I remember as a kid we used to lay on the floor under the tree and watch the colors change and sparkle. A very fond memory of my Grandparents place at Christmas time.
OK folks, How about adding a photo of your own personal aluminum tree all decorated to this thread ?
Looking forward to seeing a lot of these classic trees.
Here's ours. 
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[ This Message was edited by: on 2004-11-27 19:13 ]
[ This Message was edited by: 8ft tiki on 2004-11-27 22:50 ]
[ This Message was edited by: 8FT Tiki 2009-11-27 12:23 ]
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exotica59
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Oct 17, 2004
Posts: 475 | Posted: 2004-11-27 11:13 pm Permalink
Haven't put mine up yet, but here are some past Christmas pix. I have a vintage silver with 2 of the old color wheels going, I also have a pink tinsel and a green/blue one. Can't find a pix of the grn/bl model as of yet. I also have a family of 50's mannequins. The ever lovely Barbara is modeling her past years outfits next to the tree.
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cynfulcynner
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 24, 2002
Posts: 1800
From: Ocean Beach, San Francisco
| Posted: 2004-11-28 01:13 am Permalink
I've got one; it's still down in the garage right now. I decorate it with vintage Shiny Brite glass ornaments, but I have yet to find an affordable color wheel light. <sigh>
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Geeky Tiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Oct 15, 2002
Posts: 533
From: Las vegas
| Posted: 2004-11-28 01:28 am Permalink
They don't make 'em big enough, but I love 'em.
I imagine a world with 12' aluminum Norway Firs or Noble Firs.
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
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Unga Bunga
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jun 06, 2003
Posts: 5734
From: CaliTikifornia
| Posted: 2004-11-28 01:32 am Permalink
Quote:
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On 2004-11-27 23:13, exotica59 wrote:
The ever lovely Barbara is modeling her past years outfits next to the tree.
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Does Barbara have a sister? 
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laney
Tiki Socialite
Joined: May 20, 2002
Posts: 631
From: orange county CA
| Posted: 2004-11-28 04:20 am Permalink
Thanks for posting the pic of my tree.
I too, have several. I used to set up 2 trees, the little (4 ft.) one pictured with all my old and collectible glass and a 6 ft with all cheesy vintage Japan plastic.
I especially love the pom-pom tipped with the glass balls on the tips. You can see the green glass tips in the pic if you look hard. I think I have 3 of those and a couple regular ones. Once the 6 ft. fell over and a few of the glass tips broke.
I also have a few color wheels. But, I like the new one better than my vintage ones. It is more quiet and probably safer. I got mine from my Mom but she said she got it from one of those tacky catalogs.
Found it! Here you go, from Harriet Carter
http://www.harrietcarter.com/Detail.cfm?prod=1074&UDC=Y&CFID=1361317&CFTOKEN=37143516
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docwoods
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Feb 29, 2004
Posts: 595
From: outside the windy city
| Posted: 2004-11-28 08:14 am Permalink
Don't have one,but I wish I did! These are classic-probably wanted one as a kid,but most likely my mom thought they were tacky.I'm enjoying the photos.
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Tikiwahine
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 09, 2003
Posts: 3288
From: Ontario, Canada
| Posted: 2004-11-28 10:59 am Permalink
I just love them! I think I used to set up a little table top one when I was really young, but my Mum says she doesn't remember anything about it(denial). I love having a big douglas fir every year. If I ever found an aluminum one, it would be my permanent second tree.
Thanks for the photos, they are beautiful!
_________________
 
Great Minds Drink Alike
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ikitnrev
Grand Member (8 years) 
Joined: Jul 27, 2002
Posts: 1298
From: D.C. / Virginia
| Posted: 2004-11-28 3:46 pm Permalink
Here is a great photo book that came out this year .... "Season's Gleamings - the Art of the Aluminum Christmas Tree" - a copy will be definitely placed under my own aluminum tree.
http://www.shimonlindemann.com/pages/books.htm
I had the pleasure of seeing authors Shimon and Lindemann's collection of 40 aluminum trees in their store-front showroom in Wisconsin on Christmas Eve about 7 years ago. The next time I saw them was in 2000 in Columbus, for the closing of the Kahiki restaurant .... so it is great to see the aluminum tree thread here on Tiki Central.
Vern
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Chacha
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Jan 19, 2003
Posts: 100
From: Jacksonville
| Posted: 2004-11-28 4:50 pm Permalink
I love 'em and also have a collection of them (about 10). I love the pink tinsel one pictured in this thread.
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ZebraTiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 01, 2004
Posts: 530
From: Enchanted Bay Area, CA
| Posted: 2004-11-28 6:21 pm Permalink
I love the silver trees, but don't have one yet. When I had cats, they were possessed by their mylar toys on sticks, had to attack any mylar-type material like the fierce hunters they were, so an entire tree of the irresistable crunchy stuff would've endangered the lives of the tree & cats in one swell foop.
This year, I saw an eye-wateringly bright,lime-neon green metallic tree this year (not vintage, obviously) and may have to go back to get it. Inexplicably, it was displayed in the center of an otherwise sophisticated collection of Channukah accessories.
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docwoods
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Feb 29, 2004
Posts: 595
From: outside the windy city
| Posted: 2004-11-29 06:06 am Permalink
Zebratiki-that wasn't a Christmas tree,it was a Channakah bush.
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ZebraTiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 01, 2004
Posts: 530
From: Enchanted Bay Area, CA
| Posted: 2004-11-29 3:57 pm Permalink
Quote:
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On 2004-11-29 06:06, docwoods wrote:
that wasn't a Christmas tree,it was a Channakah bush.
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I thought maybe that's what they were trying to do, and maybe the person who put it out was colorblind, but electric lime green? Blue, I could understand, as I grew up with a traditional Irish Catholic/Jewish household that celebrated ChannukahChristmas every year, giving me the ability to duck a flying guilt trip thrown at me from any direction.
The alarming lime green metallic tree has possessed me, and I may be going back to get it ... the same store was selling a trio of faux palms (the tallest of the three about 5') on an "island" base with white lights on green wires already strung through it.
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Kailuageoff
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 27, 2002
Posts: 1486
From: Honolulu Lounge,Lewes, DE
| Posted: 2004-11-29 6:55 pm Permalink
This thread is too coincidental. We just bought an aluminum tree over the weekend and then I saw these posts. Marian's dad was an executive with Alcoa, so her family had to have one when she was growing up. Her dad ditched it when he left the company. We saw one at Breelle and Tristan's two years ago and Marian fell in love with it. I think Swanky has one as well.
Anyway, glad to know we will soon have a tiki-correct holiday tree in our living room.
And Vern, that books looks great.
I'll try to post a picture of our tree once it is set up.
KG
[ This Message was edited by: KailuaGeoff on 2004-11-29 18:56 ]
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dogbytes
Grand Member (8 years)
Joined: Mar 24, 2002
Posts: 2240
From: seattle, wa
| Posted: 2004-11-29 8:49 pm Permalink
my aluminum tree is up! my favorite aunt bought it for a buck at a garage sale!
got the color wheel up and running.. cant wait to get the ornaments on ~ will post pics when we get it decorated.
i miss the smell of pine ~ dont miss wrassling with the tree and tying it to the jeep..and then dragging it to the recycler.
e
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