Oyez, Oyez! Let it be known that Astro has discovered...

[Jonas Clark-Elliott]

...a previously unknown model of Lava Lite! This is a notable discovery.

Yes, there are already-known lamps to which we cannot yet give official model names. At least three Consort types: Chrome bases with silver metal or square stone pedestals, and a brass model with a flared brown pedestal. The music box lamp. The so-called "apollo" Expo 67 lamp, though this name is fitting considering the Apollo Capsule, which the base is indeed similar to in shape and color, was the cernterpiece of the Expo 67 United States exhibit.

But Astro has discovered a new model, AND its official model name. Looking at photos from some early 70s catalogs, he found (in a 1973 John Plain catalog) the usual early-70s stuff: Century and copper Coach or/yel, Med red/clear, Silver Spinner. Turning to the 1974 Bennett Bros. catalog, it seems the Consort (grn/blu) was still being sold in '74. The Starburst Aristocrat, introduced in the late 60s, is shown in or/yel, noted as "The Aristocrat". I've noticed that, when non-manufacturer catalogs listed Lava Lite model names, on the rare occasion that they did, they got them right. And then...what's this?

"The Commander". Aristocrat, with pinholes. BLACK base and cap. Red/clear or green/blue. Wow.

Yes, Astro has discovered a new model, never before known. And maybe the Midnight Aristocrat wasn't a new idea, though it's possible, even likely that Lava-Simplex didn't remember the earlier precedent. Either way, keep checking those date stickers on screw-cap black Aristocrats! If they're red/clear, green/blue, or orange/yellow (in 1974, orange/yellow hadn't yet switched to dark red lava) you might just have something rare...!

[Brian]

i'm pretty sure one was on ebay recently. looked like a midnight but no holes.
i tried to find it again but couldn't.....

[dave p.]

Nice find Astro! It just goes to show we are all still learning about Lava! Just when you think you know, look again...

[Jonas Clark-Elliott]

I know I'm totally going to start referring to my screw-top, Target-sold Midnight Aristocrat as "The Commander". The name is awesome.

Now, as noted, we can hope to find names for (quick description, for those who don't know)

The music box lamp: A white squiggle Decorator, but with an upside-down tray. The tray isn't quite like any of the three known Decorator trays, and has no rolled rim. Mounted to the underside, on opposite sides from the lamp, are two key-wind Swiss music boxes. The keys extend out of the top surface of the tray.

The apollo lamp, named by *smacks head* I can't remember at the moment. Kyle, I think? A black-capped Consort bottle in a squat base consisting of a short cylindrical collar atop a cone, with a textured wrinkle black finish. Temporarily but appropriately named the "apollo" since the globe features the Montreal Expo '67 logo, and the highlight of Expo '67's USA Pavilion was the Apollo Space Capsule, which this lamp intimately resembles.

Mystery Consort nos. 1 and 2: Chrome finish, flared-type support post, boxy base with chamfered edge. One I've seen is silver metal, the other is gray but the same shape and may also be (just tarnished) metal, but looks like stone to me.

Mystery Consort no. 3: Chrome finish, no 'support post', flared chrome pedestal connected to base by short decorative coupling.

Mystery Consort no. 4: Satin brass finish, straight support post, on woodgrained base (may be wood, probably metal) with trumpet flare.

Other oddball Consorts HAVE been named.
The chrome Consort with a woodgrained black plastic base is a...Nordic.
The brass Consort with a beefy round woodgrained metal base is a...Windsor. Also sold as a Glitterlite.

[Erin]

Going to bump an old thread to show off my new acquisition - THE COMMANDER! I'm a little confused on the color combo - it appears to be an orange / yellow, but the catalog snippings I saw said that blue/green and clear/red were offered. Maybe this is a hosed clear/red? Hard to tell. The base and cap are matte black. Date sticker inside reads DEC 197X (can't read the last number). 

I'd like to replace the liquid, but since I've not yet mastered the flow, I'll wait.

[Jonas Clark-Elliott]

That's a retail store catalog, Erin. They often offered lamps in less colors than were available. You always see the Mediterranean and the Aladdin's Lamp, for example, in red/clear. Rest assured that post-1969 came in all three colors.

[Erin]

Like my other yellow/oranges, this combo is really hard to photograph accurately. It needs the coil cleaned or replaced - there's quite a bit of crap down there. Base and cap are in decent shape, but the base has two big scratches on it. I was trying to clean with a Magic Eraser, and I can't tell if what came off is dirt or paint, so I'm going to leave it alone! 

[Autumn]

So how is this different than a midnight aristocrat besides the matte finish?

[Erin]

No difference really. For being a rare lamp, it's pretty unexciting. Matte finish, green felt on bottom. That's it. 

Autumn said:

So how is this different than a midnight aristocrat besides the matte finish?

[Jonas Clark-Elliott]

Well, that and the fact that Midnight Aristocrats came out in the early 1990s, whereas this lamp was early 70s. What makes it notable is that it IS a distinct model and it's rare. It wasn't the first non-brass Aristocrat, as those actually came third. The first Aristocrat, 1100, had an enamel white base with thin lines of gold paint thrown all over, and a gold cap. Few years later came the 1110, same thing with black enamel, and shortly thereafter the caps began to be painted like the bases. THEN came the 1120 "Starburst Aristocrat," gold with pinholes. I don't have a model number for the Commander, but I suppose until a 1971 catalog shows up, I'll call it an 1130.

[Erin]

I did finally discern the date on the sticker - DEC 1972. I may have to dump and replace the liquid. I took the coil out and cleaned it and filtered both the lava and liquid (while hot) since there was gunk in it. It's coming back together nicely, but the liquid level is low.