L.E.D. lights are quickly taking over the Christmas tree landscape leaving lots and lots of incandescent light strings at second hand stores and online auction sites.
These lights are the best in my opinion. They just have tradition written all over them. These are the lights where you screw the bulbs into the sockets and make real trees smell so good. I have been finding strings of 25 everywhere and have been paying just a few bucks (literally $3-$4) per string which was cheaper than they were originally purchased for I bet. You can find these in their originally packaging witch makes them an even bigger find.
Be sure the inspect the cord and the plug or fraying or exposed wires and stay away from these, naturally. If you find a really old set from the 1950's, the ones with two and three separate wires rolled or twisted together, I would stay away from these as well. Old and, yes, vintage but in my opinion, dangerous. The insulation around the cords just doesn't seem to have held up well. Try to get the plastic coated cords that are "one cord" from the 1960's and 1970's for the sake of safety.
Bulbs for these strings is another fun expedition! You can still find replacement bulbs (usually in packages of four with assorted colors: red, blue, orange and green) in retail stores and even some hard wares. They run about a buck for a package of four. I, however, like to buy them vintage...they just seem to be more 'Christmassy' for some reason. I think the colors are slightly better on the old bulbs.
The best way to find them is to buy old strings of lights that have bulbs in the sockets. I even buy the older strings that I warned about above just to salvage the old bulbs from. Some of the most hard to find and beautiful bulbs are what are referred to as "Satin" bulbs or "Satin" coated. These have a "satin" finish to the paint and give a warm glow to the bulbs. Think of the colors on the "I Dream of Jeanie" bottle. You will not see the bulb's elements through the glass but will get a creamy, shiny, metallic glow from the bulbs. I have found sets of 24 of just these bulbs on auction sites such as Ebay but they can get very pricey. Your best bet is to pick them up in a string at flea markets, auctions (physical auctions), vintage stores and in your grandmother's attic! These bulbs are beautiful, becoming harder to find and are fetching higher prices as time goes on. Below is a picture.
Update: I couldn't find these today while shopping. I was told that they "fly out" as soon as they are put up for sale at my favorite vintage store Flower Child in Cleveland, Ohio.
Another type of light that is unique and has that antique feel are referred to as "conical fluted" bulbs. These lights are shaped a little more enlongated than the average bulb with a sharper point at the tip and fluted lines that run the length of the bulb. They fit the average light string at the base and are very cool.
Here is a picture.
Milk glass character bulbs are lights that are in the shape of Santa, snowment, Kewpie Dolls, bears etc. that screw in and light up. Once again, getting harder and harder to find. Very cool if you can find them.
Below is a picture.
"Olive" bulbs are similar to the traditional lights but are more cone shaped. Instead of having a wide middle and narrow top and bottom, they have a wide bottom, wide middle and narrow top...like a cone.
UPDATE: I just found these today and they are currently going for $8 to $24 each
Lets face it, how many decades can we expect a glass bulb with a delicate element to last?!? If you find these, get them. If you've got them, don't let go!
Allan ** All images were taken from the internet **
