Note: This is an archive of "Papa" Ted Althof's online tribute to cardboard Christmas "putz" houses and their history. At Ted's request, this archive was established in early 2012. Except for critical updates and announcements, it will remain exactly as Ted left it in October, 2012.
For more information, please scroll to the bottom of the page.
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01-25-09
Reproduction Parts
Note from Editor: The text and photos on this page are exactly the way "Papa" Ted left them. Although he had not edited this page for more than two years before his death, Ted had reported elsewhere that he was running out of windows and doors and would not be able to order more once they were gone. Ironically, we have since learned that Ted was too ill to keep filling orders, but he didn't want people to feel bad for him, so he said he was running out.
Since Ted's death in October, 2012, several other hobbyists have attempted to fill the gap:
- Printed (paper) Doors and Windows - The CardboardChristmas.com Resources page includes
links to high-resolution original reproductions of the printed (paper) doors and windows used on some houses.
- Cellophane Replacement Windows - Collector Pete Oehman currently has two alternatives for replacing cellophane windows:
When Ted told us he was almost out of stock, Pete, a printer by trade, started developing a stamp that produces museum-quality gold-foil windowframes in all of the popular sizes. When you combine them with the Mylar sheets that Pete provides with each order, the result is almost impossible to tell from the original, and much more durable.
- Ironically, Pete has since acquired most of the remaining inventory of Ted's original silkscreened-on-mylar windows (the same cellophane replacement windows listed on this page). Pete is still sorting through everything, but you can try using this page to write down everything you need and getting in contact with Pete through his Contact Page.
No matter what resources become available (or unavailable) in the future, we plan to leave this page up because it is still the best reference anywhere on these things. We now return you to Ted's words and pictures.
- Paul Race and the rest of the Cardboard Christmas family.
This is mainly a hobby site, but we are
currently the
WORLD'S ONLY SOURCE of these little doors and windows - and are
endeavoring to make available what we can (at just about cost) to help bring back
as many of these fragile "five-and-dime" treasures as possible from the brink of
oblivion. We began with the paper types and now have more than 20 different
kinds, including the surface "stick-ons" for the tiny ornament
sizes and the old candy-surprise boxes. The
cellophanes have been completed,too, - a MUCH more difficult
proposition technically speaking - and we have 23 varieties of those ... so keep
checking back often as new items may be added!
Paper Doors and Windows
NOTHING
brings an old house back to
life more than replacing lost or busted doors and windows. Like sewing new eyes back
on the old Teddy Bear, the face just comes alive again!
EBAY SELLERS: Your houses will get much better prices with doors and windows
all intact. Just watch the listings! Ours are virtually indistinguishable from the
originals, once installed.
Be sure to include the UNDERLINED item number and the quantity of each type
desired. Please make sure your address is typed or clearly printed.
E-MAIL ME
- at -
papated09@verizon.net
..about about any questions you may have.
(We do not have a printed catalog. Some people just make a print-out of this entire
section for a handy reference.)
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE ACTUAL DOORS ARE BRIGHTER AND MORE COLORFUL THAN MY POOR
PHOTOGRAPHY SHOWS. These are digitally restored versions from originals and appear
brand new. You can age them to match a particular house if you wish, but it's just not
practical for us to try to get all possible degrees of aging.
COPYRIGHT NOTICES
WILL NOT SHOW WHEN DOORS AND WINDOWS ARE INSTALLED!!!
Most often borders will not show either. These are all the exact size of the
originals, but for some reason the Japanese made their doors and windows larger than
the openings and just stuck them in.
main
page | house
of the month | 2000
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2005
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Paper Doors
PWD-1:
PreWar door,standard opening -
1"high by 1/2"wide - to - 1 5/16 X 3/4"
(These openings will vary somewhat.)
PWD-1s:
3/4-size version of PWD-1,
fits opening 7/8 X
3/8"
- to - 1 1/4 X 9/16"
(These are also often found as "stick-ons" on the candy boxes
and small ornament-sized houses.)
PWD-2:
Standard opening -
1" by 1 /2".- to - 1 5/16 X 3/4"
PWD-2s:
3/4-size version of PWD-2, fits same as PWD-1s.
PWD-3:
Pre-and PostWar
Quite often found door, fits standard opening -
1" X 1/2" - to - 1 5/16 X 3/4"
PWD-3s:
3/4-size version of PWD-3:
- fits same as PWD-1s.
PWD-4:
Though less commonly encountered, this is just about our favorite prewar door, because if you look closely at the thin orange bead around the frame you'll see that it is composed of literally hundreds of tiny four-point "flowers!" PWD-4 fits the standard door opening range of-
1 X 1/2" - to - 1 5/16 X 3/4"
PWD-4s:
3/4 version of PWD-4: - fits same as PWD-1s.
PSTD-1:
POSTWAR: Most commonly found door for
houses ca. late '40s thru the '50s.
Standard 1" by 1/2" - -to - 1 5/16 X
3/4" opening.
PSTD-1s:
3/4 version of PSTD-1: - fits same as PWD-1s.
Sorry about the photography. These are just as bright as the rest.
PRICES:
All the paper doors are the same price:
65 cents each - 6 for $3.50 - $6 per dozen (of the same
type)
- except where noted. -
Add - $.75 flat-rate for first class mailing costs all orders, including both paper and
CEL types.
Paper Windows
The "AW" series are found mostly on the PreWar "Hacienda" family - a very
large family indeed! The originals were on white bond paper, like the doors above. "AW"
stands for "Arched Window."
AW-1:
Popularly found "stained glass" effect
window for prewar houses & churches - occasionally used as a door, too.
1 3/8"
high X 7/16" wide - to - 1 5/8 X 11/16" opening.
$.75 each - 6 for $4 - $7.50 dozen
AW-3:
Smaller version of above. Fits openings 1 1/8" high X 1/4" wide
- to - 1 7/16" X 1/2"
$.65 each - 6 for $3.50 - $6 per dozen
AW-2:
Same dimensions as AW-1- different pane color pattern.
$.75 each - $6 for $4 - $7.50 per dozen
AW-4:
Same dimensions as AW-3
$.65 each - 6 for $3.50 -$6 per dozen
The "AW" series of arched windows is now also available on the same semi-translucent
vellum as used in the "RY" and "RP" types below. While not strictly original, they
nonetheless have a slightly aged look and shine brighter when illuminated from within.
Order:
AW-1T
AW-2T
AW-4T
.....if you wish your AWs in the vellum version.
The prices are the same as the corresponding white bond paper types.
AW-3T will be available soon.
( "T" stands for "Translucent" )
Special Item
AW-PW:
Seldom seen, but nonetheless authentic "stained glass" pinwheel. About the
size of a dime, fits any size round opening up to 3/4" diameter.
Seen in peak of the roof above the front door if seen at all, more often these round
peak windows are paned with either plain cellophane or colored foil and you can use the
foil wrappers from Hershey's Holiday "Kisses"
to do the job very nicely.
- $1.00 each.
Sorry, - no quantity discount due to limited supply.
Translucent Vellum Series
RYr:
Small round-top gold-on-red window found on a zillion houses both pre and post war.
Openings 3/4" high X 5/16" wide - to - 15/16" X 7/16" .
Printed on special, tough semi-translucent vellum,
the effect is perfect! The Japanese would sometimes cut off the lower pair of panes or the round top
to fit smaller window openings, or just glue them in whole, so these fit even more than just the obvious applications.
RYr-2:
PreWar version of RYr, - darker red.... same dimensions.
Either - $.65 each - 6 for $3.50 - $6 per dozen
RYp:
Medium pointed-arch window also found on a wide variety of
houses..
1 9/16" high by 9/16" wide outside; 1 3/16' by 3/8" inside.
Printed on the same special translucent vellum paper as RYr.
RYp-2:
Darker PreWar version of RYp: - Same dimensions.
Either - $.75 each - 6 for $4 - $7.50 per dozen
THE CLOCK
CLK:
This is the rare "MERRY CHRISTMAS" round CLOCK found
on just a very few prewar houses. One customer has even found a use for
these as ornament scrap replacements.
15/16" diameter. Printed on white bond paper,
as per the original.
CLK-T:
Now offering the clock on
semi-translucent vellum paper, too. This is not original, but looks somewhat aged and
the light shines through more brightly.
- $1.50 each.
(Sorry, these are not included in the #GP-1 sampler due to our very limited
supply, nor are there quantity discounts.)
CELLOPHANES :
WINDOWS AND DOORS
True cellophane has become available again
-after a long absence - through a very few sources, but we wanted something
tougher, longer lasting. These windows appear absolutely perfect when glued in
place, but are of a non-stretch acetate 100 times stronger and 5 times thicker
than the orginals. No little "pokey-fingers" are going to punch through these!
Nor will they shrink or detrioriate through oxidation.
Giant windowless church
awaiting installation of
the new set of cellophane doors and
windows waiting just outside.
This will take 10 of type CEL-3windows
and 2 type CD-A large doors.
The subsequent 3 photos show the same church with it's new doors and windows.
Better than new, because of strength and sturdiness. Poke proof! The acetate
can be creased deliberately, so be careful not to fold it, but once in place
will never shrink or deteriorate as did the old, true cellophane.
THE SECRET:
of a great looking
job - whether installing paper or cellophane - is to clean off all the old glue and
debris from the inside edges of the opening and smooth it down. A common nail file will
usually do it.
CONTACT CEMENT!
- the gummy stuff with the
brush cap - seems to do the best job of holding our acetate "CELs." A bit tricky to
work with, but worth it. I often spot blobs around the inside edges of the opening -
not usually necessary to apply to both sufaces as the instructions always say, or make
a solid bead around the entire inside edge, where I recommend it be applied.
Plain old white glue is fine for the paper and vellum.
The shiny, transparent windows are extremely hard to photograph, especially when
the subject is white, as is this church. These shots just cannot do them
justice. The whole piece looks like I just brought it home from the store.
It is at least 60 years old!
Due to high developement and materials costs, the "CELs" are individually priced,
as noted.
CELLOPHANE WINDOWS
CEL-1:
Commonly found semi-pointed-arch windows - also used as a door -
Fits
openings from 1 1/4" by 3/8" - to - 1 5/8 X 5/8".
( Judge by how much the top of
the opening is rounded or pointed.)
- $1 each - 6 for $5
CEL-2:
Most commonly found postwar arch window with the fully rounded top. Sometimes
also used as a door. Fits openings from -
1 1/4 X 5/16" - to - 1 9/16 X 5/8"
- $1 each - 6 for $5
CEL-3:
Commonly found prewar pointed arch window. Sometimes also used as
a door. Openings from -
1 1/4 X 3/8" - to - 1 5/8 X 3/4".
- $1 each - 6 for $5
CEL-3L:
Slightly larger version of CEL-3 with somewhat different paning
pattern, too. Also used as a door on some houses. Fits openings from-
1 3/8 X 7/16"
- to - 1 3/4 x 3/4".
- $1 each - 6 for $5
CEL-4:
A frequently found smaller sized arch window (or door). Opening sizes from 3/4" x 3/8" - up to - 1 3/8" X 1/2"
- $1 each - 6 for $5
CEL-4S:
A narrower version of CEL-4 but just as often needed. For openings from 15/16" X 3/16" - up to - 1 3/16" X 7/16"
- $1 each - 6 for $5
CEL-5:
VERY often found prewar round-top window. Fits openings from-
9/16
X 9/16" - to - 7/8 X 7/8"
(height measured to to highest point of the arch)
- $1 each - 6 for $5
CEL-5s:
Slightly smaller version of CEL-5. Fits openings from-
1/2 X 1/2" - to - 3/4 X 3/4".
- $1 each - 6 for $5
CEL-5L:
Slightly larger version of CEL-5. Fits openings from-
5/8 X 5/8" - to - 1 X 1"
- $1 each - 6 for $5
CEL-14:
Clear cellophane version of RYp. Fits same opening:
1 3/16 X
3/8" inside - to - 1 7/16 X 9/16" outside.
- $1 each - 6 for $5
CEL-15:
Clear cellophane version of RYr and fits the same openings:
3/4" X 1/4"- to - 1 7/16 X 7/16".
- $.75 each - 6 for $4
CEL-6:
Small rectangular window. Fits opening sizes from -
1/2 X 3/16" -
to - 3/4 X 3/8"
- $.75 each - 6 for $4
CEL-7:
Smaller rectangular window. Fits openings sizes from -
7/16 X 1/8"
- to - 5/8 X 3/8"
- $.75 each - 6 for $4
CEL-8:
There are several sizes of these small rectangular windows, but they are
found on so many houses that we felt it was essential to have them all.
CEL-8 fits openings from-
7/16 X 3/16"- to - 5/8 X 3/8"
- $.75 each - 6 for $4
CEL-9:
Larger than CEL-8, this is for openings-
9/16 X 5/16" - to -
7/8 X 5/8".
- $.75 each - 6 for $4
CEL-10:
Middle sized between CEL-8 & CEL-9, this fits openings from-
1/2" X 5/16" - to - 13/16 X 5/8"
- $.75 each - 6 for $4
CEL-11:
This very popular size fits openings from-
5/8 X 1/4" - to - 15/16
X 9/16"
- $.75 each - 6 for $4
CEL-12:
This teeny-tiny little guy is found in many many houses both pre- and
postwar. Fits openings from-
1/4 X 3/16" - to - 1/2 x 7/16".
- $ .65
each - 6 for $3.50
CEL-13:
This one -with its wide paning bars - is found in 1950s-early '60s
houses of the type still most often found. The size range is :
5/8 X 3/8" -
to - 3/4 x 9/ 16".
- $.85 each - 6 for $4.50
CELLOPHANE DOORS
CEL-DB:
Very commonly needed cellophane door found on later prewar and early
postwar houses. Fits the standard paper door opening size of roughly :
1" high X
1/2" wide - to - 1 1/4 X 3/4"
- $1 each - 6 for $5
CEL-DC:
Late postwar cellophane door of the opening sizes -
7/8 x 1/2" to
1 1/8" high X 3/4"" wide.
- $1 each - 6 for $5
CEL-DA:
Very large cellophane door found in the huge churches and such.
Fits size ranges of-
1 1/2 x 5/8" - to - 1 7/8 X 7/8"
- $1.50 each.
Special Item
CEL-16:
The very rare cellophane "pinwheel" window - will fit any diameter
round opening from-
1/4" up to 3/4" (See comments on "AW-PW" for alternatives.)
- $1 each:
No quantity discount due to very limited supply.
"GUIDE-PAK"
SAMPLER
#GP-1:
We realize how difficult it can be to judge sizes from a photograph, and so are
offering our:
"GUIDE-PAK"SAMPLER - #GP-1
- with an example of 21types of the 23 cellophane windows
and doors we make.
YOU ALSO GET
- one each of all of the paper doors and windows - except the "Merry Christmas
Clock, the CEL-16, the "AW-PW""pinwheel" and the very large door CEL-DA
are not included because these are so very rarely encountered that we have
only put very few of each on our master printing sheets.
NOT SHOWN - but NOW ALSO INCLUDED - are one each of the CANDY-BOX GLUE-ON types shown
below.
A total of over 50 pieces.
A fullscale
black silhouettes sheet with small window sample for measuring cellophanes, and another
scale-size color sheet for the paper doors and windows are also part of this kit.
The idea is NOT TO USE these in houses,
but rather to keep them as a tool for comparison every time you are repairing
an old Christmas house to be sure of ordering exactly what you need with
no chance of making a mistake.
Due to our own high costs to produce these better-than-original replacements,
we just can't offer them for free, but the price is less than half what the
regular prices would add up to.
Sorry, but we must limit these to 1 per
customer. Please don't order one of these kits unless you are really serious about fixing up
a lot of old houses. This is a special tool for collectors, and they are a
time-consuming, losing proposition for me.
GP-1: ... $15.00 per set -
GUIDE SHEETS KIT:
GSK-1.
An economical alternative to our GUIDE-PAK, this
kit consists of the two printed scale-sheets and 3 actual samples. All the windows and
doors we offer in paper, vellum and CEL are represented in actual size for measurement
purposes.
The first is a color sheet with exact scale representations of all the paper doors and
windows.
The second is a sheet of black silhouettes of all the CEL types in actual size to
enable measurement for the correct choice.
Finally, one actual sample of our gold-on-red heavy
gauge acetate "CELs", one paper door and one vellum type are included to give a clear
idea of what they are really like.
PRICE OF GSK-1 KIT: $4.00 -
PLEASE NOTE: If you buy the
large Guide-Pak Sampler (GP-1), you do not need
the GSK-1 since everything in it is also in the GP-1.
CANDY-BOX SURFACE GLUE-ONS
These are the paper doors and windows that don't fit into
openings, but rather are simply pasted on. They're found on most of the candy-box types
and very many of the smaller cardboard ornament houses.
This very rare candy-box castle is undergoing a complete restoration.
Notice how it's face just appears and the whole piece comes to life with the addition of
it's STICK-ON door and windows.
SO-1:
--(Left) Large door in olive.
SO-1g:
(Right) Large door in green.--
Two color variations of the same large door.
1 3/4 X 15/16" w. black border
1 5/8 X 13/16" black border trimmed
- $1.00 each - 6 for $5 - 12 for $9.
SO-3:
An often encountered small stick-on window. The Japanese often also trimmed the
se down in various ways to make smaller square windows of them.
1" high X 1/2" wide
- $.65 ea. 6 for $3.50 $6 per dozen
SO-3s: Small version of same. Same size as PWD-1s. Same price.
SO-4:
1 1/4" high X 3/4" wide.
- $.65 ea. 6 for $3.50 $6 per dozen
SO-4s: Small version of same. Same size as PWD-1s. Same price.
SO-2:
Another arched stick-on window in blue,black and dark orange.
1" high X 1/2" wide
- $.65 each 6 for $3.50 $6 per dozen
SO-2s: Small version of same. Same size as PWD-1s. Same price.
PWD-1S:
Shown again is the small version of PWD-1 a regular prewar door, since
this tiny version is very often found used as a stick on and is also found cut into
various sections to make smaller doors and windows.
13/16" high X 7/16" wide
- $.65 ea. 6 for $3.50 $6 per dozen
Tiny houses showing pieces trimmed from larger doors to make smaller
stick-on doors and tiny windows. Here we have a full PWD-1s, two cut
down
PWD-1s, and two tiny windows taken from a full sized door such as
PWD-1.
The largest of this tiny trio from a pair of MULTIS is one inch high. (these
are originals.)
| Repairs/Restoration |
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page | house
of the month | 2000
| 2001|
2002
| 2003
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2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
For information about this site, please contact us at:
http://cardboardchristmas.com/papateds/contact.htm
Copyright 2000-2012 Theodore H. Althof,Jr.Except where noted, the contents of this website and all it's pages and submissions therein contained are the intellectual property of Theodore H.Althof,Jr. All rights are reserved. (Background musical selections are,of course, excepted.)
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Note: This archive was set up at Ted's request in early 2012, and, except for critical updates and
announcements, will remain exactly as Ted left it in October, 2012.
The archive is kept online with the help of volunteers from:
|
