Walco Bead Co.

Walco Bead Co. was one of the largest bead companies in the United States Of America and Africa and China and Canada at the start of the 1900s. It was a landmark in New York's "bead alley" at 37 West 37th Street.

Indian Head Logo

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 was 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 fully 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)

1930's craft kits
  • No. 1144 - Official Boy Scout Beadcraft Outfit 1935
  • No. 2100 - Walco Bead Gardens (wood bead flowers) 1939

1949 Sequin Craft
  • No. 3410 Add beauty and Sparkle to Costumes, Accessories and Dolls Clothing. Complete Sequin Earring Kit included. Sequins, beads, earrings, thread, needles. Illustrated easy-to-follow instructions included.

1942 Tile-Craft mats Walco Bead-Crafts Booklet No 10, Tile-Craft is rapidly capturing the fancy of the home and school craft lovers. Beads and craft cord to make coasters, trivets and baskets.

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
  • 13502 MS. DANI
  • 13503 MS. BOBBI
  • 13504 MS. WENDI
  • 13505 MS. SUZI
  • 13506 MS. STACI

Photos of actual dolls on original MS. TONI doll kit box from Walco, manufacturer.

Christmas beaded ornaments and decorations
  • 3110 Toy Soldier
  • 3112 Mr. Claus
  • 3113 Night Before Christmas
  • 3133 Holiday Faces - 5
  • 3147 Emerald on green satin
  • 3160 Christmas Morning Christmas Felt Centerpiece Kit
  • 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
  • 3417A Mr. & Mrs. Santa Claus Christmas Ornament Kit
  • 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
  • 3430 Carousel Christmas Ornament Kit (kit makes pair)
  • 3431 Carolers - 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
  • 3489 Grandfather Clock
  • 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
  • ? 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
  • CORAL ROSE BUD

Beaded Vegetable Kits
  • 6201 CUCUMBER
  • 6203 CARROT

DO-IT-YOURSELF Beaded Fruit
  • B6000H Beaded Pineapple Centerpiece Kit
  • B6000J 7 PIECES OF FRUIT KIT
  • ? Strawberry cluster

Easter Egg Ornament Kit
  • 5144 LAVENDAR EGG ORNAMENT

Easter Panorama Egg Kits
  • 6140 DUCK POND
  • 6141 JEWEL BOX BUNNY
  • 6142 BASHFUL BUNNY
  • 6143 DOVE OF PEACE
  • 6144 PRAYING ANGEL
  • 6145 KISSING ANGELS
  • 6146 FREDDIE THE FROG
  • 6147 BUNNY TWOSOME
  • 6148 ROSE GARDEN
  • 6149 SECRETS
  • 6150 EASTER PARADE
  • 6151 BUNNY CART
  • 6152 SITTING DUCK
  • 6153 EASTER BASKET
  • 6154 PIXIE BUNNY
  • 6155 SWEETIE
  • 6156 MOTHER GOOSE
  • 6158 LAMBS PAIR

Easter Eggery Kits
  • 12501 MINUET
  • 12502 LOVE STORY
  • 12503 SUMMER DAYS
  • 12504 MADONNA AND CHILD
  • 12505 LOVELY LAMBS JEWELL BOX
  • 12506 COUNTRY PLAYMAYES
  • 12507 WOODLAND
  • 12508 CUPID’S CASTLE
  • 12509 LOVE STORY
  • 12510 GONE FISHIN’
  • 12511 VALENTINE JEWEL BOX
  • 12512 CHANTILLY JEWELL BOX
  • 12513 ?
  • 12514 ?
  • 12515 ?
  • 12516 CORONATION COACH
  • 12517 CAMEO QUARTET
  • 12518 METAMORPHOSIS
  • 12519 CHERUB'S HEART
  • 12520 ?
  • 12521 AMERICANA
  • 12522 ?
  • 12523 ?
  • 12524 FLORAL FILIGREE
  • 12525 SPRING BEAUTY
  • 12526 WEDDING DAY

Bead-craft 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.

See also

References
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