What is this? eBay find.

[Erin]

I found this on eBay while looking through the motion lamps. It was cheap enough, so I bought it. 

It looks identical to a lava lamp base, but there's no seam or pinch. It has a color wheel and it definitely seems like something went on top (otherwise, why the pinch in the base?). It doesn't fit a 32oz. globe and it doesn't fit a 52oz. globe either. It doesn't get hot enough to heat a glitter lamp (and hence, a lava lamp).

The adapter says Made in China. There are no maker's marks on it, though one sticker leads me to believe it was made in 1999. The color wheel is plastic and somewhat flexible. 

Any ideas? 

[Aladdin 2 Lava]

Way of topic Erin, what fishes do have in your aquarium ?

[Arne]

haha I like the sticker "to reduce the risk of fire" ...so theres still a chance the lamp might burst up is flames while operating? never seen anything like it...collecting for quite a while now and I have absolutely no clue whatsoever...sorry. but it can only be a glitter (most likely with solvent based fluid as they work on low wattage) or some tacky aquarium plastic fishy thingy ...at least thats what I think

[Erin]

Pete, in that aquarium, I have Japan blue guppies. In my other 20G tank, I have a dwarf gourami, glowlight tetras, fancy guppies, peacock gudgeons, a couple of Apple snails. I just got into the aquarium hobby about four months ago. 

Arne, I don't think it's glitter. It doesn't get hot enough to move glitter. My guess is some kind of globe rested on top - white, or frosted. Kinda like a Kaleidolite or something like that. 

[Aladdin 2 Lava]

Cool...Fancy Guppies can be difficult to keep and are even harder to capture in photos than lava lamps ! I bought 2x juvenile pairs of wild strain Trinidad Guppies from a private breeder back in Febuary and now have hundreds of living jewels.

Keep em hungry and do weekly 25-50% water changes...works for my little jewels.www.fishforums.net.

Erin said:.

Pete, in that aquarium, I have Japan blue guppies. In my other 20G tank, I have a dwarf gourami, glowlight tetras, fancy guppies, peacock gudgeons, a couple of Apple snails. I just got into the aquarium hobby about four months ago. 

Arne, I don't think it's glitter. It doesn't get hot enough to move glitter. My guess is some kind of globe rested on top - white, or frosted. Kinda like a Kaleidolite or something like that. 

[Arne]

oh yes, I totally forgot about kaleidolite/mistrolite etc...you're probly right

[Erin]

It's definitely NOT that lamp, but that's what it makes me think of - something like a milky globe rested on top. 

There are these cheapo orb-like lamps that Wal-Mart sells... I can't think of their name, but I bet they have a base like this. 

[Tim Gill]

Certanlty intresting, I havent seen anything like this before but i guess somthing like a fosted or milky swirl globe went on top if it

Also its surprising that its made in china as the quality anf finish is good and the base seams to have been spun raven then moulded together.

[LampHead]

I wonder if that was a base for one of those paper shade lamps they made.

[Erin]

Jim, do you have a pic? I have no idea what that is. 

Tim, I think some sort of white/milky globe could have gone on it, too. 

[Morbius]

  It looks very similar to one of those color wheel lamps. The disk is colored and it is supposed to spin (either motorized or from the heat of the bulb) and in doing so it would change the color of whatever item was placed on top of the base. Most likely a globe or some other glass based object. The idea is that the glass object on top would diffuse the light emanating from below and the color wheel would constantly change the color of the light. Hence, you would end up with a lamp which "pulsates" or "shifts" from one color to another, while simultaneously diffusing the light into the room.

Cool idea.

Google for "color wheel lamp", you should find various implementations of that idea...

[Erin]

I just wonder what went on top. Something obviously did. 

[Dr. WHAT?!]

its only a 10w bulb so it definitely wasnt anything that was heated up, maybe lamphead is right? Jonas may know too.  I bet you can use somethign liek this on it http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/pastense/misc/cover.jpg