Finally found a lamp I've been after for years!

[Jonas Clark-Elliott]

After having fawned over it in the first Lava Lite catalog I ever got (in 1990) and loving it ever since, I finally got that elusive white/blue Aristocrat, brass, screw cap! It came from a local building salvage store; they got it from a house on which they got the salvage contract, apparently the former owner left a lot of stuff. It's clear and flows beautifully, save some air bubbles in the lava, and even has a small number of pinpoint 'stars' in the glass.

They accepted my offer of $35, but then suggested a trade, as what they really wanted was A working lava lamp (but not necessarily THAT particular one) and I brought them a spare Carlisle with a newer red/yellow screw-cap bottle. They loved it, put it in the same very visible spot the other had occupied, and they'll be running it daily. I attached a sign atop the cap reading "1977 Lava Lite. VERY hot, do not touch!"

In my opinion, this lamp in this color has an elegant appeal held by no other model. In a corner of a dimly-lit room, with the deep blue color and pinpoint holes and the elegant Aristocrat shape, specifically with the classic screw cap and the swanky brushed brass. It's a beauty, and I have it sitting off in its own solo spot.

To further the discussion: If you had to choose one model and color combo as the epitome of sophisticated elegance for evening decorating, i.e. one single lamp as part of the overall ambiance of a dimly-lit room... Which is your pick?

I imagine this in one of those late-70s living room with tan carpet and couches, and long floor-length window drapes with dim lights shining up and down from behind the wooden valances. Just sitting on a table in the corner, maybe between the couches, being a very subtle focal point, not too bright and with the sparkling pinholes.

[fog rider]

Well done. Nice score.

My choice would be a Crestworth Cosmo Glitterlite, in blue.... A little jazz playing on the Telefunken. Some friends and a bottle of wine (or maybe something a little more potent!)........

Actually, any of the Crestworth Glitterlites would do. You just can't beat 'em for low level lighting in a dark room.

[Galaxy_9]

I'm totally with you on this, I love this color combo for this particular model. The color is very elegant and mystifying. For me I fell in love with this color combo after catching a quick glimpse of the century version of it in the movie "Ghost" when they are at the fortune teller. Its sitting in the background and contrasts so nicely with all the arabesque golden wallpaper. You only see it a few times for a few seconds each, but it stands out.

[Jonas Clark-Elliott]

Thanks a lot! Most of the few screw-top gold 52s I have are red/yellow. I have one red/clear, one orange/yellow, one green/blue and one very, VERY faded white/blue...plus this new one, which has the wonderful clear, deep-blue liquid and perfect flow. I like the thought of the glitterlites, too. Imagine the same living room I described, which I guess is probably more 60s than 70s, with a few Crestworth blue Glitterlite wall sconces with their backlights on. Classy. And I'm STILL kicking myself for selling my Grundig (almost a Telefunken...!) I'd do almost anything for a classy radio with that wonderful green tuning eye, but there's no way I'll be able to afford another - only old radio I've still got is a Philco cathedral (and one of those copies of a Bluebird, nice save for the awful "CROSLEY" embossing on the faux chrome).

For 60s American lamps, I'd love to see a lava-filled (but not specifically lava-themed) 60s night spot. Picture this: An Imperial in the entry, and an Executive on the hostess stand. Stairs lead down to a basement-level space with dim lighting, tables and a stage. All central tables have Savoys and Continentals. Booths on the first level have alternating Consorts and Princesses. Second tier, set back booths have alternating Regencies and Empresses. Another Imperial sits off-center onstage. Mix of the three late-60s colors (red/clear, green/blue, orange/yellow). You think about that, and tell me some jazz club, somewhere in the late 60s, didn't think the Lava Lite was awesome and do something very similar...

Another lamp I'd love to find: Small bottle, plain brass Florence Art in medium blue. I have that same lamp in the dark blue/purple, but very tarnished, and while I really, really love it, I'd like a slightly lighter-colored one with good brass that I can use as a display somewhere. It's tiny, cute, and elegant! I have the larger globe plain brass in dark blue/purple and would definitely trade that for the little one...

[Galaxy_9]

Amazing find Astrobaby! I am so into this as a mid century design enthusiast. I always wondered why James Bond movies never used them...these ads would suggest they should be right?!!! I did a presentation on these lamps as a "decorative art" for school and I was having trouble making my point that these were not marketed to "Hippies" as pop culture believes. This would have been a perfect visual aid!

[Jonas Clark-Elliott]

You're correct, Galaxy - in the US, same, the Lava Lite was not marketed to hippies. It was offered as a smart decor accessory, an attention-getter for store displays, a decorative bit for offices, lobbies or restaurants, but always was shown in high-class settings. And I believe that, at least at first, it was mainly sold in lighting and home decor shops. So-called "head shops" may have carried them in the 60s, but I don't think those sales really picked up until at least the very, very late 60s. Even in 70s and 80s catalogs, they were always pictured in nice-looking homes.

Only in the late-90s did Lava Corp. try (and mostly fail) with anthropomorphized Lava Lite character "Lava Larry", a hippie, playing on the lamps' reputation as a hippie icon. I have a feeling some warehouse, somewhere, still has boxes of unsold inflatable Lava Larry stand-ups.

That ad is awesome, Astro. Any idea what "Astro-Electric" was? Sales branch of Crestworth? Early company name idea?

[Modulo '70]

What a great ad. Note how is shows 'Astro' and early 'Astro Mini' as well.

[Galaxy_9]

Ant this will be a wonderful resource of reference, inspiration, and just plain intrique of a window to the past. As many plastic manufactured materials age they can yellow, crack, deteriorate and because it was such a mass marketed thing of that era, many people tend to toss them aside. Yet sometimes you get that pristine piece that grandma had up in her closet, never used. An expansion of this gallery will such a great museum for collectors and enthusiasts of that era. Home decor and DIY projects were at such a peak, there was such a sense of whimsy and optimism. Ok let me stop I could go on an on..... LOL Your site layouts are always "da bomb" :)

[Copper is best]

The Lava lamp was very definately not a hippy thing, very much your smart up and coming aspirational couples thing. I was bought my first one in 1967 by my parents off the back of The Prisoner.

[Jonas Clark-Elliott]

That ad is awesome. I'll take either of these combos, in Astro or Mini copper: Rose/Ruby or Bluegreen/Emerald. Oh, yes...add that to the short list of lamps I still really want...

...Astro Mini, bright orangey copper (not pale). I'll take just about any color combo if the liquid isn't cloudy, though there are many colors I simply like a lot and a few I really love. Long as it's orangey-copper and the liquid isn't cloudy, I'll be happy.