Suggestions Needed For A Christmas Scene

For me, coming up with 100 year-old stuff is easy. In addition to the old trains, 100-year-old toys such as dolls and cast iron cars. Putz cardboard houses, "bottle brush" evergreen trees. and a surrounding fence. In the center, a German "feather" tree with candles and old German "paper scrap" and glass ornaments.

However, these took me a while to get together over the years.

Do you have any vintage toys you could display, Tonka trucks, tin toys, etc.?

At this time no. My wife won a small size rocking horse, but I don't know for sure if it will it will get here in time. We were looking for a small sized wagon with no luck.

Also do a google search for Lionel Standard Gauge Christmas Layout pictures.  You will come up with both modern(with a vintage look) and actual vintage pictures. You can also look at prewar O gauge xmas layouts as they would have the same basic feel.  The bulbs on the tree lights need to be of the nightlight size bulbs or larger, lots of tinsel on the tree, vintage or homemade looking decorations on the tree, popcorn garland maybe. Remember the times were lean during a large portion of the Standard Gauge era. Cant wait to see pictures.   Mike

I like the idea of a glitter/tinsel house. Pottery Barn may have them this year.

Maybe something like Ward Kimball had on his layout, a prewar Lionel station and lots of figures. My picture is not the greatest since it is a screenshot, but it least it can give you an idea. 

  Tom

This is a corner of The Christmas Putz in The Lutheran Home at Topton, PA. It was constructed between 1909 and 1946 by Mrs. Ida Henry, Matron of The Lutheran Orphans' Home. Everything but the track, trains, figures and toys (the truck, for example) was built from scratch. The gray/silver cover over a pavilion at the bottom is an old lampshade. Could you ask people to bring (or build) something for your Christmas display? You wouldn't have to fill that area this year. In fact, you could invite people to bring something next year.

here are old photo of the period...the issue, of course, is finding the items to display...scroll down toward the end of the page for the best pictures...

http://www.cardboardchristmas..../Christmas1920s.html

my very best regards...howard...

http://www.littleglitterhouses.com

https://picasaweb.google.com/1...1sRgCIWMs8SjwqXHgwE#

Joe, could you please post a picture if you have one. I have yet to find an example of the cardboard houses that were handed down, but finally disintegrated by the 60's.

These were not glitter houses, and they are not shown on the large Christmas web-site that has examples of others.

Dave

Sorry, not smart enough to post photos. Just Google or eBay "putz houses". However, I like the guy's idea of blowing up a photo (or illustration) of a old layout. That would do the trick at the least cost.

Joe, I have not been able to find these anywhere.

A brief description of what they were: cardstock with the windows, shingles, and other decorations printed on them; after removing the roofs, they folded flat for storage.

Dave

i believe these are what you're looking for...they were known as "built-rite" houses...here's link...

https://www.google.com/search?....16.2064.XgKoArwoafI

here is more about the "built-rite" houses...

http://www.dollshousespastandp.../issue8feb2011p5.htm

howard...

Michaels and AC Moore have these right now.

These are not the Putz style houses I was referring to. Putz houses were made to go under a Christmas tree as part of a "Christmas garden" (trains optional). They were usually made in Japan, and sold in 5&10s. In the 1970s, they were replaced by Dept56 type houses. Recently, new versions of the old cardboard houses are being offered. They are much better looking, but fairly expensive.

Howard, the Built Rite houses were the closest to them, but the styles were a little too modern - 1930's>, and they didn't have the bases common to the Built Rite brand.

But researching those led to several other manufactures. And I think I found them - McLoughlin Brothers.

Thanks,

Dave

Thanks Joe, that's what I was guessing you had.

Dave