Fiber optic questions, Kris...

[Jonas Clark-Elliott]

I have a question. I just relamped my Ecstasy (what a pain) and my Love Bug needs a new bulb too. My main issue, though, is that the sprays, while not clumped per se, are not nearly as full as they used to be - the fibers congregate in some areas and spread out in others. Is there a way to fix this? I tried washing one once, but it took freakin' forever to dry and, even once dray, stayed clumped for weeks (though I used only water). My Sunburst spray, the HUGE 90s bouffant dome style, all hangs to one side and I can't get it to do anything else... and it used to be fluffy and nice.

Al;so, I see you say you love the clear/blue Midnight Century. I have the white/blue. If/when I find a clear/blue 52oz. bottle, I'll put the white/blue on my Silver Century base (still missing cap for the silver, too) and pass you the Midnight Century. Or, if you LIKE white/blue, there's the lamp as it stands, too. Possibly, if you happen into an extra Fantasia, we could trade? I have the Love Bug, Ecstasy, black Sunburst and an unknown steel cylinder model with no motor (in which I have a random-blink pink bulb for a firework effect) but would love to find one more glass-fiber lamp and then call that part of the collection closed, but I won't bid on eBay - not only because of my low budget but because I don't want to compete with you at all.

[Kris]

What all did you do to the Ecstasy? Just replace the cord? Either way I dread ever having to do that as these things would not be the easiest to work on. As for the sprays, over time dust, dirt and everything else gets caked on these things. Water alone will not make a dent in getting them cleaned. I have perfected the cleaning process (after doing it so much) and can pretty much return any dirty spray back to like new condition. I have not run into one that I was unable to clean up. The only hitch is with some of the finer spray bundles. Sometimes the fibers all get tangled together and there is not much you can do. They can get untangled, but it takes time. However for the most part, the spray looks really good. Better than it did before. I don't mind sharing my cleaning info with you. Just let me know. I will also offer to do it for you if you would like to send me your sprays. Turn around time would be about a week. Clean, dry, re-fluff and testing. My technique is patent pending (lol j/k) :) - But seriously if you want to ship them out I will get them cleaned up for you. No charge or anything.

Yes, would love a clear/blue midnight century. That's the big 52oz black lamp with pin holes in the base right? If so, yeah, that one. Always loved those lamps. Trades are always welcome. I will keep an eye out for you on some lamps. I honestly do not care if people bid on eBay. I don't have the rights to it and anyone is welcome to bid. I do appreciate you not wanting to though. If it's a lamp I want, I will bid as much as I can and if I don't get it, I don't get it. Seems I already have a competitor that is driving up the costs crazily. I hope that dies out soon. Someone is spending a ton on these things unnecessarily.

Is there a specific lamp you are looking for to complete your collection?

[Jonas Clark-Elliott]

I'd like another with a patterned wheel, but I'm also really interested in any model, of any sort, with the firefly spray - all of mine have the sphere, except the Sunburst which has the big dome.

All I did to the Ecstasy was relamp - put in a new bulb - and it's a pain. As I'm sure you can guess if you see the socket's setup. I use in mine the same wedge-base low-voltage bulbs I have for my outdoor path lights.

[Jonas Clark-Elliott]

Aaaand my Love Bug is toast...and it was my favorite. *sigh* It hit the floor, the color wheel's plastic shaft snapped off, and half the spray's fibers broke off in one big mass.

Is it dead?

[Kris]

Aww man. You might be able to glue/epoxy weld the shaft back together. As for the spray, you are SOL on that. Trust me, I know how gut wrenching that is. Unless you can find a replacement spray, you will be better off buying a whole new lamp with the spray. How did this happen? :(

Gotcha on the firefly spray. I will keep an eye out for you. I will say it seems like all or most of the lamps made by Vicon in 90's had the spherical spray. All of the lamps were pretty small too. I guess it was cheaper to make/buy that type of spray than any other one. Changing the bulb can be a PITA on these things. Especially the sunburst lamps with the metal flap cage thing they have.

[Jonas Clark-Elliott]

I found an extra spray in my boxes, so I'll try to fix the Love Bug. My email is [e-mail] - Kris, could you tell me how to clean sprays, and get the tips evenly distributed once dry? I'll go ahead and get my Sunburst back on display. I also have to put new colors on its wheel, going to use theatrical gels.

Think it'd be cool if I scraped off all the flaking color from the plastic wheel and tried to create a patterned wheel like a Love Bug? I do wonder what patterns the Cuda Harmony has, in which colors, versus the Love Bug.

[Kris]

Awesome you have an extra spray. I will email you with the info. Theatrical gels will be perfect. They can withstand high heat and last a long time if attached right.

As for your plastic color wheel inside your love bug, it's plastic so you can make a new wheel. You just have to hunt down a suitable plastic to replace it. Should not be hard at all. Once found, use gel or high heat paint to create your new design. The plastic by nature, will not last long. I have seen many of them all bubbled and burned up on eBay. Pretty sad really. Then again, the designers should have known, light bulb + high heat + think plastic = melt/short life. It was a cost saving measure. A Vicon thing from the China made Fantasias during the end of their life.

Want an even cooler idea? Find a printer that can print on plastic/transparencies, but with thicker plastic. Hell, if you find the right plastic you can print them yourself. You can make any design you want. I would recommend a thicker lexan or glass replacement but don't think the little motor can handle it.

Cuda Harmony..



Fantasia Love Bug..




They are almost identical really. Design is different somewhat and a couple of the colors are darker/different but about the same.

[Jonas Clark-Elliott]

Thanks. What happened to my Love Bug: The plastic post which runs between the color wheel and the motor snapped, just above the motor. I'm going to try to superglue it and hope it'll stay put as long as I'm gentle with it. Just gotta go get a new bulb, and I'm set.

Now I'll have to make a special spot for the Sunburst in here... I think I may know a good place for it.

[Kris]

Yeah, just be gentle with it and you should be ok. Sorry to hear about that though, really does suck. I sent you an email with cleaning instructions. Looks like a lot, but it's not.

[Jonas Clark-Elliott]

So how many/which lamps do you have so far?

I'm still hoping one of us will find a Champagne, Olympic or Celestial. The Celestial is the one I really want personally, or the Champagne.

With my luck (I mean that in a good way) you'll ID unidentified lamps on my Fantasia list, or add new ones.

[Jonas Clark-Elliott]

Oh, and what's the final news on that Goodwill lamp?

[Kris]

Well as of now I have the following..

Fantasia Lamps

Cosmos
Silver Sunburst - x2
Gold Sunburst
Black Sunburst - Boxed
Centurion
Omni
Alpha - Boxed
Saturn - Boxed
Galaxy - Boxed
Firefly - Boxed
Love Story - Black
Love Story - Pink
Trophy
Love Bug - Boxed

Cuda

Harmony
Saturn

I have a Fantasia lamp I won off eBay coming this week I hope. I will say more after I get it. As for the Celestial, Champagne and Olympic - I really want them but I have a feeling they are really rare. I hope with time they will show up somewhere or I can find someone willing to sell. I do not know. It seems just when I think nothing different is coming, I am surprised and it shows up. Patience I learned, is key with these.

There is one lamp I have that is not on your list. The Galaxy. Also, did you see my model number list? I am surprised you did not say anything about that. I acquired a list of models/numbers from a sheet that was given to me. I went through and matched up all the lamps I could. It turns out there are at least 10 more unknown models if memory serves. There are also at least 30+ lamps not including lamps that have different color variants.

My goal is to eventually have every lamp made by the company. Not sure how long it will take but it's coming along nicely. Some lamps are costing me more but that's ok. They are rarer and I don't see them often, if at all. My next goal that would be cool, is to be able to say I have the largest known Fantasia collection in the USA/World! Not to be vain or anything. It would just be cool to have that title. Hehe. I have a ways to go though.

The Goodwill lamp? I kept it. I received a UPS return label in the mail a week or so ago. I tore it up. I figured $50 (including $11 for shipping) was an excellent price for a Sunburst in superb condition. With or without the spray. That and the fact that it would probably have been damaged if it was shipped back. Not worth the risk. I will keep it and hopefully down the line will have a new spray for it.

[Jonas Clark-Elliott]

I don't see the mentioned ad here... Do you know what happened to those scans of Fantasia catalogs/ads that were poking around? Not the Ecstasy/Centurion and New Star/Firefly, I have those, but the one with gold and silver Love Bugs etc. and the brochure showing the Champagne, Celestial, Olympic etc?