Fiber optic lamps. What do I need to know?

[Tim Tam]

Hi,

after finding this site and reading many of the posts about F/O lamps I realize I don't know a whole lot about them other than they are beautiful. May I ask a few questions?


I note that there are two types of sprays, glass fiber and plastic. What are the pros and cons?

What sort of terms should be included when searching for F/O lamps?

I am looking for smaller lamps in the region of 50cm/20 inch spray width, is there much available in this size?

I realize there are a lot of variables but how much should I be expecting to pay?

And pretty importantly, what should I avoid?

Finally, is there any chance that new sprays will ever be made?

Thanks for reading,
Tim Tam

[Jonas Clark-Elliott]

If you're in the UK, Tim Tam, the Crestworth Galaxy is a great first lamp. Changes color, blows the fibers around with a fan, and keeps them inside a dome so they're protected. MOST lamps are only a little above or below 20-inch spray width. In France, you'll find some funky old ones, with glass or plastic sprays. In the USA, Fantasia Products made glass lamps, and Cuda Products and Dolan-Jenner made some as well. Countless plastic ones were on the market, too, with Poly-Optics leading that market.

The glass fibers' upsides are being thinner and finer, glowing only at the tips, moving gently in air currents, and producing a very "full" effect. The con is that, should one shed fibers and you step on one in bare feet, you'll have a very painful splinter that you can't find because you can't see it!

Plastic fibers are more rigid, and glow all along their length, though brighter at the tips. They can turn yellow with age, but don't break, and are usually heat-bent into a shape and hold it stiffly.

Fantasia lamps are the highest quality all-around. They used spun and stamped steel and brass, real wood in one case, had revolving color wheels (some with patterns, like the Love Bug) and, in most but not all models, a revolving spray. They tend to be pricey, but you're paying for quality. Good luck finding any othside the USA, just as finding a Crestworth anything inside the US will be tough.

[Kris]

These guys pretty much answered it all. :)

I will add - NOTHING compares to a fine quality, GLASS fiber optic lamp. Period. Plastic just doesn't cut it. As for your question on will there ever be more sprays made? It's in the works. I am also thinking of creating a new line of lamps/reviving the old line. MAYBE. Still not sure yet.

[Tim Tam]

Hi Guys,

thanks for the advice. I will be sure to steer clear of the plastic sprays then, I want the full "Fantasia" experience. Also make prett-ay, prett-ay sure I wear shoes when I go near the lamp.

I'm in Australia and am not sure if the Crestworth or Sheerlite lamps were ever available here but I will check it out. As we use the same 220/240 volt system (different plug though) I could look for UK ones but I imagine the postage might make them very expensive. Probably best to keep an eye on what is available locally. I will just have to be patient I guess and see what turns up.

Good to know that most of the lamps are in the 20 inch/50 cm zone, opens things up a lot.

Kris, keep us all up-dated on your progress with the sprays and the exciting possibility of new lamps. I'm am certain you would have a lot of buyers on this site. Me for sure, especially if they were like Love Bugs or the Cuda Harmony. The Galaxy is nice too. (I like the low ones)

Just a final thought while I am here. Since the fibres are so fragile, I wondered if they could be trimmed with scissors? I was looking at Kris's pics and videos and noticed on all of the lamps the sprays are round or roundish and I thought maybe for a quite different look the spray could be trimmed into a cube. Obviously since the original sprays are very rare you wouldn't try it on one of those but if new sprays were available you could experiment a bit maybe.

Thanks again,
Tim Tam