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Oddities!

Well someone is always trying to innovate and build the better Christmas Light set. There probably have been more attempts at this than there have been at trying to build the "better mousetrap." Sometimes these innovations were really clever and successful, more often they were one shot wonders having the longevity of a formulaic pop song. Regardless, it is fun and interesting to chase down these "side streets" just to see what crazed electricians dream into reality. Cover me Bri, we're going in!

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This set is a "Twinkle Set". The idea was that a step down transformer box was used to reduce the voltage enabling the smaller C6 size twinkle bulbs to be used in parallel. The effect is overall pleasing, though the ugly black box doesn't do much for the aesthetic appeal of the set and can be clunky when decorating. This type of set was not made for long for these and other reasons.
This set is made by Paramount and is called "Wink-O-Lites" They are subminature bulbs that flash independently. The effect is achieved by the use of 2 C6 "balast bulbs" that absorbe the bulk of the current. The overall effect is rather charming and unlike the set above there is no bulky black box to hide. The bulbs also have a shunting device so that if one burns out the rest remain lit. The subminature light bulbs are different from today's mini bulbs in the fact that they screw into the sockets. Today's mini lights just push in. The idea was that a light set was intended to last from season to season unlike the junk mini light sets that people toss in the trash today when they fail to light. These date from the late 1950's and earlier 60's when the Italian "mini" lights were beginning to invade the US market.
This is perhaps the oddest set I have. It is by a company called EDDY. The idea is that the lights radiate out of a central cord via three junction boxes. I have never seen another like it.
Another odd ball set built to be nailed via a framework around a front door. I guess this kept the lights evenly spaced and solidly in place. Please note "June Cleaver" in pumps cheerfully nailing them to the doorway!
Here is a "WHATZIT!" for you. I found this odd little string in a box with other stuff. It is C6 size, is a small loop set in black bakelite sockets with a red insulated wire. It has an exta plug in on the black cord leading to it and the standard round octagonal NOMA plug. It works and I have used it, but I have no idea what the original use of it was for. If you do let me know. The only thing I think of is that it came out of some sort of display device. Who knows!
This is a NOMA Ad-A-Lite set. The idea was that you placed the cord on the tree then added the lights wherever you thought they looked best along the cord. It was novel, but in all not a very successful idea. I wonder how they would get this past the corporate lawyers today! I can only imagine the liability issues involved with something like this.
These Japanese lamps were labeled as "C8" size. They have the candleabra base that the C7 has but are sized larger. These also flash. I like the muted pastel tones they came in.