By the late 1950s, what had come to be considered the standard Swedish stamped brass “angel chime” was being mass-produced in the hundreds of thousands, allowing models like the one advertised in this 1958 “Sears Christmas Book” to retail for a dollar or less. This is the candle chime most baby-boomers remember, and variations on this design are still available today.

Avebe “Angel Chimes” (30 x 13.5 cm., base = 12 cm. dia.)
Avebe “Giant Angel Chimes” (43 x 20 cm., base = 18 cm. dia.)
“Christmas Tree” chimes (27 x 14 cm., base = 12.5 cm. dia.)

 

Shown are some sets of typical angel chimes in this pattern dating from the 1960s and 1970s. This manufacturer (Avebe of Sweden) also offered a “giant” angel chimes, as well as a design variant which featured a Christmas tree as a base, and a star topper.  

Avebe “Angel-Party Chimes” (30 x 13.5 cm., base = 12 cm. dia.)
“Angel Chimes” with music box (33 x 14 cm., base = 4 cm. high x 9.5 cm. dia.)

Some sets also came packaged with an additional suite of figures — horses and clowns, instead of angels — which allowed the chimes to be used as a party or birthday centerpiece. Music boxes were added to the base of some models; this one plays “Happy Birthday to You,” but a variant which plays “Silent Night” has also been noted. For some reason it is rare to find any of the music-box chimes in their original packaging

Dan-Dee Imports “Angel Chimes with Spinning Candles”
(27 x 14 cm., base = 12 cm. dia.)

Many “Swedish pattern” angel chimes are now Japanese made, producing some strange and interesting variants on the basic design. This one features candle-holders attached to the impeller, so that the candles spin along with the angels. I haven’t been able to make it function, and I’m not entirely sure that the laws of physics will allow it ...