In the 1800s, tin toys such as model trains and brightly painted soldiers were favorite Christmas presents of young and old alike. These tin toys were often displayed under the tree or on mantels or tables.

The Hallmark Keepsake Ornament line brought the idea of tin ornaments into the 20th century. Keepsakes senior designer Linda Sickman moved tin soldiers, drums, rocking horses and locomotives from their historic place under the tree to places of honor on the tree branches.

“There’s a nostalgic charm about tin ornaments,” says Linda Sickman. “Tin is lightweight. You can print beautiful colors and design details on it, and you can emboss it. Tin is one of my favorite materials for ornaments.”

The original tin toys celebrated the new age of motorized transportation. Appropriate enough, the first tin Keepsake Ornament celebrated a new mode of transportation as well—for Santa Claus!

Santa’s Flight
by Linda Sickman

The 1980 “Santa’s Flight” pressed tin design had Santa making Christmas deliveries via a dirigible. The garland on this design and straw look of the passenger basket reveal the high degree of detail that is possible when printing on tin. Movement is another feature of early tin transportation toys that has been retained in this ornament—the propeller twirls about!

In 1981, a nostalgic Santa Claus appeared in pressed tin. “St. Nicholas,” a traditional European design, is dressed in a long coat and holds a lantern to light his way on Christmas Eve.  Sickman was inspired by her research in tin toys to create figures such as this Yuletide design.

In 1982, a proper “Tin Soldier” ornament joined the tin toy parade on the Christmas tree. This design is reminiscent of popular military tin figures of the past.

Of course, the biggest news in tin Keepsake Ornaments was the first edition of the “Tin Locomotive” series in 1982. This locomotive has the look of yesteryear’s Iron Horse. The wheels actually move, and a brass bell is ready to ring in the New Year.  This attention to detail has continued throughout the ongoing “Tin Locomotive” series.

“Every year, when I’m ready to design the next ‘Tin Locomotive,’ I line up all the locomotives I’ve done before,” says Sickman. “I see what colors I’ve used previously and what new color combinations would be appealing.”

In following years, a variety of tin traditions have been interpreted in Keepsake Ornaments. A dappled gray “Tin Rocking Horse” pranced on the scene in 1983. In 1986, the “Favorite Tin Drum” reproduced another childhood classic. “Favorite Tin Drum” is the first Keepsake design crafted in litho-printed tin instead of pressed tin. In 1988, “Americana Drum” features a bright eagle design, and is also crafted of litho-printed tin.

What else is new in tin for 1988? Nautical toy Keepsake Ornaments!  While nautical tin toys first appeared in the 1890s, “Sailing! Sailing!” and “Noah’s Ark” are the first nautical tin ornaments in the Keepsake family.

“Collectors really seem to like the tin ornaments that have wheels,” says Sickman. “You can display these designs on a table or mantel as well as on a Christmas tree. You might say I designed these ornaments from the wheels up!

“I also researched tin pull toys, especially boats. I have a lakeside cabin where I watch sailboats. I thought the gracefulness of a sailboat would make a good ornament. And the ‘Noah’s Ark’ is a classic toy design.”

After seven trains, two boats, two Santas, one solider, one rocking horse and two drums, Sickman feels that there are still new and exciting tin ornaments in the future of our Keepsake Ornament collectors.

“With tin, I can create ornaments that have all the color and detail ornament collectors desire,” says Sickman.

Reprint of: Collectors Agree: Tin is In

Collector’s Courier: Volume two, Number One 1988