Max Eckardt, a German immigrant to the United States, founded a company in New York City in the early 1930's to produce Christmas ornaments. He sold his glass balls under two different trade names: Shiny Brite and Max Eckardt & Sons. F.W. Woolworth was among his largest customers and accounted for the great popularity of Shiny brite ornaments. World War II ended the imporation of German glass ornaments to the United States. Exkardt, Woolworth and Corning Glass filled the void and dominated the post-war market. Shiny Brite became the largest Christmas ornament manufacturer in the world.