Electric Christmas Tree Lights

[Silver Creek Slim]

The world's first practical light bulb was invented by Thomas Edison in 1879, and a mere three years later in 1882 an associate of his, one Edward Johnson, electrically lit a Christmas tree for the first time. The tree was in the parlor of Johnson's New York City home, located in the first section of that city to be wired for electricity. The display created quite a stir, and was recorded by a visiting reporter named Croffut in the Detroit Post and Tribune:     

"Last evening I walked over beyond Fifth Avenue and called at the residence of Edward H. Johnson, vice-president of Edison's electric company. There, at the rear of the beautiful parlors, was a large Christmas tree presenting a most picturesque and uncanny aspect. It was brilliantly lighted with many colored globes about as large as an English walnut and was turning some six times a minute on a little pine box. There were eighty lights in all encased in these dainty glass eggs, and about equally divided between white, red and blue. As the tree turned, the colors alternated, all the lamps going out and being relit at every revolution. The result was a continuous twinkling of dancing colors, red, white, blue, white, red, blue---all evening.

I need not tell you that the scintillating evergreen was a pretty sight---one can hardly imagine anything prettier. The ceiling was crossed obliquely with two wires on which hung 28 more of the tiny lights; and all the lights and the fantastic tree itself with its starry fruit were kept going by the slight electric current brought from the main office on a filmy wire. The tree was kept revolving by a little hidden crank below the floor which was turned by electricity.  It was a superb exhibition."

Edison's tree was of course quite a novelty for the time, and I suspect a bit of a publicity stunt as well. (It is interesting to note that none of the local New York City papers seemed to have reported on the display). Rare were homes wired for electricity, and those that were commonly had but a single ceiling light fixture in each room. Few people had the knowledge or resources to duplicate Johnson's display in their own homes.

http://www.oldchristmaslights.com/history.htm

Slim

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Great post, Slim. Thanks for the link.

[Delmonico]

Here's a sidenote for you.  The glass balls we often hang on the tree at Christmas time has a shooting connection.  The first ones were simply the glass balls that were used in early trap shooting with wires added to hold them to the tree.  These came in many colors and many examples of these pre-clay targets exist today because the got spared being shot and went into the Christmas tree decoration box year after year. 

Todays are just thinner and have brighter colors.

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[Four-Eyed Buck]

Thanks for the link, Slim. I found a couple decorations that we used to have when I was little, brought back some fond memories.
 Del, there's also some old pics there of early decorating styles that might be of interest to your historian side........Buck

[El Peludo]

Very interesting read; thanks, Slim.

[Steel Horse Bailey]

I found it VERY interesting when I first found out that the glass balls we decorate trees with were actually the type Annie Oakley and other exhibition shooters used.  Thanks for the reminder, Del!

[Haroldhoward]

Here's a sidenote for you.  The glass balls we often hang on the tree at Christmas time has a shooting connection.  The first ones were simply the glass balls that were used in early trap led shooting with wires added to hold them to the tree.  These came in many colors and many examples of these pre-clay targets exist today because the got spared being shot and went into the Christmas tree decoration box year after year.  

Todays are just thinner and have brighter colors.

It looks nice but you can add more colorful lights to it