Model 03 Question

[Marco]

This question has probably been asked and answered before but I couldn't find anything so I'll give it a shot. Are there two different versions of the midnight series model 03? I've seen several on Ebay where the cap will have 03, the box will indicate blue liquid/white lava but the lamp is actually clear/yellow. Then I've seen others where the lamp is actually the blue/white. Is this a case where the lamp is so old that the blue liquid has turned clear or are there two version? Below is the link to a current auction of what I'm talking about. Thanks for any info anyone can provide.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/111147618207?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_...

[Brad]

it's a good question.  the lamps you are referring to are faded from sunlight,  hence the off-white wax and clear fluid.

[Marley's Ghost]

Here is a link from the Lava Library about Midnights, Marco.    The lamp shown on ebay says it was made in the 70's, it was actually made in 1998.  Someone please correct me if I didn't read the date code on the cap right.

http://oozinggoo.ning.com/page/midnight

[Gwen Williams]

Both of you are correct, that globe was made in 1998 as was in the sun for a good while so that it sunbleached to the clear/off-white color it is now.

[Rob C]

Always beware of possible unethical variables, such as a different box than the lamp originally came in or, even worse, a lamp that was re-capped with a different cap. Not saying that's the case here, just a caveat emptor with ebay purchases.

[Marley's Ghost]

Thank you, Gwen!   And thank you Rob for mentioning the possibility of the cap switch on any purchase.  I meant to, but was afraid I'd read the date code wrong and forgot.    Thanks to Gwen for verifying I didn't mess up!  

[Keith]

Also note that ANY lava lamp made before 1990 had a screw on cap, not a bottle cap.  People are lazy and tend to say when selling a lava lamp that it was made in "the 70's" 


Marley's Ghost said:

Here is a link from the Lava Library about Midnights, Marco.    The lamp shown on ebay says it was made in the 70's, it was actually made in 1998.  Someone please correct me if I didn't read the date code on the cap right.

http://oozinggoo.ning.com/page/midnight

[Keith]

A couple of thoughts

That is a very steep price for a very common lava lamp.

also, if you happen to find a faded globe like this, add your choice of food coloring and enjoy ;)  (green for a green/white, red for a red/white, purple, orange, etc.)

[Marley's Ghost]

It don't take too much McCormick food coloring to dye the liquid, does it Keith?   Would a feller drop it from the bottle or put a teeny drop on a toothpick and duck it in?   Sorry to be obtuse, but I have a clear/white I am thinking about coloring the liquid on with food dye.

[Keith]

2 drops might be enough.  You can add a drop at a time and check the results, but if you add to much then you get to enjoy the patience of sunfading, lol.  I tend towards 3 drops for a nice saturation without going too dark.  If say you have a faded green that you want to restore the color to then one drop may do it (it did for me).  Some colors are tricky, like red.  If you use Mcormicks you probably won't get a true red.  I tried a red food dye from Hobby Lobby to make a red/white, it tends toward red-orange so I probably put one drop to many in.

Marley's Ghost said:

It don't take too much McCormick food coloring to dye the liquid, does it Keith?   Would a feller drop it from the bottle or put a teeny drop on a toothpick and duck it in?   Sorry to be obtuse, but I have a clear/white I am thinking about coloring the liquid on with food dye.

[Marley's Ghost]

Thanks, Keith.  I might dye the wax instead of the water.   I do have a MT goo kit.  It'll just dye the wax and not the liquid won't it?   I hate decisions on color.   LOL
 
Keith said:

2 drops might be enough.  You can add a drop at a time and check the results, but if you add to much then you get to enjoy the patience of sunfading, lol.  I tend towards 3 drops for a nice saturation without going too dark.  If say you have a faded green that you want to restore the color to then one drop may do it (it did for me).  Some colors are tricky, like red.  If you use Mcormicks you probably won't get a true red.  I tried a red food dye from Hobby Lobby to make a red/white, it tends toward red-orange so I probably put one drop to many in.

Marley's Ghost said:

It don't take too much McCormick food coloring to dye the liquid, does it Keith?   Would a feller drop it from the bottle or put a teeny drop on a toothpick and duck it in?   Sorry to be obtuse, but I have a clear/white I am thinking about coloring the liquid on with food dye.

[Keith]

MT wax dye shouldn't affect the water.  I've never used a goo kit so my info is secong hand. 

[Marley's Ghost]

I'll make another discussion if I decide to "dump" this Grande.   My sunfading experiment didn't work well at all, still really dark, and the flow is horrible.   Thanks, Keith!!!