Because Christmas lighting was the very beginning of my fascination with Christmas, I'll share this photo of three items in my collection (on display during Christmas, 2006).  The box standing up in the back is from Noma, circa 1930's, and once held a heavy cloth-covered cord of 25 outdoor lamps (C-9).  The box is very colorful and the graphics encourage the consumer to also use the lights during other holidays (Fourth of July and Halloween). 

The box with the blonde-haired little girl holds a set of Noma "Bubble Lights" from the late 1940's.  Each flat-topped lamp was housed inside a two-piece colorful plastic base that also secured a glass tube of low-temperature fluid (methanyne chloride) that would boil from the heat of the lamp.  Their popularity swept the country and held the fascination of young and old for several decades.  This particular box also holds special memory for me because it is from my childhood.

The most eye-catching item in the photo is the cardboard stand-up tree advertising "Whirl Glo" spinning shades from 1936.  The tree holds a set of eight series lamps with small paper shades that turn from the heat of the lamp passing through the curved vents.  They are fascinating to watch and incredible on a tree when mixed in with action from bubble lights!  Advertising items such as this were not intended to be saved after the sales period ended, but I'm thankful the store owner appreciated it enough to not throw it out.

This photo is VERY busy.  It's part of a spare upstairs bedroom that became a display room for the Christmas 2006 Extravaganza.  I'll try to be brief.....

The small tree barely visible on the far left displays 1950's clear-glass ornaments (Italy, Japan, Germany) that have small scenes or figures inside, similar to a "snow-globe" scene.  For some unknown reason I am completely fascinated with them.  Perhaps a connection with my childhood? 

The small tree (also barely visible) on the far right displays 1950's glass ornaments (Japan, Czechoslovakia, Italy) with concave areas holding small scenes or figures.  Again, this attraction must have something to do with my childhood; I am drawn to them like a moth to the flame.

The small tree in the middle displays 1950's Elf figures.  It's not something that I collect; it just happens.  But when they are all put together on one tree, they take on a life of their own and become very comical.

The two taller trees are decorated with miscellaneous ornaments from the 1940-60's era.  Neither tree had any particular theme though they ended up almost being mirror images. 

Underneath was a Christmas Village with lighted cardboard houses, castles and churches from Japan, circa 1920-30's.  I've had a fascination with lighted villages since my childhood.  For ten years this entire room was one village.  However, now the real estate collection has been scaled back to a more manageable size.