You’ve seen them. Those glowing, hollow, slightly weathered plastic Santas standing guard on your neighbor's lawn or peering over the edge of a mid-century roofline. To some, they’re just "tacky" lawn ornaments. But for a growing tribe of collectors and nostalgia-seekers, a large Santa blow mold is the holy grail of Christmas decor.
Honestly, there’s something about that specific, warm incandescent glow that a modern LED strip just can't touch. It’s not just about the light; it’s about the soul of a decoration that has survived forty winters in the Midwest.
The Great Plastic Giants: A History of Empire and General Foam
If you’re looking at a 40-inch Santa and wondering where it came from, you’re likely looking at the handiwork of a few defunct American giants. Empire Plastics and General Foam Plastics were the kings of this craft.
Empire started the "Traditional Santa" run back in 1993. It was a 40-inch beast holding a stocking. By 2001, General Foam took over the mold and kept the dream alive until they shuttered in 2017. These aren't the thin, flimsy things you find at the grocery store today. They have heft. They have "personality" (which is usually just code for a few scuffs on the belt buckle).
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There was even a 5-foot giant originally produced by Beco in the 60s. When General Foam acquired that mold, it became a staple of the American Christmas landscape for nearly 50 years. Finding one of these in good condition today is like finding a classic car in a barn. You just don’t see that kind of scale anymore without a noisy air blower attached to it.
How to Tell If Your Santa Is Actually Vintage
Not every large Santa blow mold is a relic. Here is the reality: box stores have realized that "retro" sells. They’re pumping out new versions that look old, but there are dead giveaways if you’re hunting for the real deal.
- The Bottom Stamp: Flip that Santa over. If you see "Made in China," it’s new. If you see "Empire," "Union Products," or "General Foam," you’ve got a piece of history.
- The Cord: Vintage molds usually have a simple C7 or a 25-watt bulb housing that screws directly into the back or snaps into a hole. Newer ones often use LED pucks or proprietary light kits.
- The Plastic Feel: Old blow molds feel like a sturdy milk jug on steroids. New ones are often thinner, more translucent, and feel "crisp" rather than durable.
- Barcodes: If there’s a barcode printed directly into the plastic mold (not a sticker), it’s almost certainly from the mid-70s or later.
Why Are People Paying $400 for Plastic?
It sounds crazy until you try to buy one. A 1960s Beco Santa or a rare "Santa checking his list" can easily fetch between $300 and $500 on the secondary market. Even the standard 40-inch Empire Santas are hovering around $130 to $200 depending on the paint condition.
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Scarcity is the big driver here. These things were meant to be used, not preserved. They sat in the snow, got kicked by dogs, and were tossed into hot attics for ten months a year. The ones that survived without major cracks or faded faces are rare. Plus, with General Foam out of business, the supply of "classic" American-made molds is officially capped.
Restoration: Bringing a Faded Santa Back to Life
If you find a beat-up Santa at a garage sale for twenty bucks, grab it. Restoration is easier than you think, but don't just go at it with a can of Krylon.
First, you’ve got to strip the old, flaking paint. A lot of pros use "3M Safest Stripper" or "Citrus Strip." You want something that won't melt the high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic. Once it's down to the white plastic, it's all about the tape. Taping is the worst part. It’s tedious. You’ll spend three hours taping the fur trim on the hat just to spend thirty seconds spraying the red.
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For the paint, use a plastic-bonded spray like Krylon Fusion. It "bites" into the plastic so it won't peel off the first time it freezes. For the fine details—the eyes, the rosy cheeks—use outdoor-grade acrylics and a steady hand.
Putting It All Together
Whether you’re a die-hard collector or just want one big Santa to anchor your porch, these decorations represent a specific era of American design. They are loud, bright, and unapologetically festive.
Next Steps for the Aspiring Collector:
- Check Local First: Avoid the $100 shipping fees on eBay. Check Facebook Marketplace or estate sales in older neighborhoods during the "off-season" (July is prime hunting time).
- Inspect the "Neck": The most common break point for a large Santa blow mold is the neck or the base. Look for "spidering" cracks in the plastic.
- Upgrade the Bulb: If you're going to display a vintage piece, swap the old incandescent bulb for a warm-white LED. It stays cool, which prevents the plastic from getting brittle or warping over time.
- Weight Him Down: These things are basically sails. Don't just set him on the grass. Drill a small hole in the bottom (if there isn't one) and fill the base with a few bags of sand or gravel so he doesn't end up in the next county after a windstorm.
These Santas were built to last, and with a little care, they’ll probably outlive us all.