Gather round, goo-heads, for Lava Lite storytime!

[Jonas Clark-Elliott]

Trust me: if you're nuts about lamps so rare, no model name is known, THIS IS YOUR THREAD!

Today's story: What do a trip to Lava World in 1998 and a weird-looking lamp have in common?

The time: summer, 1998. The place: Chicago, Illinois. The protagonist: Me.

I visited Lava World. I may have told about this before, but for those who haven't heard, this was what Lava World was like c. late-90s. Walking into the plain building's lobby, one saw a door on the left (offices), a staircase going straight ahead and up (offices) and, to the right of the stairs, a secretary's counter with a Magma Time clock on it. The secretary was answering phones non-stop. To the right was a sitting area, and a low shelf along the far right wall loaded with about 40 working Lava Lites, all new, with the newest colors down front. (I bought a red/blue!) Through double doors at the back, you could occasionally catch glimpses of a warehouse-like space, with forklifts carrying stacks of pallets full of Midnight bases.

They were VERY busy - so busy, in fact, that I had to make an appointment and return a few hours later - though that let me go on a lava hunt (hello, Coachlite!) When I returned, they pulled out all the old catalogs they had. They didn't have much; I was told that, whenever an exec retired, they'd take something with them. Among what they had, though, were three issues of the Lava Liter, which was an in-company newsletter begun in 1966 when 14 new models joined the one original Lava Lite. "We're sitting on top of the world!" touted the headline, beside which sat a cartoony man in an office chair atop a globe. The header even showed a b/w line drawing of a Century along with two more 52-oz lamps in oddball bases - prototypes, maybe? One had a base that had a rocket booster-like faceted design; the other was a wide bowl or tray speckled with maple leaves. Nifty stuff! They made photocopies for me, but they were very, very dark.

That leads to today: Thanks to Deb for the link. Has anybody seen this? Wondered if it's homemade? Either way, it's cool, no?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/350788411727?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_...

...well, wonder no more, and pull out your pocketbooks. The 52-oz pictured in the header of the Lava Liter, issue 1, 1966, which I've described as resembling a rocket booster? Never, EVER pictured in any known catalog? It certainly isn't in the 1965 leaflet, and it isn't among the 14 new models of 1966! Yeah? Yeah. You're lookin' at it. Ceramic. Yes, ceramic.

To whoever gets this, I bow to your awesomeness. And please ask the seller where/how they got it. You think the Executive is rare? This is as rare as a Menorah Prayer Lite or a Blues Magoos Psyche-De-Lite: "rare" doesn't begin to describe it!

Photo added by Erin:

[Marley's Ghost]

You can see it, Erin.  The upper part of the Century base is sticking out of the top above the ceramic part for the globe to sit in, then the lower piece of the base would be attached up through the bottom, then the plastic footed base added.   I like the color of the wax and liquid, but not too fond of the ceramic part.  Probably why it stayed a prototype, but it is either one of a kind or one of "very" few.  I guess that's what makes it special to some.  It is more attractive than Keith's lava phone though.......lol

[Marley's Ghost]

If someone ever GIVES me one, Critter, I'll send it to you for a matching pair............LOL

Or you and Keith can toss for it.

[Keith]

I'll trade you straight up for a telstar.  I won't even make you give me a glitter also.

Marley's Ghost said:

If someone ever GIVES me one, Critter, I'll send it to you for a matching pair............LOL

Or you and Keith can toss for it.

[Marley's Ghost]

You missed your callin, Keith.  You should have been a Comedian.....ROFLOL  :-)   I'm a noob, but not completely ignorant.....
 
Keith said:

I'll trade you straight up for a telstar.  I won't even make you give me a glitter also.

Marley's Ghost said:

If someone ever GIVES me one, Critter, I'll send it to you for a matching pair............LOL

Or you and Keith can toss for it.

[Deb]

If you read the description this seller didn't seem aware of what he had. If he did, I'm sure he would have made sure buyers knew this was rarer than rare to get the most $$ for it. I can't help but think this one may have flown under the radar. But no worries Jonas. I told you it was OK. a split second decision that made me wanna kick myself in the butt nonetheless. XD

Whoever ends up with that ugly ass lamp...you're welcome. :)

Jonas Clark-Elliott said:

Sorry about that, Deb. But I guarantee it was going to go up, up, up, story or no story. I do kind of hope the guys with HUGE wallets step back and let another collector have a chance.

[Jim]

My two cents - Probably not ideal that a head's up was posted on this lamp.  I, for one, saw this auction and passed it by as I had thought it was custom made by the user.  Background in this thread changed that for me and I sense I am not alone.

This would have likely gone for big bucks regardless, but I suspect we're talking sky is the limit now.

[Jonas Clark-Elliott]

I agree that, had I not posted, it nonetheless would have taken off like a shot.

[Metallica Man Trevor]

So I got an email back from the seller

Dear rammstein515,

According to a fellow ebayer and long time collector this is an extremely rare. Prototype base made in 1966 and never put into production. Thanks

- wkwtwgg
Click "respond" to reply through Messages, or go to your email to reply

[Jonas Clark-Elliott]

...so somebody told the seller, too? What's the point - unless they WANT the seller to yank it and relist for more.

[Marley's Ghost]

Makes me wonder if that "long time collector" who told the seller that his lamp was very valuable and rare doesn't want it himself, but maybe someone else he has been in competition with does want it.  Seller has not pulled it----yet.  
 
Jonas Clark-Elliott said:

...so somebody told the seller, too? What's the point - unless they WANT the seller to yank it and relist for more.

[Jonas Clark-Elliott]

Now I really do feel bad for posting it. Not because of the heavy bidding, I expected that, but because of the underhanded move of bragging at the seller. Whoever did that, if you're reading this, that was uncalled-for. Doing it during the auction is potentially unfair to other bidders.

[Metallica Man Trevor]

wasent me !