A Timeline of Christmas Lights

A Timeline of Christmas Lights

Christmas Lights

17th Century—Wax candles were attached to the tree branches (with great difficulty), but a lighted Christmas tree was a fire hazard. A lit tree could never be left unattended. A bucket of water was kept nearby.

1882—Electricity was used to light a Christmas tree in New York City. Edward Johnson, an associate of Thomas Edison hand-wired 80 small electric bulbs and wound them around a rotating evergreen tree.

1890—Edward H. Johnson created the first string of lights which were mass produced.

1895—President Grover Cleveland set up a lit Christmas tree in the White House and the general public took notice.

1900—Department stores began incorporating lights in their Christmas displays. Wealthy Americans began hosting Christmas tree parties, which could cost a minimum of $300 (more than $2,000 by today’s standards) that included a generator and a wireman’s services.

1903—Screw type bulbs that could be plugged into a wall socket were developed by The American Eveready Co.

1908—Using a telephone switchboard, Ralph E. Morris, an employee of the New England Telephone Company, created an electric light set that was battery operated.

1917—Albert Sadacca, a teenager was inspired to make safe electric lights after learning of a tragic fire involving Christmas tree candles that were still being used on trees. Many Americans did not trust electric lights since they were still in the experimental stage. Albert’s parents sold ornamental novelty lighting and he converted some of them into safe Christmas tree lights. The first year 100 strings of white lights were sold. The second year, Albert used brightly colored bulbs and a multi-million-dollar business grew. Albert formed a company with his brothers called The National Outfit Manufacturer’s Association (NOMA).

1990s—Prelit trees were first produced by the world’s largest artificial Christmas tree maker, Boto Company.

Late 1990s-LED (light emitting diode) bulbs became available for Christmas use. The technology was discovered in 1907 but the application of the technology lay dormant until the 1960s when commercial use was developed. The technology continued to be fine tuned and advanced year after year until it has spread into residential use, particularly in Christmas lighting.


A Timeline of Christmas Lights .

--Posted by - my-christmas2013 -

- my-christmas2013 - Updated at: 8:08 PM