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Located in Buffalo, New York the Gurley Novelty Company was the producer of figurine type candles. Franklin Gurley both designed and manufactured these delightful candles. In the 1930's the Socony-Vacuum Oil Company began to commission these candles as a way to use up the excess paraffin which was a by product of the oil refining process. We now know this oil company as ExxonMobile. The early candles were made under the name of Tavern Novelty Candles. Gurley purchased the Tavern brand some time in 1949. The Gurley Novelty Company actually began their business using the paraffin to make candy in the form of teeth and wax lips but eventually put more of their efforts into the production of candles. You can find vintage Gurley candles that celebrate most of the major holidays including Easter and Thanksgiving. However, the most popular and most collected are the ones for Christmas and Halloween.
Vintage Gurley Novelty Company Box for Christmas Novelty Candle Stick
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Many have a cardboard label that identifies them as Gurley candles. Only 29 cents!
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Gurley choirboys (and girls!)
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Mary DeAngelis we had these too!
octobermoon These are 50's era. Probably purchased at the dime store. In fact I have several that say 10 cents on the bottom cardboard. A lot of people used them strictly for decoration because there are still quite a few around. Sadly, they also packed them away in the attic with the rest of the holiday items so you see some sadly deformed ones that melted in the summer heat!
Gurley santas in a variety of sizes
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Vintage Gurley Candle Co. Witch - this is the first one I ever bought and it was only 5.00 - a steal.
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Mary DeAngelis we had these!
octobermoon He comes in orange too! (I have one.)