![]() The Lava Lamp’s low light and soothing movement was supposed to aid children in falling asleep. Or bubbling colors, as it were.Ībove: The Century and Aristocrat styles are the iconic Lava Lamp that first comes to mind when we think of Lava Lamps.Ībove: Here’s a midcentury modern styled Lava Lamp with a tubular design: The Consort and Regency styles were marketed as a handsome accessory for a man’s desk.Ībove: The Meditation styles feature a cross and menorah.Ībove: Then there’s the kiddie variety - the Nite Lite - complete with a drawing of a circus clown on the lamp’s glass. ![]() Vintage Lava Lamp StylesĪs we are known to do when it comes to stories like this, we pestered the Lava People for historic photos - and they came through with flying colors. So if you’re planning a party, plan ahead. It takes a couple of hours, typically, for the wax to get hot enough to start its rise-and-fall. It’s this delicate balance of density and temperature that makes a Lava Lamp’s magic. When the wax approaches the top of the glass globe, it is far enough away from its heat source that it cools and drops back down. The wax gets hot enough that it starts to rise. When the lamp is turned on, the lightbulb heats the wax, with the help of a metal coil at the base of the lamp. While in use, the Lava Lamp uses the principles of physics to its advantage. Lava Lite LLC describes the process that makes the hypnotic Lava Lamp thang happen: What is inside the Lava Lamp? The company says it’s: water, wax, a secret sauce of 16 chemicals, and a metal coil. Last, you pop the (4) aluminum cap onto the glass globe for the finishing touch. Next, you set the (3) odd-shaped glass globe (hand-blown), which is filled with “lava” materials into the base. ![]() The lamp is comprised of just four parts: (1) The cone-shaped aluminum base that (2) holds a light bulb specially sized to your design. Lava Light sent Pam a sample of the 50th Anniversary Lava Lamp, and she says she was impressed by the quality - and the simplicity. How Lava Lamps work - what’s inside a Lava Lamp? It could momentarily free your mind like a warm bath.” Murray Moss, an entrepreneur and design critic in New York, said, ”It was devoid of function but rich in emotional fulfillment. Historical tidbit: Craven-Walker consulted on a James Bond film that showed gigantic Lava lamps as the four posters of a bed. The lamp remained popular throughout the 1960s and 1970s, however, in the 1980s, popularity dipped. rights and put Lava Lamps into production in Chicago. American entrepreneur Adolph Wertheimer saw Craven-Walker’s exhibit at a Brussels trade show in 1965 and in a flash, he and a business partner bought the U.S. The Crestworth Company was later named Mathmos Mathmos still owns the patent in Europe and markets its own version of the Lava Lamp.They actually got their design launched in 1963, so they celebrated their 50th anniversary two years ago.Ĭraven-Walker’s original name for his design was the “Astro Lamp.” Promoting his creation, he boasted, “If you buy my lamp, you won’t need drugs.” (Remember, this was the ’60s, you could say such things in Marketing.)Īfter launching sales in Britain, Craven-Walker continued looking for international alliances. In any case it took Craven-Walker 10 years to get it right, and when he did, he formed Crestworth Company with his wife, Christine. We are not told how/why an egg timer morphed into a lamp. He bought the patent from Dunnett’s widow. Craven-Walker thought that, with some refinement to make the oil inside of the prototype solid, the design could be much more interesting. The inventor of the Lava Lamp was Edward Craven-Walker, a Brit. He got the idea for the Lava Lamp while sitting in a pub, when he saw a prototype for an egg timer created by Alfred Dunnett. Goodness, there were lots of Lava Lamps! A History of Lava Lamps Lava Lite LLCcontacted us with news about the Lava-versary, and we bothered them to get lots of yummy historical information and photos. Time for another birthday celebration - 50 years of the Lava Lamp! It is estimated that 94% of people recognize the Lava Lamp shape - but how much do you really know about the history behind this groovy iconic lamp? What other product inspired it? What was its original name? Its current British name? Ever seen a Lava Lamp wall sconce - or one designed for church or temple? Impress your friends with your knowledge of Lava Lamp lore - read on for our history and lots of vintage photos.Īnd: Hang on to your bell bottoms - we have a giveaway coming tomorrow □
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