By the late 1950s, what had come to be considered the standard Swedish stamped brass “angel chime” was being mass-produced in the hundreds of thousands, allowing models like the one advertised in this 1958 “Sears Christmas Book” to retail for a dollar or less. This is the candle chime most baby-boomers remember, and variations on this design are still available today.

Avebe “Angel Chimes” (30 x 13.5 cm., base = 12 cm. dia.)
Avebe “Giant Angel Chimes” (43 x 20 cm., base = 18 cm. dia.)
“Christmas Tree” chimes (27 x 14 cm., base = 12.5 cm. dia.)

 

Shown are some sets of typical angel chimes in this pattern dating from the 1960s and 1970s. This manufacturer (Avebe of Sweden) also offered a “giant” angel chimes, as well as a design variant which featured a Christmas tree as a base, and a star topper.  

Avebe “Angel-Party Chimes” (30 x 13.5 cm., base = 12 cm. dia.)
“Angel Chimes” with music box (33 x 14 cm., base = 4 cm. high x 9.5 cm. dia.)

Some sets also came packaged with an additional suite of figures — horses and clowns, instead of angels — which allowed the chimes to be used as a party or birthday centerpiece. Music boxes were added to the base of some models; this one plays “Happy Birthday to You,” but a variant which plays “Silent Night” has also been noted. For some reason it is rare to find any of the music-box chimes in their original packaging

Dan-Dee Imports “Angel Chimes with Spinning Candles”
(27 x 14 cm., base = 12 cm. dia.)

Many “Swedish pattern” angel chimes are now Japanese made, producing some strange and interesting variants on the basic design. This one features candle-holders attached to the impeller, so that the candles spin along with the angels. I haven’t been able to make it function, and I’m not entirely sure that the laws of physics will allow it ...

“Disneyland Happy Birthday Carousel” (23 x 12.5 cm., base = 10 cm. dia.)

And finally, a chime that is not properly a Christmas item at all, but charming nonetheless. This chime was produced in Japan for the Disney company sometime in the 1950s. Unlike most chimes, it takes miniature birthday candles instead of the standard 4 inch Christmas candles.