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CLICK HERE FOR THE TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE AND LINKS TO ALL PAGES ON THIS SITE

TABLE OF CONTENTS       HISTORY       THE TIMELINE       MANUFACTURER'S HISTORIES       THE PATENT PAGES       

THE PRE-ELECTRIC ERA      VINTAGE ADVERTISING         THE LIGHT SET GALLERIES         RELATED LINKS         

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

INTERESTING AND RELATED LINKS

There is precious little information available on the Web about antique Christmas lights, which is one of the main reasons that I built this site. Below, however are links to some sites that I have found, including one to the best antique light bulb site on the web: Kilokat's Antique Light Bulb Collectors Site.  I've also included a few e-mail links to experts and collectors in the field of antique Christmas lighting, who will be more than happy to help you with questions or information on where to find a particular item you may want to buy. The references page will help you locate some of the printed material available on the subject. Happy web surfing, and don't hesitate to E-MAIL ME if you have questions!

 

Note: This page was last updated in 2003, so most of the links (except Joe Pilliteri's link, which we recently got word about) are broken or obsolete. For a more up-to-date version of this page please click HERE.

 

CLICK TO JUMP TO:  Commercial Links    Clubs     Other Collectors     Antique Christmas Dealers

 

COMMERCIAL LINKS: CLICK TO GO!

NOMA- Once the world's largest Christmas light manufacturer, this American company has  been through some major changes since its formation in 1926. The NOMA name is currently a trademark owned by the Inliten Company, who has set up a small website with some interesting information about the NOMA company and its history. Click on the logo for their website. 

NOMA UK- Here's a link to the United Kingdom version of NOMA, apparently completely independent from the American company. It's interesting to note the cultural differences denoted by the very different product lines offered by the two companies. Operating voltages are different (110 volts vs. 240) so the outfits are not interchangeable between countries without a bit of creative work. Also, safety standards are much higher in the UK than in the US, which results in heavier cables and somewhat higher prices. Click on the logo to get to the website.

Christmas Catalogue
SIMPLY LIGHTING- This company is a good source for new bubble lights that are quite similar in style to  the old ones that some of us grew up with. In addition to the bubble lights, they have a huge selection of other Christmas lighting items as well. Click on their logo to get there. Simply Lighting
LION'S DEN ANTIQUES-Paul Schofield deals in antique Christmas lighting and has a new website of hard to find replacement lamps plus a huge line of reproduction bubble lights, bubble light stands and figural lights-and more! Click on the picture of his new bubble light to the right to get to his website, or you can CLICK HERE to e-mail him directly. Paul has it all- great merchandise, great service, and he is a great guy to boot!

 

CLUBS:

CLICK TO GO!

Chris Cuff has organized an Antique Christmas Light Collector's Club and discussion group, which is hosted on Yahoo. There are no fees or costs associated with the club, as it is an informal association of diverse Christmas light collectors, all of whom enjoy collecting, discussing and researching the history of old Christmas lights. Membership is open to all. Just click on Santa for the membership sign up page. Below is a partial listing of some of the members in the group. Feel free to contact them directly with any questions you have. I have listed their areas of expertise as well.

Group Members (in alphabetical order)

Member Name

Area of Expertise

Contact Information

Christopher Cuff (Group Founder)

Series type miniature base C-6 lighting, but interested in all electrical Christmas items. Also general electrical knowledge and theory.

ccuff@in4web.com

Lee Lowry Fluorescent and intermediate base C-9 outdoor Christmas lighting, general electrical knowledge and theory. leel@alltel.net
Bill Nelson (Webmaster of this site) Pre-1920s Christmas lights in particular, but all pre-1950 electrical Christmas items. doglovers40@home.com
Jim Sloss Matchless Stars and Bubble Lights nomalite@nb.net
Gene Teslovic Candelabrum and Bubble Lights
DEALER as well.
lacagenoel@aol.com
     
     
     
     

 

PERSONAL WEBSITES OF OTHER COLLECTORS: CLICK TO GO!

Joseph S. Pilliteri's "The Yule Lights" collection

Click Here

This is a  nice site by Frank Wysong that is still under development , but already has lots of 1950s-1970s era lighting sets. The website pictures many of the lighting outfits not covered here. You can e-mail Frank , or click on the logo on the right to go to his website.

 

Kilokat's Antique Light Bulb Collector's Site -This site by Tim Tromp has everything you ever wanted to know about antique electric lighting, including a category devoted to Christmas lights. There are discussion and wanted boards, as well as a large archive section for those of you doing research. Simply put, a perfect website. Click on the logo to visit!

Bob Brenner, Author of several books on Christmas collectibles -Bob is an antique Christmas collector, and the author of several wonderful books on Christmas collecting, some of which include Christmas Past, Christmas Revisited, and Christmas Through The Decades. His books are extremely well written, and are full of fantastic information. You can contact Bob using the information below:

Robert Brenner
316 W. Main St.
Princeton, WI 54968
telephone (920) 295-3009
fax (920) 295-0269
E-Mail: rbrenner@dotnet.com
          Visit Bob's website: CLICK HERE

         

Bob Iwamasa, Figural light bulb collector -Bob, one of the Nation's pre-eminent collectors of figural light  bulbs, has authored a book on the subject. Fully illustrated, the work has pictures of the vast majority of the figural lights known to exist. He updates his book periodically with supplement sheets, and also provides current values for each example. Click on his book on the right to visit his web site, where you can order the book or contact Bob with any questions you might have.

Gary's Electric Christmas Lighting Page -This site has not been updated in a while, but is still a  wonderful source of pictures of many antique Christmas light bulbs and boxed sets. There are sections devoted to boxed lighting sets, individual lamps and bubble lights. It's worth your time to visit! Just click on the light bulb to go to Gary's site.

Jerry Ehernberger, Founder of The Golden Glow- I'm proud to include a link to Jerry. Along with his Glow activities, he is an avid collector of antique Christmas lights, both American and foreign. Jerry frequently sells antique Christmas lighting on eBay, under the name Xmashouse. Be sure to check out his auctions! Click on Santa to get to Jerry's website.

Chris Millinship, British light bulb collector- Chris is an avid collector of light bulbs, both modern and antique. He also has a special interest in Christmas lighting, and lights the outside of his house each year. Outdoor lighting for the holidays is not as common in Britain as it is in the States, but Chris loves it, and does a great job! Click on the picture of the bubble light at the right to visit his website and see his collection as well as an archive of web cam shots of his outdoor lights from years past. Chris has recently been expanding his website, and it has already grown considerably. Be sure to check it out!

Paramount Oil-tube bubble light with Noma biscuit bubblers in the background.

 

E-MAIL CONTACTS FOR OTHER COLLECTORS

Gene Teslovic, Bubble Light and Candelabrum Collector -CLICK HERE to contact Gene Teslovic, my friend and mentor, and an expert on antique Christmas lighting. My very first purchase on eBay was from Gene, and it is through him that my collection and understanding of old Christmas lights grew. He often sells on eBay under the name Lacagenoel, so be sure to check out his auctions. Gene will be happy to answer any Christmas lighting questions you may have!
Jim Sloss, Matchless Star and Bubble Light Collector- CLICK HERE to contact Jim, a friend and an avid collector of Matchless Stars and bubble lights. Jim kindly provided much of the information on this site about the Stars, and has been  a huge help with bubble light info as well. Jim is a great guy, and is very knowledgeable. 
Lee Lowry, Fluorescent Lighting Enthusiast- CLICK HERE to e-mail Lee, a collector and hobbyist who specializes in fluorescent and outdoor lighting. Lee has a great knowledge of all things electrical, and is more than happy to help with any questions you may have.                

 

ANTIQUE CHRISTMAS MERCHANDISE DEALERS

CLICK TO GO!

LA CAGE NOEL- Gene Teslovic, an avid collector of bubble lights and candelabrum, is also a dealer in vintage Christmas lights. Gene has an extensive inventory of many types of electrical Christmas items, and sells on eBay under the name Lacagenoel. You can e-mail him directly using the link to the right.

E-MAIL
GENE TESLOVIC
HERE

Lion's Den Antiques-Paul Schofield deals in antique Christmas lighting and has a new website of hard to find replacement lamps plus a huge line of reproduction bubble lights, bubble light stands, figural lights-and more! Click on the picture right to get to his website, or you can CLICK HERE to e-mail him directly. Paul has it all- great merchandise, great service, and he is a great guy to boot!

 

End of Category

CLICK HERE FOR THE TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE AND LINKS TO ALL PAGES ON THIS SITE

TABLE OF CONTENTS       HISTORY       THE TIMELINE       MANUFACTURER'S HISTORIES       THE PATENT PAGES       

THE PRE-ELECTRIC ERA      VINTAGE ADVERTISING         THE LIGHT SET GALLERIES         RELATED LINKS         

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS