Consort Lava Lamp

Comment

Comment by Erin on November 13, 2010 at 4:43pm

No, I never did get it sorted out. I have a bulb in the mail, but the order was delayed, so I'm going to try that. If not, I am going to turn it into a glitter lamp.

Comment by Ford Prefect - NPNG on November 13, 2010 at 10:50am

did you get it sorted in the end? i really like these lamps. i like the pedestal

Comment by Erin on October 24, 2010 at 3:10pm

I've got a GooKit in it now...and the lava isn't rising. Going to try a higher wattage bulb.

Comment by Jonas Clark-Elliott on October 24, 2010 at 5:46am

If it floats to the top, it's toast. Have you let it warm up for a few hours? If so, it's done for. Sorry. Consorts and other Consort-globe lamps (and some others, but almost always the small cylinders) get what I call "Consort syndrome", where something changes in the lava's density, it becomes too light, floats to the top and stays there. Consort Syndrome's fix is dump, clean and refill.

You can watch my thread in "problems & questions" regarding people who've refilled with slightly-altered water. I think this usually only applies to the 1960s formula, not 70s (like a Carlisle) but I guess it'd be worth a shot; dump the liquid (or save it for 'topping off' a future 70s lamp) and try refilling per whatever people suggest in the thread.

Comment by Erin on October 23, 2010 at 9:29pm

One last question: How do you know when lava is toast? Is there any way to revive? Or is there really a point of no return for lava?

Comment by Jonas Clark-Elliott on October 23, 2010 at 8:49pm

Lava is toast, unfortunately. Best solution is to refill using a Lava globe from the 90s.

Comment by Erin on October 23, 2010 at 7:26pm

Well, I took out the original wax and liquid since when it was heated up, it was total soup - couldn't tell the lava from the liquid. I put in lava and liquid from a 70s Carlisle (light green, almost clear water/light green wax). I took it out of the Carlisle, since it was low on fluid and didn't flow properly. I *thought* the Carlisle didn't flow properly because of low fluid, but now I'm wondering if the wax is toast. The wax in the Consort (now) rose to the top, then stayed there, half on top, half on the bottom. No flow. No blobs. Any thoughts Jonas?

Oh, and thank you (always) for the info on this lamp! Always nice to know what I have. :)

Comment by Jonas Clark-Elliott on October 23, 2010 at 7:13pm

What did you do to this one, what process did you use? The Consort lamps began production in 1966, using a solid American Walnut base like yours - give it a good rubdown with some teak oil or mineral oil and it'll almost glow. Sometime suspected to be around 1968, bases were switched to a woodgrained brown plastic, and the straight metal post shown on yours was swapped for a post that flares at the top and bottom, which was followed sometime later by the elimination of the brass disk and a new, more hourglass-like flared post. There was also the Windsor, with a beefy round metal base with faux woodgrain, the late 60s-early 70s Nordic in chrome with the plastic woodgrain base in black, and a brass and a silver model probably out of the 1970-71 era with boxy gold or silver painted metal bases.

Comment by Erin on October 23, 2010 at 4:44pm

Aaaaaaaaaaaaand we seem to have a flow problem. ;( Lava stuck at the top, not coming down.