Walco Bead Co.
Walco Bead Co. was one of the largest bead companies in the United States at the start of the 1900s. It was a landmark in New York's "bead alley" at 37 West 37th Street.
Overview
Walco's technique in marketing was to manufacture bead kits to encourage adults and children to make projects. Many styles of these kits were available, mainly Indian beading belts. During the Depression, beads were an inexpensive and Bead Crafting is a time consuming hobby that produced beautiful results. These Kits included beads, a bead loom, string, and instructions.
In the 1930s with the addition of the "Official Boy Scout Beadcraft Outfit" all kits came with full illustrated easy-to-read instructions, "Walco Indian Bead Loom". With this complete beadcraft outfit you can make a variety of colorful Indian belts, rings, neckerchief slides, and other beautiful beaded objects.
In the 1950s, Walco introduced jewelry kits and larger "Bead Embroidery Kits". These were eye catching for women to glamorize their clothes - their sweaters, blouses, dresses, scarves, stoles, and jackets. These kits were sold as complete kits and patterns were available separately.
Beaded Bouquets was yet another kit available, in a soft cover book titled "WALCO Instructions for making BEADED BOUQUETS". This contained instructions for making California Poppy, Rose Spray, Rose Bouquet, Tulips and Daisies, Sweetheart Roses, Apple Blossoms and Lily-of-the-Valley, Country Charmer, Geranium Garden, and Iris-Daisy-Daffodil.
By the early 1970s Walco manufactured many other kits, like Li'l Missy Beaded Dolls, MS Beaded Doll Kits, Christmas Beaded Ornaments, Ming Tree Kits, Beaded Vegetable Kits, DO-IT-YOURSELF Beaded Fruit, and Easter Egg Ornament Kits.
Some time around 1976, the Walco Beaded Company changed hands to the Holiday Company. (Below is an incomplete listing of the kits)
1935
- No.1144 Official Boy Scout Beadcraft Outfit
1950s Bead Embroidery Kits
- No. 132 uses Crystal Leaf Jewels, Simulated Gold (or White) Round Pearls, Silver Beads and Silver Bugles.
- No. 134 uses Star-Shaped Jewels, Simulated White Round Pearls ( 2 sizes) and Silver Beads.
- No. 138 uses Silver Beads, Silver Bugles and Simulated White Round Pearls.
- No. 138K Bead Embroidery Kit - Complete Kits contain full size pattern and whatever Beadcraft materials are necessary; such as Beads, Pearls, Bugles, Drops, Rhinestones, Jewels and Beading Needls, etc. Illustrated easy-to-follow instructions included.
- No. 138A Stole
- No. 171 Collar and Gloves Uses simulated White Oval Pearls Crystal Sew-On Rhinestones
Li'l Missy Beaded Dolls
These Dolls measured 6" tall.
Li'l Missy Beaded Dolls
MS…Beaded Doll Kits
These dolls measured 10.5" tall.
- 13501 MS. TONI
- 13503 MS. BOBBI
Christmas Beaded Ornaments
- 3110 Toy Soldier
- 3112 Mr. Claus
- 3113 Night Before Christmas
- 3133 Hoiday Faces - 5
- 3147 Emerald on green satin
- 3169 Royal Green
- 3169 Coral and Lime
- 3172 ?
- 3201 Red Roses
- 3202 Pink Roses
- 3408 White Satin bell with Red Jewels
- 3410 White Satin bell with Blue Jewels
- 3418 Bell with Jewels - A - Light Blue, B - Lavender or C - White Satin
- 3420 Candy Cane / Elf - 3
- 3422 Hot pink satin
- 3428 Gingerbread Man - 2
- 3431 Carrollers - 2
- 3432 Christmas Angels - 2
- 3439 Snowman Head - 3
- 3443 Christmas Elves - 3
- 3444 Christmas Candles - 4
- 3446 Santa's Reindeer (kit contains pair)
- 3454 Ice Skates
- 3460 Roly Poly Mrs. Santa
- 3465 Jolly Choo Choo
- 3466 Holiday Lamps - 2
- 3472 Christmas Boot
- 3482 Gingerbread Houses
- 3486 Mini Satin Teardrop - 3
- 3490 Santa Mouse - 2
- 3493 Sporty Snowmen - 2
- 4015 Christmas Calicos - Star, Tree and Bell - 3
- 4018 Cupids Balloon
- 3163C Blue satin
- 3411C Moss green satin
- 3414C Turquoise blue
- 3418A Light blue satin
- 3418B White with red sequins
- M4151 Xmas tree shaped ornaments - A - Crystal Iris, B - Kelly Green or C - Silver - 3
- M4152 Wreath shaped ornaments - 3
- ? Santa's visit
- 4148B Christmas boots
- 3430 Carousel
- ? SWISS CLOCKS
- 6014 Pin-A-Bead 7" Beaded Flocked Figurine Christmas Kit - Mr. Santa
- 6015 Pin-A-Bead 7" Beaded Flocked Figurine Christmas Kit - Mrs. Santa
- 6100 Musical Revolving Carousel Tree Kit
Ming Tree Kits
Beaded Vegetable Kits
- 6201 CUCUMBER
- 6203 CARROT
- 6205 GREEN PEPPER
- 6202 TOMATO
DO-IT-YOURSELF Beaded Fruit
- B6000H Beaded Pineapple Centerpiece Kit
- B6000J 7 PIECES OF FRUIT KIT
- ? Stawberry cluster
Easter Egg Ornament Kit
- 6140 DUCK POND
- 6145 KISSING ANGELS
- 6146 FREDDIE THE FROG
- 6151 BUNNY CART
- 6155 SWEETIE (SKUNK)
- 5144 LAVENDAR EGG ORNAMENT
Beaded Books
- Walco Bead-Crafts Booklet No. 14
Instructions & Designs For Wood Belts, Necklaces, Bracelets, and Bags. Published in 1935 the 18 page booklet has remarkable beaded bags, jewelry and belts, with detailed and complete instructions beading guides for patterns, including symbol keys for the bead colors needed for each project.
- WALCO Instructions for making BEADED BOUQUETS, with 9 Original Designs by Virginia Nathanson.
WALCO Products, Inc., New York, Book No. 109X
- Walco's Do It Yourself Decorated Christmas Tree Ornaments with 14 unique ornament patterns.
References
- [1] The Bead Site
- [2] Antique Books
- [3] History of Beading
- [4] Walco Indian Beadraft Kits
See also