20 Frosty Lights
Set of 20 shaded screw-in Christmas lights by Pifco.
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Overview
The set consists of multi-coloured olive-shaped shades about 40mm in length. Shades are formed of thick granulated plastic; they are largely solid with a relatively narrow hollow to contain the light bulb and its holder.
Coloured shades are internally lit by clear bulbs. Six shade colours are present: amber, blue, green, purple, red and yellow.
This version of the set's packaging is clearly designed to be suitable for in-store display; the lid can be folded back to form a display and additional cardboard inserts neatly cover all the wiring.
History
This set appears to have been introduced in the second half of the 1970s.
By the start of the 1980s a somewhat similar set of Winterlights (1323) appeared in the Pifco range, apparently replacing Frosty Lights.
In 1983, Frosty Lights had reappeared and were being marketed as a 'new' item in the Pifco range. Winterlights disappeared and Frosty Lights remained available until the late 1980s.
Technical details
- Catalogue number: 1315
- 20× screw-in bulb type 242, rated 12.5v 1.1w
- Patented Pifco sprung screw-in lampholder design, ref GB1144352
- Run-on loop of wire after final lampholder
- Lamp spacing approx 27cm
Details as observed for this set; specifications may have varied over the lifespan of this model.
Similar designs
As referenced above, Pifco's set of 20 Winterlights, catalogue number 1323, has a very similar appearance. These had similarly-shaped shades with a crackled, but not frosted, appearance.
Above: 1315 Frosty Lights (left) and 1323 Winterlights (right)
Sets with frosted spheres were also frequently available from Woolworths during the 1980s.