2 Rare 1950's Vintage Gurley Novelty Candles 3" Choir Boy And Girl - Great Buy For Sale

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Gurley Novelty started out inBuffalo, New Yorkin the 1939 as part of candlemaker Franklin Gurley'sW&F Manufacturing Co. Inc.At first the Gurley line was commissioned by theSocony-Vacuum Oil Company(nowExxonMobil) as a way to reuse excess paraffin produced as a by-product of the oil refinery process.Gurley's first products were marketed under the nameTavern. The product line consisted of wax lips and teeth, as well as a limited number of small candle figures in holiday shapes such as ghosts, pilgrims, andSanta Claus.[2]By the late 1940s the company's business was almost exclusively novelty candles. In 1949 Franklin Gurley bought the rights to theTavernbrand, and changed the name to the Gurley Novelty Co.

Under the Gurley Novelty Co. name the company continued to manufacture the small wax figures that had made it prosperous. Most candles were manufactured for specific holiday themes. Though each candle came with a wick, they were not marketed as practical candles. Rather, most were purchased as small wax figures for holiday display.Smaller candles were sold individually out of shallow cardboard boxes. Sets, and larger candles were sold in sealed paper boxes. Beginning in the 1960s the two and three-candle sets, and larger candles, were generally sold shrink-wrapped incellophane. Most candles had a round paper Gurley label attached to the bottom.

Tavern and Gurley candles were inexpensive. The 3 1/2 inch figures were sold for decades for $0.10 each, in packs of two for $0.29, and threes for $0.49. Individual larger sizes rarely exceeded $0.99. Tavern and Gurley candles were primarily sold atdime storessuch asBen Franklin'sandWoolworth's, though they could also be found at larger stores such asMacy's.Sales continued to rise throughout the 1950's and peaked in the late 1960's. By the late 1970's the company was in decline.

Today, Gurley Novelty candles are popular collectibles.By far the most popular are the Halloween and Christmas candles, though demand has recently increased for Thanksgiving and Easter candles as well.The company's line ofGlow Candleswere the company's most expensive products. They were never a big seller and today are rare.

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