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.
And: Hang on to your bell bottoms — we have a giveaway coming tomorrow 🙂
Lava Lite LLC contacted us with news about the Lava-versary, and we bothered them to get lots of yummy historical information and photos. Goodness, there were lots of Lava Lamps!
A History of Lava Lamps
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. Craven-Walker thought that, with some refinement to make the oil inside of the prototype solid, the design could be much more interesting. He bought the patent from Dunnett’s widow. We are not told how/why an egg timer morphed into a lamp. 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.
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.
Craven-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.)
After launching sales in Britain, Craven-Walker continued looking for international alliances. 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. rights and put Lava Lamps into production in Chicago.
The lamp remained popular throughout the 1960s and 1970s, however, in the 1980s, popularity dipped.
Historical tidbit: Craven-Walker consulted on a James Bond film that showed gigantic Lava lamps as the four posters of a bed. Which movie was it?
Murray Moss, an entrepreneur and design critic in New York, said, ”It was devoid of function but rich in emotional fulfillment. It could momentarily free your mind like a warm bath.”
How Lava Lamps work — what’s inside a Lava Lamp?
Lava Light sent Pam a sample of the 50th Anniversary Lava Lamp, and she says she was impressed by the quality — and the simplicity.
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. Next, you set the (3) odd-shaped glass globe (hand-blown), which is filled with “lava” materials into the base. Last, you pop the (4) aluminum cap onto the glass globe for the finishing touch. Plug it in… then wait.
What is inside the Lava Lamp? The company says it’s: water, wax, a secret sauce of 16 chemicals, and a metal coil.
Lava Lite LLC describes the process that makes the hypnotic Lava Lamp thang happen:
While in use, the Lava Lamp uses the principles of physics to its advantage. When the lamp is turned on, the lightbulb heats the wax, with the help of a metal coil at the base of the lamp. The wax gets hot enough that it starts to rise. 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. It’s this delicate balance of density and temperature that makes a Lava Lamp’s magic.
It takes a couple of hours, typically, for the wax to get hot enough to start its rise-and-fall. So if you’re planning a party, plan ahead.
Vintage Lava Lamp Styles
As 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. Or bubbling colors, as it were.
Above: The Century and Aristocrat styles are the iconic Lava Lamp that first comes to mind when we think of Lava Lamps.
Above: 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.
Above: The Meditation styles feature a cross and menorah.
Above: Then there’s the kiddie variety — the Nite Lite — complete with a drawing of a circus clown on the lamp’s glass. The Lava Lamp’s low light and soothing movement was supposed to aid children in falling asleep. But… Is anyone else freaked out by this? The children we know would be … terrified!
Above: “A hypnotic spell-binder” — The Mediterranean. Very 1970s!
Above: Lava Lamps that you could wire directly into the wall to use as sconces. YES!
Above: A big trends in the 1950s, 60s and 70s was combining a popular household item with a planter — heck, we’ve even seen a toilet with a planter built into the tank lid. Here, the same idea was used with this Decorator style of Lava Lamp.
Above: The Continental model was cordless and marketed for use out on the patio.
Above: The Lava Lamp Lantern — combining Old English Coach lights of an earlier era with the 1960s Lava Lamp icon. There’s a style for everyone.
And in 2015: The 50th anniversary lamp features a gold embossed base and a yellow wax/ purple liquid globe combination.
In Craven-Walker’s own words, “I think [Lava Lamps] will always be popular. It’s like the cycle of life. It grows, breaks up, falls down and then starts all over again. And besides, the shapes are sexy.”
And more: Lava Lite LLC offered to give away one of the new anniversary lamps. Check back tomorrow for all the details.
More info about the Lava Lamp and its creator, Edward Craven Walker:
Mary Elizabeth says
Wonderful story! My ex-husband and I had a lava light while we were in grad school–a gift from my in-laws. I think we got rid of it during some move or another, but it could still be squirreled away in his basement. When our daughter was a toddler, she was a little freaked out by it and asked what the snake inside the light ate.
I never saw the meditation models, but I can see how even a plain light would enhance meditation.
Cindy Mundschenk says
I have a vintage lava lamp that is a black base with purple wax. It had a perforated star base and a Camel cigarette sticker/logo in dark purple on the base. I love it but was wondering how old it might be. I found it in a thrift store for $14.00.
Beth says
You have The Wizard model. Lava Lite has been making this model for a long time…. released in 1973, I think, but they resurrected it awhile back. I have the same, purple water, yellow wax, and I bought it 15 years ago. They still make it. You can find it on Spencer’s website and on Amazon. Why yours has a cig sticker on it, I’m not sure. Did the former owner deface it maybe?
I love my Lava Lite!
Jodi says
Camel used to have Camel dollars that you would get in each pack of cigarettes. You could save them up and get different items from a catalog. The lava lamp was one of the things you could get. This was in the ’90s. I think they also had a smaller silver lamp with blue water.
bella says
When I first met my then boyfriend, now husband, he had a lava lamp, and I thought it was the juvenile thing I’d ever seen. That was until it hypnotized me. I’m now a believer in their anti-hypertensive properties. ha.
jen b says
Sconces! Oh wow.. love those!
lexavline says
“Impress your friends with your knowledge of Lava Lamp lore…”
I will! I will impress my friends with Lava Lamp lore!!! that Mediterranean model is my favorite! it’s funny, but it seems that my tastes in mid century trends seems to be evolving as it happened in the 50’s- 70’s. When I was a teenager in the 90’s, it was all about the 50’s with me. Then I got into the sixties. Now I’m loving everything 70’s! What’s next… 80’s:-(
Oh well!
Robin, NV says
Oh wow! The Mediterranean is amazing. How cool would it be to find one in the wild?
My husband and I have been watching old shows from the 70s (Rockford Files and Columbo) and every now and again, I spy one of these in the background – often in someone’s office!
jivesnake says
I’ve got the Mediterranean. Found it at a garage sale years ago. Nice to see an advertisement for it.
I’d really love to see one of those sconces!
midmichigan says
They’re a great icon to have in the house. I put them right up there with an aquarium as an anti-hypertension visual. We’ve had the “giant” Lava Lamp for about fifteen years and it’s still going strong. It takes not just the light but the heat from the incandescent bulb to power it so there was a bit of a scare when the light bulb that it uses (100w R-30) was going to be government mandated out of existence but I think that’s been resolved.
Katie says
We have three of these. We have two lava lamps and a glitter lamp. In college, I saw these in many dorm rooms (including mine) and this was only around 10 years ago. I don’t think they’ll ever go out of style. I really like those sconces. Those are awesome. 🙂
John says
Hi Pam
I own two Lava Lites. I’ve had them so long the liquid has lost its color but they are still enjoyable and I use them every day.
I agree, they should bring back the perforated base, that would be so cool.
John aka AtomicHipster
Valvashon says
Wish you could still get an Aristocrat (Model 1120)- I love the perforated base! Reminiscent of yesterday’s outdoor wall sconces.
Ray says
They have a “Heritage Collection” on their website that have the pin holes.