Project page 2

The previous project leads us very nicely into our next project...

Re-Bushing a Vintage Bubble Tree

1950 Royal 11 Light Bubble tree

A Sad case, indeed. This Royal tree came to me like this a while back. It's once beautiful foliage badly dropping. (I have seen natural trees keep their needles better!)

Now, using much of the information already given on our "$5.00 Bubble tree" project, we will now "re-bush" this tree, bringing it back to it's once splendid glory.

Before you begin, get together the needed materials. See the previous project page. A project of this size will require about 7 of the AC Moore $1.00 Canadian fir trees, taken apart.

For the lower 4 branches, wire 6 branches together for each arm. For the next tier up, 5 branches each arm will do, then 4 branches for each of the small arms on the top tier. Wrap each arm starting at the trunk, and wrap outwards towards and around the socket, and back again. When all the arms are wrapped, prepare about 4 or 5 - 10 foot garlands, and wrap down the tree in a spiral, and when one garland ends, wrap it around the nearest arm, and start over again with a new garland where you left off. Finish off by sliding the smaller branches under the main trunk wrapping, as many as you like to fill in the tree.

Here we see a close up of the top of our tree's top area. Note the many branches that have no needles left at all!
The Royal tree is wrapped with one continuous garland. During the restoration, I found that you can achieve better results wrapping the arms first separately. To begin, simply cut the garland in several places, and unwrap the old garland and discard it. As you see in the picture on the right, it sure looks a mess right now!
So now, we have our tree completely stripped of it's old garland. Now is the time to examine the sockets and wiring for fraying, loose wires, or any unsafe conditions.
This is a close-up of the metal arm, showing the adhesive tape on the socket which was used to keep the socket captive in the holder. You will find this tape long gone by, so re-do it, taking a piece of masking tape, rolling it so the sticky side is out. and put it around the socket just like it was, then tie in place with florist's wire.
Now the fun begins! Wrap each arm with new garland, starting at the end closest to the trunk, wrapping around outwards towards the socket, then around the socket a few times, and back. (Note that this particular garland is NOT my favorite stuff like I used in our $5 tree-Use the Canadian fir garland for the most natural and vintage look)
Now, follow the wrapping instructions that are on the previous project page for our $5.00 tree, and here is your finished project!
On the right is the second Royal tree I did just recently. This one, I used the same branches as on our $5.00 tree. The tree above was done with the more common branches from a 3 foot Wal-Mart tree. The needles are longer and more modern looking, but I prefer the look of this one, as it has a more "vintage" appearance. The choice really is up to your individual taste. This one also sports its original Royal biscuit lamps, while the tree above has the Noma "flying saucer" lamps.

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