Our Silver Christmas Tree

by Arnold Wright
(Chatanooga, Tennesse, USA)

Popular in the 1960s and 1970s, the Aluminum Christmas Tree would change colors as the color wheel turned!

Popular in the 1960s and 1970s, the Aluminum Christmas Tree would change colors as the color wheel turned!

One of my earliest Christmas recollections is that of our aluminum Christmas tree. It looked very close to the picture included here.


It came complete with the color wheel, which changed the whole color of the tree.

As a young kid I loved to lay under that Christmas tree and watch the tree change colors. The wheel not only changed the color of the tree, but it made the ornaments on the tree change their look as well.

Looking back on it now, the tree looks pretty tacky ... I must admit. But I sure loved it as a kid.

I have since teased my wife that I was going to buy an aluminum tree off of eBay. She just looks at me like I am crazy. She just might be right!

Comments for Our Silver Christmas Tree

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Apr 16, 2015
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Silver
by: Angela Joshua

When we were kid, we used to love small things. There was no reason needed to be happy. I loved my grandparents because they loved me more than anyone, even more than their own children. I never want to forget those golden memories we made with our grandparents.
Dec 16, 2014
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		1970's Memorable Christmas Tree
by: Anonymous

There has never been Christmas like Christmas during the 1970's. The easy baked oven will always be my favorite gift as a young girl, and watching the colorful light as it changed the tree from red green yellow to blue was awesome. Can we ever bring back those days or even just buy the tree and light.

PLavergne

-----
Hi PLavergne,

I agree with you about Christmas in the 1970s. I have many fond memories that are similar to yours. As far as being able to buy the tree with lights, I've seen them listed on Ebay.com. You might want to look there.

Despite our love for Christmas in the 1970s, however, I hope your Christmas in 2014 is a great one, as well!

All the best and Merry Christmas,

Michael
Nov 16, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Christmas memories
by: Audry from Denmark

I too grew up with a silver christmas tree, with blue balls but no color wheel. I think about that tree often. I loved that tree and the thoughts of it bring back some of my best memories of my mom and me. Not believing in Santa anymore I was allowed to stay up well into the night and help my mom wrap christmas presents for friends and family as my father and brother slept. It was our tradition until my mom died when I was 17.

I'm 57 years old, born and raised in the USA. I moved to denmark when I was in my 30s.

My children have grown up with the tradiitonal real green christmas tree and they will have their own memories to cherish when they get older.

Anyway, thanks for sharing your silver christmas tree stories. Bless you all.
Feb 27, 2012
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Silver Christmas Tree
by: Tammy

I too have fond memories of our silver tree with blue ball, color wheel and rotating musical stand.

I just purchased the color wheel exact same as when I was a child. I have a few silver trees on my watch list on ebay.

I am in search for a penetray musical rotating tree stand. Should of looked in Dec. 2011 when it sold on ebay.

I have a very tradtional Christmas tree in my home now. But I am going to put this new/old tree in another room.. Can't wait for Christmas 2012
Dec 15, 2011
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Aluminum Tree with Color Wheel
by: Anonymous

We had that same tree when my dad was in vietnam, I'll buy it what do you want for it


-------

Dear Anonymous,

I don't have one to sell. You can find quite a few for sale on Ebay though.

All the best,

Michael Boyter
FamilyHistoryProducts.com
Dec 12, 2011
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		I HAVE an Aluminum Tree and Color Wheel!
by: Anonymous

I HAVE bought an aluminum tree AND a color wheel off of ebay! :)

I never HAD One as a kid but thought they were really neat. Part of my family thinks its cool, the other part thinks its hokey. LOL

I have crystal and glass prisms and icicles that I'm going to decorate it with and I don't know how that will turn out, but I'm hoping for a bit of WOW when I'm done!

I say DO IT! The color wheels on ebay range from like $40 to $100 or more (I got mine mid range). There are a lot on ebay right now (December) cause of the timing, but maybe there will still be some in January that won't go as high.

I got my tree at a regular real life auction. Old Christmas decorations go pretty cheaply at auctions and yard sales.


COMMENT from Michael: I think that is great! I need to get one of those off of Ebay as well. It might have to be a second Christmas tree (different room) because my wife is "in love" with her artificial Christmas tree.

If you get your put up, please consider posting a picture of it here. Your decorations sounds very nice.
Dec 04, 2011
Rating
starstarstarstar 		Silver Christmas Tree
by: Melinda

I have fond memories also laying under the silver christmas and watch it change colors! GREAT MEMORIES
Jul 19, 2011
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Thank you!!!
by: Joe

I thought I was the only one. I have a cherished memory of this tree. I came from a bad childhood and Christmas was one of the few times that there was peace in my life and in my house.

The elementry school I went to had the exact same Christmas tree and when they set it up, I knew Christmas was comming.

Thank you !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mar 24, 2009
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		'Tacky' is in the eye of the beholder
by: Anonymous

Some people think a tree colored pink and made of plastic is great. I think it's awful.

The Silver Christmas Tree was the most distinctive and memorable decoration of the Christmas holidays of my early years. If there's any Christmas tree you remember...it will be that one.

Good to see it make a comeback.
Nov 23, 2008
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Silver Christmas Tree
by: Anonymous

We never had one of those when I was growing up. My mother thought them much too tacky looking. every time I saw one in someone's window I was so envious lol.I thought they were so neat.So I bought one a couple years ago on ebay, I bought a color wheel from Harriet Carter mail order catalog to use with it. I decorate it with blue balls and display it every year on my enclosed porch.Its kind of pretty in a tacky way lol.
Nov 23, 2008
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Silver Christmas trees
by: Anonymous

Ha ha I did buy an aluminum christmas tree off of ebay. We never had one of those when I was a kid, my mom thought they were tacky, but I was envious of neighbor kids that had one.So as an adult I bought one and the color wheel. I set it up on my enclosed porch at christmas time.I think its kind of pretty in a tacky kind of way. lol
Jun 01, 2008
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		I had forgotten about the silver christams tree
by: Anonymous

I can remember it vividly now. I remember the first year it was put up. It was a big surprise. Grandpa had put it up before we all got there and I remember walking in the door and seeing that tree, I was in awe. It was simply amazing. We always went to our grandparents for the holiday. and that was a special year. I can remember laying under the tree and watching it change colors too. Thank you for the memory, I will be sure to include that in my journal.
Feb 12, 2008
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		kid4ever
by: Anonymous

Why grow up? Thats when the fun ends!
Dec 28, 2007
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Crazy or not...I bought one!
by: Jan Fincher

Our tree looked just like that - even had only blue ornaments. I watched it for hours also. A couple of years ago a friend was talking about how he had this aluminum tree that he drug out each year just for laughs. I talked him out of it and it has a prominent place each year at my house. I need a different color wheel. The one that I bought from him is an even earlier version with glass panes - the plastic panes cast colors better. Great memories!

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