Probing the mind of a lava light aficionado :)

[Paula Frank]

Why do you like/love lava lamps?

I'm asking this question because I think, rather than assuming the answer(s), we may see some interesting answers.

[Keith]

There was a post that has since disapeared that asked basically the same question, here is my answer;

The ever-changing interplay of motion and color.  The steady, patient rise to the top, a brief rest then back down for a rest at the bottom.  Light and glowing underneath with a shadow at the top, shading from dark to light, and light to dark.  Blobs meeting and separating, joining and departing, sharing the warmth of the moment with each other.  The ebb and flow of life displayed in a myriad of colors, shapes and sizes.

I also posted it a a blog so I wouldn't lose it, good thing I did!;

http://oozinggoo.ning.com/profiles/blogs/why-i-like-lava-lamps

[Paula Frank]

Very nicely expressed!  Poetic actually.  Thanks Keith. 

For me I would say, having an art background, I appreciate the blend of form and function -- the colors, the shapes of the globes and bases, the sensually morphing shapes of the ooze.  Lava lamps are hypnotic, relaxing, meditational.  They add a warm ambience to a room.  And of course, the light -- the illumination -- so profoundly symbolic.  They are utterly magical!

[Keith]

Thank you. :) I am normally not very expressive.

Paula Frank said:

Very nicely expressed!  Poetic actually.  Thanks Keith. 

For me I would say, having an art background, I appreciate the blend of form and function -- the colors, the shapes of the globes and bases, the sensually morphing shapes of the ooze.  Lava lamps are hypnotic, relaxing, meditational.  They add a warm ambience to a room.  And of course, the light -- the illumination -- so profoundly symbolic.  They are utterly magical!

[Aladdin 2 Lava]

I’ve posted my almost life long love of Lava Lamps before in the thread Keith mentioned, you asked so here goes…

As a 7ish year old boy, one December evening I was taken along with my brother to London by my grandmother and mother to see the Christmas lights in Oxford street and Santa in a well known department store. One of the main display windows was like a magnet with a crowd gathered round. I made my way to the front with all the other kids and we gazed in awe!

The window was draped in black velvet with ‘Astrolamps’ in all the colours of the rainbow standing on black velvet draped plinths of various heights. Oh the colours! Permanently burned into my young mind. We had never seen the like before. Bear in mind this was early to mid 60s, pre Pschycedelia, Day Glow, the hippy movement and colour tv !

I really thought they had come from ‘outerspace’ and wished for one for the rest of my childhood, a red one. My poor hard working parents eventually got me one as my twelfth birthday present. It was orange and not the red I wanted but hey it was an ‘Astrolamp’ !!! I was ecstatic.

I’ve still got it though the wax burned out years ago and have refilled the bottle with Mathmos blue/red.

[Mattmos]

Anything that takes me back to my childhood, I love. I remember mom and dad getting their first Century with a gold base, yellow liquid and red lava in 1976. Neighborhood kids used to come over all the time to look at the red blobs. The lamp was definitely the cats meow among my buddies.

 

To keep my buddies and I from touching the lamp, and possibly knocking it over, mom always told us that if we touched the lamp, that the blobs would stop blobbing and the lamp would be broke and could never be fixed. It's the same thing you were told about peeing in the pool. There's a chemical in the pool that would turn the water blue. 

 

     

[Metallica Man Trevor]

LOL honestly I love the flow, how they never do the same thing twice. Also I love concerts, so the bright colors and light remind me of concerts. now if only I can rig up some pyro next to the lamps......=)

[Paula Frank]

Awe-some lalalava.  Yes.  If I had to pick one word too, it would be sensual.

lalalava said:

I like em cuz they are awesome ;)

[Paula Frank]

Neat Trevor.  Enjoyed that.  Pyro huh?  A votive candle on an aromatherapy burner is good enough for me.  I also have tabletop water fountains -- a homedics one which also light ups too, and a vertical slate water fountain which I rest a votice candle in so it reflects off the wet slate. 

Metallica man Trevor said:

LOL honestly I love the flow, how they never do the same thing twice. Also I love concerts, so the bright colors and light remind me of concerts. now if only I can rig up some pyro next to the lamps......=)

[Paula Frank]

So nicely written Aladdin, really enjoyed that detailing.  I especially noted because I wasn't aware of this history: "Bear in mind this was early to mid 60s, pre Pschycedelia, Day Glow, the hippy movement and colour tv!"  I was born in 1953 and always associated lava lamps with the 70s.  Perhaps they didn't make their way to the U.S. till the 70s?  I'll have to read up on that unless you or someone knows in a flash.  Cheers  :)

Aladdin 2 Lava said:

I’ve posted my almost life long love of Lava Lamps before in the thread Keith mentioned, you asked so here goes…

As a 7ish year old boy, one December evening I was taken along with my brother to London by my grandmother and mother to see the Christmas lights in Oxford street and Santa in a well known department store. One of the main display windows was like a magnet with a crowd gathered round. I made my way to the front with all the other kids and we gazed in awe!

The window was draped in black velvet with ‘Astrolamps’ in all the colours of the rainbow standing on black velvet draped plinths of various heights. Oh the colours! Permanently burned into my young mind. We had never seen the like before. Bear in mind this was early to mid 60s, pre Pschycedelia, Day Glow, the hippy movement and colour tv !

I really thought they had come from ‘outerspace’ and wished for one for the rest of my childhood, a red one. My poor hard working parents eventually got me one as my twelfth birthday present. It was orange and not the red I wanted but hey it was an ‘Astrolamp’ !!! I was ecstatic.

I’ve still got it though the wax burned out years ago and have refilled the bottle with Mathmos blue/red.

[Paula Frank]

Aw yeah, "anything that takes me back to my childhood" -- I can relate to that.  Our days of innocence.  Hopefully we haven't lost all of it.  Enjoyed your post.

Mattmos said:

Anything that takes me back to my childhood, I love. I remember mom and dad getting their first Century with a gold base, yellow liquid and red lava in 1976. Neighborhood kids used to come over all the time to look at the red blobs. The lamp was definitely the cats meow among my buddies.

 

To keep my buddies and I from touching the lamp, and possibly knocking it over, mom always told us that if we touched the lamp, that the blobs would stop blobbing and the lamp would be broke and could never be fixed. It's the same thing you were told about peeing in the pool. There's a chemical in the pool that would turn the water blue. 

 

     

[Aladdin 2 Lava]

Thanks Paula, its sad but all true I’m afraid lol

As far as I am aware Astrolamps went on sale in the UK in 1963 and shortly after their success the Inventor sold the patent to Lava lite in the US.

Paula Frank said:

So nicely written Aladdin, really enjoyed that detailing.  I especially noted because I wasn't aware of this history: "Bear in mind this was early to mid 60s, pre Pschycedelia, Day Glow, the hippy movement and colour tv!"  I was born in 1953 and always associated lava lamps with the 70s.  Perhaps they didn't make their way to the U.S. till the 70s?  I'll have to read up on that unless you or someone knows in a flash.  Cheers  :)

Aladdin 2 Lava said:

I’ve posted my almost life long love of Lava Lamps before in the thread Keith mentioned, you asked so here goes…

As a 7ish year old boy, one December evening I was taken along with my brother to London by my grandmother and mother to see the Christmas lights in Oxford street and Santa in a well known department store. One of the main display windows was like a magnet with a crowd gathered round. I made my way to the front with all the other kids and we gazed in awe!

The window was draped in black velvet with ‘Astrolamps’ in all the colours of the rainbow standing on black velvet draped plinths of various heights. Oh the colours! Permanently burned into my young mind. We had never seen the like before. Bear in mind this was early to mid 60s, pre Pschycedelia, Day Glow, the hippy movement and colour tv !

I really thought they had come from ‘outerspace’ and wished for one for the rest of my childhood, a red one. My poor hard working parents eventually got me one as my twelfth birthday present. It was orange and not the red I wanted but hey it was an ‘Astrolamp’ !!! I was ecstatic.

I’ve still got it though the wax burned out years ago and have refilled the bottle with Mathmos blue/red.

[Keith]

The first lava lamps in the US were available by 1964/65.

http://oozinggoo.ning.com/page/lava-lite-timeline-the-1960s