Questions on Vintage Century Lamps (Gold) with Starlight Base

[Steve Fetter]

I am new here but not to Lava.  I have enjoyed them for several decades.  I have tinkered around with them a little but not as knowledgeable as some on here.  I picked up a couple of premier size lamps at flee markets with completely cloudy fluid, and today they are perfectly clear great working lamps.  So I enjoy working on them as well.  I ordered a goo kit to rebuild a couple of 11 inch lamps which were delivered to me completely dead.  Lava Lamp replaced them. I will see how the task goes rebuilding with the goo.  Tips would be appreciated

I have a couple of vintage Century lamps.  One I purchased in the mid 70s clear fluid with red lava.  best working lamp I have ever seen. Produces balls, blobs, long snakes of lave from top to bottom, has never been touched of needed a dimmer as some of my newer ones need to really work well.

Second one I recently picked up at an antique store.  Very Very unusual.  Almost champagne color fluid with almost transparent yellow / gold lava.  Produces marble size and smaller balls which constantly move up and down.  Added a dimmer to really help this one work or all lava would eventually go to top and stay.  Absolutely beautiful lamp with the Yellow / Gold Lava.  Never seen an older one that color.

Now to the Questions.  Both of these lamps have the 70s style gold cap and the fluid has dropped over the years.  Not sure I would mess with these lamps since they work well, but if they ever change for the worse I would need to get the cap off and I cannot figure out how these are on.  Do they screw on ?  If so I have not been able to budge the caps. I am scared to break them as well. I am sure the cap cannot be replaced these days..  I would like to add some fluid but am concerned that these older lamps have a different formula.  Has any one just added fluid successfully to this style vintage lamp ?

Sorry if this has been answered before, but like I said, new to the forum.  Appreciate your response and or link to the answer elsewhere.

Love the pictures of some of the beautiful lamps on this site.  Wish I had room for more than a dozen or so lamps

[Critter]

Howdy and welcome to the OG forum. The 32 oz and 52 oz bottles made during the 70s do have screw on plastic tops. It can take a firm grip and twist to get them off at times. Replacement lids are hard to come by so be careful. If your lamp needs only a small top off, like 3/4" or less a bit of distilled water added will probably not be a problem at all. I have topped off many vintage lamps like this including an Imperial with great success.

Critter

[Tim Gill]

Using some hot / boiling water can help to get the cap off as its often glued on with silicone type glue, heating it should melt it a bit and it should come off easier, hopefully without braking the cap.

Critter said:

Howdy and welcome to the OG forum. The 32 oz and 52 oz bottles made during the 70s do have screw on plastic tops. It can take a firm grip and twist to get them off at times. Replacement lids are hard to come by so be careful. If your lamp needs only a small top off, like 3/4" or less a bit of distilled water added will probably not be a problem at all. I have topped off many vintage lamps like this including an Imperial with great success.

Critter

[Carol]

Welcome to OG!!!  Yes, pics please!!!

You will find a lot of tips on goo kitting on the forum as well.  Just type in goo kits in the search bar. 

[Keith]

I agree that this can help, but actually USA lava lite screw on caps did not use any glue.  Strong steady hand pressure should be enough without breaking the cap.  Don't use any tools because these have been known to break the cap.  You can use a towel or other material to help with grip, and if you have used hot water on it to protect your hands.

Tim Gill said:

Using some hot / boiling water can help to get the cap off as its often glued on with silicone type glue, heating it should melt it a bit and it should come off easier, hopefully without braking the cap.

Critter said:

Howdy and welcome to the OG forum. The 32 oz and 52 oz bottles made during the 70s do have screw on plastic tops. It can take a firm grip and twist to get them off at times. Replacement lids are hard to come by so be careful. If your lamp needs only a small top off, like 3/4" or less a bit of distilled water added will probably not be a problem at all. I have topped off many vintage lamps like this including an Imperial with great success.

Critter

[Carol]

I have the cheapest, BEST tool every for getting lids and screw type caps off!!!!  It's one of those rubber circle things that you get at the grocery store!!!  I think they sell them at the dollar store now.  I got mine at the Acme years ago, but if you ever get the opportunity to get one, SNAG it!!  They're awesome!!!

[Deb]

Also make sure the lamp is warmed up. Helps to release the vacuum seal. Mine already had a cracked cap so was worried to apply too much pressure. I also used a tiny bit of WD 40  and a rubber gripper. Came right off. Good luck :)