The First Electric Christmas Tree Lights,

By John Patrick, Bird Oasis

Before 1882 Christmas trees were displayed in homes with lighted candles - many tragic fires resulted from this custom.  An associate and friend of Thomas Edison, Edward Johnson, is recognized as the first person to put electrified lights on a real Christmas tree. It happened just three years after the incandescent light bulb was invented. Johnson was a New Yorker and an executive of the Edison Illumination Company of New York City. Although the press smelled a publicity stunt, because Johnson sent a letter to New York newspapers stating that electric trees will prove to be far less dangerous than the wax candle parlor trees. 

With 80 hand-wired red, white and blue hand-blown bulbs strung around a rotating evergreen tree Johnsons event took place at his home in support of his belief in the lighting product's safety.   In truth, those first bulbs became very hot and were nearly as dangerous as the candles they were replacing.

Johnsons Christmas tree lights did not immediately catch on because the Christmas tree lights were too expensive for most American families to purchase, It would take decades for affordable lighting to become available to most Americans. However, just after President Grover Cleveland commissioned a lighted White House tree in 1895, members of high society started hosting Christmas tree parties. These events became more numerous even as the typical lighted tree of the early 1900s could cost as much as $300, that would be $2000 today.

I don't think you can find a set of hand-wired, hand-blown Christmas tree lights here on eBay but when you search for vintage Christmas tree lights, you'll get over 391 results, as of the writing of this guide on Dec 12 2005.

Only on eBay can you search form one extreme to the other and actually find it.  The Pre-Lit Christmas Tree has recently joined the seasonal market on eBay .  They range from small 3 feet tall pre-lit trees with about 50 lights to the huge 12 feet tall models with 2,400 clear lights.  The more expensive models have special features.  For instance if one light goes out the rest remain lit. A god-send to many Christmas tree decorators.

Don't forget about your computer desk at work at home?  Well how about the USB Christmas Tree?  Put one on your desk and another on your monitor and let the glowing LEDs shine bright. Simply plug into any USB port and the LEDs will cycle through 6 colors, stopping on each color for about 5 seconds. Transitions through Red, Blue, Green, Purple, White and light Blue.  

If you don't like the USB Christmas tree, then how about the a snowman that won't melt on your desk?  The USB Snowman   requires zero powder - just a nice warm USB connection. Complete with a little hat and scarf, just plug in and watch the belly glow. A great desktop addition, sure to put you in a happy mood. The LEDs glow through 4 color changes.

The photos in this guide were found on eBay and taken by the following sellers:

hound-doggie-dog provided the photo of the pre-lit Christmas tree.

Ellie Mae Have Collectibles provided the vintage Christmas tree bulbs.

SafetyBuy-Professional-E-Trade-Team provided the photo fro the USB Christmas Tree.

Merry Christmas!

Read other guides by John Patrick