Florence Arts & other "oil glitters"

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Comment by Jonas Clark-Elliott on September 6, 2013 at 1:43am

That's my guess. I've only seen one catalog showing them; sadly, it's a low-res copy I have - Chicago American (wholesale) 1969. It depicts, using my reference numbers, 4B red, 5 sea green, and 14 blue, along with both models of Florence's "Laff Lite," which is similar to the blinky-light version of the KaleidoLite but in cylindrical form. 1969 was the year Lava also came out with the "Glitterlies," which used the same liquid and had aluminum dust as glitter.

Comment by Erin on September 5, 2013 at 6:32pm

I've added this to the Lava Library Florence Arts page. Thanks for the info Jonas! Great stuff. :) Wonder why we don't see more of these... they must not have produced many of them. 

Comment by Jonas Clark-Elliott on September 5, 2013 at 4:34pm

Thanks, lalalava! The entire idea of making things like this is to help collectors ID lamps-- or to help a collector such as Mr. Chillino find all the models. I've already found another model that's not pictured...

Comment by Jonas Clark-Elliott on September 5, 2013 at 5:31am

Model info. Unless otherwise noted, there is a push-button switch on the lamp base. Gold-colored lamps are brushed brass unless noted. Black lamps are semi-gloss painted.

-- Florence Art Co. "Astro Lites" --

1: Large globe, brass or black.

2: Same as 1 but small globe, brass only.

3: Similar to 1, with wire cage stand instead of base. Switch on cord. Brass or black, brass stand.

4: Similar to 1, three scrolled metal legs instead of pedestal. Switch on cord. Gold-painted or black.

5: Double, small globes, spindle arms and ring top. Flat finials below.

6: Same as 5, large globes.

7: Same as 6, plus tapered wood column, tapered downward. Ring top.

8: Similar to 7, wood column is tapered upward. Bent support arms attach horizontally.

9: Similar to 7, bent support arms attach vertically into small crossbar, flat finials below. Wood column is tapered downward.

10: Similar to 9, arms slightly different bend. Wood column tapers upward.

11: Same as 10, with ornate brown plaster urn instead of wood column. Ball top.

12: Similar to 1, with wider pedestal. Three large globes, each at different height.

13: Same as 12, small globes, smaller diameter pedestal.

14: Three large globes on wood base, center set higher than other two. Light or dark wood.

15: Wall sconce. Large globe, set inside half-cylinder of black expanded screen. Black rods on sides. Brass end caps with ball ends, black bands. Loop for hanging. Switch on cord.

-- Heat Tapes "Stardust Lites" --

These use a Consort-style globe with polished gold cap. Base has an ornate lattice gold cylinder around inner brass base, atop wood-styled pedestal with switch. Heat Tapes also made Lava Lite knock-offs called "Bubble Lites" using the same base and globe.

HT1: Flat wood pedestal. HT2: Flared metal pedestal.

-- Pagoda Lamp Co. --

PG: Tapered and flared parts. Base cone tapers downward to flared pedestal. Globe tapers upward. Small gold plastic finial cap.

-- Unknown lamps --

Narrower globe, taller cap than verified Heat Tapes models. Switch on base.

UN1: Metal pedestal with brown wood-grain. UN2: brass pedestal.

ORN: Large globe. Ornate cast-metal base and top identical, with gilt finish. Matching pedestal topped by stone disk. Switch on base?

-- MasterCrafters Clock & Radio Co. --

MC1A, MC1B: 434 Magic Lite. Tenite plastic case, brown or painted off-white respectively. Small glitter tube with curved aluminum reflector. Switch for light.

MC2A, MC2B: 46 Action Starlight. Gold-painted base, clear glass dial with painted numbers. Two small globes in holders. Light switch on back. Numbers may be rounded or squared, respectively.

Oil glitters came in many colors, from clear to yellow, amber, orange, flame, red, medium blue, blue-purple, emerald and chartreuse. All have silver-colored glitters.