Tuesday, April 2, 2013

THE VINTAGE INSPIRED RADKO SPARKLETOWN LINE OF PUTZ HOUSES

Recently a friend asked about the Radko Sparkletown line of vintage-inspired cardboard Christmas houses. These were well made, durable houses--probably constructed in China as we recall--with windows, doors, and other details similar to the original made in Japan vintage models. They offered a reasonably priced alternative to their pricier vintage originals on EBAY.

Make no mistake, however, while we have many in our collection and they are very nice, we would not have bought them otherwise--and Radko was very quality-conscious--they do lack the finer touches, sharper elements, a.k.a. finesse of a USA-made Karl Fey or Howard Lamey creation (www.littleglitterhouses.com). Side by side photos below offer this perspective. Click on each.

The Sparkletown line is no longer being produced but many sites have old inventory, although these are dwindling fast. For example: http://www.misternostalgia.com/ and http://www.sissyinseattle.com/ 

(2019 UPDATE SISSY IN SEATTLE LINK NO LONGER WORKS.) 

Fortunately for those of us who can never get enough putz houses, we also have opportunities to reproduce some of these on our own--there are patterns galore here http://www.cardboardchristmas.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=10--and windows, coconut and more here http://www.cardboardputzhouses.com/

4 comments:

  1. I am fortunate to have several Karl Fey creations in my collection, and mass produced items will never match the quality and character of them. I have no problem with Radko or any of the other newly produced houses, but they are not even in the same league as Fey and Lamey.

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  2. I agree but they do have some pretty ones.

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  3. If this is inappropriate, I apologize: I am selling a few of my Radko cardboard houses.
    Anne
    annegrove11711@gmail.com

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