Uncle Tom's Bay Window Christmas Village etc.

Post by **Tom Hull** » Fri Jan 02, 2015 5:08 pm

This is hardly even a putz as it was pretty much thrown together last minute style. I picked up the houses from all over my TV room /den/kitchen that had been accumulating and arranged them in the bay window. I had bought a close out LED string and it ALMOST worked well but was a real wrestle trying to get them in the houses. Perhaps if one nailed one end to the wall and stretched it out tight it would have taken some of the kinks out of this over heavy group of cords and made it easier to deal with but I finally got it sorted out. I wanted a train in the village but my N scale round track would have been nearly too wide AND it isn't working the best and need to work on it. It is an older "Trim A Tree" train set by Bachman. My little niece Jasmine got a Battery operated train that is REAL cute but I couldn't get it to operate as the wheels of the engine seemed to be hitting the ties of the plastic track. So I set up my old Under the Christmas tree Battery operated train for her to see.
This putz contains a lot of houses of nearly every stripe including some rare Occupied Japan ones. The little church next to the purple Giant Dolly Toy house is one at the top of photo 3. Lots of coconuts here including my Petite Four house (little ovens?) on the right of Photo 1 & 2.
In the second photo to the right of the village is an example of a typical western Kansas Grain elevator complete with a little "Sculpty" pickup and Scale house. The little car to the left of the elevator I have written up under figures and is another thing I made. Karl Fey wanted me to make him an elevator but I lost touch with him so have never made him one. If you see this, Karl get ahold of me and I would be glad to make you one. Enjoy the pictures.

Post by **Tom Hull** » Fri Jan 02, 2015 5:22 pm

In the first photo continuing to the left and in the front row on the right is a lovely Hacienda that is a recent addition from PapaTeds collection. I especially treasure it not only because of it's very interesting paint work and design but because it belonged to my friend.
The second photo is to the left of the village and is an action decoration that was available about 1953 in the Sears & Roebuck Christmas Wish Book. And I wanted it REAL bad but dads comment when I showed it to him was "Why do you want a decoration for Christmas?" I guess I didn't have an answer to that one so didn't get it but thanks to eBay it was about the second thing I bought on that site.
It is a bit more primitive than todays action decorations and the movement of Santa up and down the chimney and the Kids up and down the staircase is accomplished by a wind up music box that plays Jingle Bells.
The last photo stands at the front of the display and on the right is a figure of a Japanese Santa called Hoteiosho which is a bit different than a Western one as he is said to have eyes in the back of his head In this version the back side is identical but carrying a basket filled with gifts instead of a tree. On the left of a Reindeer with a vintage looking wreath that my sister Helen gave me and is especially precious because of that, as she passed last October.

Post by **Tom Hull** » Fri Jan 02, 2015 5:28 pm

This Photo is of The Nativity on the right side of the village. Notice the little "OLD LOOKING" Santa in a chimney decoration. It has a very vintage look but though it is made of paper, card and cotton it is not very old but a cutie!
The last two shots are an overview of the under the tree train and the bay window display.

Post by **Lynn** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 5:48 pm

Tom,

What a wonderful collection of houses and Christmas treasures. I am really enjoying all the pictures. I will be looking at these more than just once, thanks for sharing them all!!

Post by **maria** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 6:41 pm

Ditto!

Post by **Lee** » Sun Jan 04, 2015 7:56 pm

I love it all and you even have a Lane "Acclaim" coffee table. My ex mother-in-law had a whole set of Lane furniture she bought new and I always admired it.

Post by **paulrace** » Sun Jan 04, 2015 11:25 pm

Tom, Maria, Mark Podmore, and I helped a lady rebuild her husband's Christmas Eve Capers set as a surprise a couple years ago. It's fun to see that you have one, too.

http://familychristmasonline.com/musing ... elpers.htm

Post by **les** » Mon Jan 05, 2015 9:03 am

Hey,Tom, the "last minute style" works for me!!! It's awesome!!! Just spent about 15 minutes looking at each item and enjoying the whole. Thanks for sharing and a very happy 2015 to you!!!

Post by **Tom Hull** » Fri Jan 09, 2015 9:24 pm

Lee wrote:I love it all and you even have a Lane "Acclaim" coffee table. My ex mother-in-law had a whole set of Lane furniture she bought new and I always admired it.

Well, Lee when my parents built the house I live in now way back in 1962 they had all Lane Acclaim furniture in the living room. In addition to the coffee table they bought a couple of different sized end tables. They also had an around the corner sectional couch in a brocade pattern in turquoise blue. Still have the Lane pieces.

Post by **Tom Hull** » Fri Jan 09, 2015 9:25 pm

paulrace wrote:Tom, Maria, Mark Podmore, and I helped a lady rebuild her husband's Christmas Eve Capers set as a surprise a couple years ago. It's fun to see that you have one, too.

http://familychristmasonline.com/musing ... elpers.htm

Wow what a lovely rebuild. Still cannot figure out how you redid the figures?