Aluminum Christmas Tree

Artificial Christmas trees have been around since the 1800′s. It is generally believed that the first commercially sold aluminum Christmas trees were made in Wisconsin in 1959 by Aluminum Specialty Company. The tree trunk was made from a wooden pole with holes drilled at different angles to form the correct tree shape. All of the aluminum branches were the same length which made the aluminum Christmas tree easy to put together. All that was needed was to insert any branch in any hole in the pole.

As these trees grew in popularity many other companies started making their own idea of an aluminum Christmas tree. Eventually colors other than the traditional green were introduced. The trees also varied in size, from little table top aluminum Christmas trees to 7 1/2 feet models. As the aluminum Christmas tree grew in size, it also grew in complexity, becoming difficult to put together.

To simulate the look of a real tree the branches were manufactured in various sizes. The ends of the aluminum branches were color coded and instruction sheets included detailing which color to insert in which hole in the wooden pole. After a few years of use the color wore off the branch ends. It really didn’t matter because the instruction sheet had long since been lost. Putting the aluminum Christmas tree together became a family affair trying to guess which branch went where. It made for some interesting tree shapes and many laughs when the tree was finished. The interest in aluminum Christmas trees reached its peaked in the mid 1960′s. By the beginning of the ’70′s very few were being made.

If you are on this website chances are you are in a retro mood. These Vintage aluminum Christmas trees seem to be making a comeback. Once difficult to find, they are now being sold by several outlets. The purpose of this website is to help to bring back that old Christmas spirit and give you an idea of what is out there and where you can buy an aluminum Christmas tree.

Here are just a few of the aluminum Christmas trees we found:

The Classic Aluminum Christmas Tree: Offered exclusively by Hammacher Schlemmer, this is the aluminum Christmas tree made popular in the 1950s for its “futuristic” look. Unlike lesser trees made with tinsel, this one is made of high-quality, long-lasting aluminum foil branches that insert into a hardwood trunk. Easy to assemble, the branches are of equal length and interchangeable, and once erected, are strong enough to support even the heaviest ornaments (not included). A color light wheel (sold below) can be set up at the foot of the tree, illuminating it with a spectrum of lights that reflect from every aluminum needle. Includes tree stand and protective branch tubes for storage.

Aluminum Slim Unlit Christmas Tree:This tree comes with a stand and is packed in a heavy-duty box with cardboard tubes to protect each branch. Setting it up is easy and will take only a matter of minutes. The rotating color wheel features red, green, blue and orange revolving panels to add some color to any holiday. It tilts up to 90 degrees and measures 12-inches diameter and 15-inches tall. The LED color changing light features bright bulbs in red, green and blue to constantly cast a different shade on your aluminum tree. A two-year limited manufacturer’s warranty is included. Available through ChristmasTreesGalore