The case of the missing late 1990's lava lamp

[MichaelN77]

Sometime between 1996-1998, I got a large lava lamp for Christmas. I loved this thing it was larger than most lava lamps I saw in other places and larger than any of the ones my friends or family owned. It had blue liquid and yellowish green lava that I did not really care for too much. I do not know where this lamp came from and I have asked everyone I can think of about it. A few months later I saved up enough money to purchase a replacement globe at Spencer's Gifts for somewhere around $30-80 dollars. I preferred this globe because it fit my obsession with blue a lot better. It had the same blue liquid as before but with lava that was white (possibly light blue) with a hint of green. I put the original globe in the box it came in and safely stored it under my bed. I loved this lamp for many years. Then I moved away from home for eight years. I came home to find only the base and everything else was missing with no solid explanations what happened nor where the globes are located. I do not even know if either of them survived nor if they were given/thrown away. I was hoping the wonderful lava lamp lovers could help me in getting a replacement globe. I will try my best to explain them. However, do not know how large the globes were. Possibly about two feet tall or more when on the base. Both globes had black plastic caps that could be easily removed. Under the caps were large openings that were too large for bottle caps and were not sealed. I could stick my finger right into the globes. Which my friends and I did many times. The base is black painted metal. There are no serial numbers nor information on who or where it was manufactured. The base stands 16cm tall and the diameter of the base where the globe sits is 10.65cm wide on the inside. When the base is turned on light shines through pinholds lit by the main bulb, or at least I think it is. Unfortunately, I do not seem to have any photos of it. I left home in 2001, which is about the time the digital camera revolution happened. Can anyone tell me the size of the globe, who might have manufactured it, maybe where I can get a replacement globe, please and thank you?

[MichaelN77]

Here are some photos I found on the interweb of how I remember what the lava/liquid looked like.

[Kelly Flaskerud]

Hi Michael, if you click on the Lava Library tab at the top of the page, you can find your lamp.  It appears to be a Midnight Aristocrat, which uses a 52 ounce globe.  Depending on your color preference, you can find globes that fit your base from any number of locations - eBay, Craig’s List, Spencer Gifts, Target, Walmart, etc.  you could also order a complete lamp from lavalamp.com, but you might (okay, probably) end up with a craptasticly cloudy globe.  There are also a lot of collectors here who might have globes they would be willing to sell you to trade for something.  What color combination are you looking for?

[MichaelN77]

Midnight Aristocrat, that sounds right. Wow, I actually teared up looking at photos of it. Does anyone have photos of the box or the booklet that came with it? I KNEW there was a model with a silver base and cap. I could never find one the places I looked. I think I would want the new globe just the way I remember it; blue liquid and white with a hint of green lava. Wow, it looks amazing in silver. I wonder if it possible I guess spray paint my base with a metallic silver paint then maybe a glossy clear coat? I kind never really like how the black paint would show dust so easily. By the way cute kitty in that last photo. How tall is this lava lamp by the way?

[Keith]

What you are looking for is a blue fluid/white wax globe.  The white wax yellows over time, sometimes it even darkens more.  Actually it's not normally pure white even when new.  It sounds like your original globes were screw cap globes.  The Aristocrat globes (which are the same as the Century globes, with 52 ounce capacity) were screw capped until about 1995 so that fits you time-frame.  As far as quality goes it would be fine to get USA made globes with bottle caps also, which were made up until 2002, they are the exact same size, just with a different top.  Century's and Aristocrats stand about 17 inches tall.

As Kelly said, if you look around on sale sites or local second hand sales (flea markets, garage sales, etc.) you may be able to find what your looking for.

This old catalog picture for reference, these have bottle caps and color-matching lids

[Claude J]

Dont paint the base

Black Aritstocrats are rare

Silver are plentiful
Michael Noriega said:

Midnight Aristocrat, that sounds right. Wow, I actually teared up looking at photos of it. Does anyone have photos of the box or the booklet that came with it? I KNEW there was a model with a silver base and cap. I could never find one the places I looked. I think I would want the new globe just the way I remember it; blue liquid and white with a hint of green lava. Wow, it looks amazing in silver. I wonder if it possible I guess spray paint my base with a metallic silver paint then maybe a glossy clear coat? I kind never really like how the black paint would show dust so easily. By the way cute kitty in that last photo. How tall is this lava lamp by the way?

[MichaelN77]

I am surprised how quickly I found the information I needed on here. You guys are amazing! Seriously, I have been looking since 2009. So really only Seventeen inches tall? It always felt bigger. Every time I would see a lava lamp about what I remember the size of mine was I would unscrew the cap and I was always disappointed to see it sealed. I would screw the cap back on and put the lamp back on the display shelf. Then walk away very disappointed and sometimes depressed. :) I had no idea the design was changed. It makes sense now for safety and legal reasons. Really the black bases and caps are rare, interesting? Because black is the only color I would find in stores for lamps about the size of mine. I like how the base of the Century lets you see more of the globe and has a Dalek look to it. I always loved how the caps on the Aristocrat, and now the Century models are simple and small. I am not a fan of the cone-shaped ones that seem like they are trying to fill in the space of a smaller globe. I guess I will keep my base black authenticity purposes. Instead, I might get two or three lamps. I think I just figured out lava lamps are like cats. You need to have at least one more to keep it company. First I will feed my blue/silver obsession by trying to find the original globe or a recreation of it for my base in the original blue/white color. Next, go out and get a 100% brand new lamp with a silver base/cap and blue liquid and green lava. Switch the caps and then place globes on each other's base. I will finally have the blue/white and silver one I always wanted and restored my globe and base/cap back to its original look. Then maybe one with a white base/cap with colors that are not blue, white or green. Maybe something in the violet range, my third favorite color. I am not much of a fan of slower end of the spectrum (red, orange and yellow). Does anyone here have the original unsealed globe? I think this is also the place where members sell the lava and liquid right? How much for blue liquid and white lava with a black cap in a 52oz unsealed globe, Oh and the metal coil?  Please and Thank You again!

I am surprised how quickly I found the information I needed on here. You guys are amazing! Seriously, I have been looking since 2009. So really only Seventeen inches tall? It always felt bigger. Every time I would see a lava lamp about what I remember the size of mine was I would unscrew the cap and I was always disappointed to see it sealed. I would screw the cap back on and put the lamp back on the display shelf. Then walk away very disappointed and sometimes depressed. :) I had no idea the design was changed. It makes sense now for safety and legal reasons. Really the black bases and caps are rare, interesting? Because black is the only color I would find in stores for lamps about the size of mine. I like how the base of the Century lets you see more of the globe and has a Dalek look to it. I always loved how the caps on the Aristocrat, and now the Century models are simple and small. I am not a fan of the cone-shaped ones that seem like they are trying to fill in the space of a smaller globe. I guess I will keep my base black authenticity purposes. Instead, I might get two or three lamps. I think I just figured out lava lamps are like cats. You need to have at least one more to keep it company. First I will feed my blue/silver obsession by trying to find the original globe or a recreation of it for my base in the original blue/white color. Next, go out and get a 100% brand new lamp with a silver base/cap and blue liquid and green lava. Switch the caps and then place globes on each other's base. I will finally have the blue/white and silver one I always wanted and restored my globe and base/cap back to its original look. Then maybe one with a white base/cap with colors that are not blue, white or green. Maybe something in the violet range, my third favorite color. I am not much of a fan of slower end of the spectrum (red, orange and yellow). Does anyone here have the original unsealed globe? I think this is also the place where members sell the lava and liquid right? How much for blue liquid and white lava with a black cap in a 52oz unsealed globe, Oh and the metal coil?  Please and Thank You again!

[Claude J]

If you want some vintage gold ones, My friend has some for sale 

http://oozinggoo.ning.com/forum/topics/gold-starlight-centuries-for...

He has an aqua blue and a royal blue lava  available

[Keith]

Orlando craigslist, looks like it's on the wrong base, but it's the globe you're looking for

https://tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/hsh/d/1997-blue-lava-lamp/65455337...

Michael Noriega said:

I am surprised how quickly I found the information I needed on here. You guys are amazing! Seriously, I have been looking since 2009. So really only Seventeen inches tall? It always felt bigger. Every time I would see a lava lamp about what I remember the size of mine was I would unscrew the cap and I was always disappointed to see it sealed. I would screw the cap back on and put the lamp back on the display shelf. Then walk away very disappointed and sometimes depressed. :) I had no idea the design was changed. It makes sense now for safety and legal reasons. Really the black bases and caps are rare, interesting? Because black is the only color I would find in stores for lamps about the size of mine. I like how the base of the Century lets you see more of the globe and has a Dalek look to it. I always loved how the caps on the Aristocrat, and now the Century models are simple and small. I am not a fan of the cone-shaped ones that seem like they are trying to fill in the space of a smaller globe. I guess I will keep my base black authenticity purposes. Instead, I might get two or three lamps. I think I just figured out lava lamps are like cats. You need to have at least one more to keep it company. First I will feed my blue/silver obsession by trying to find the original globe or a recreation of it for my base in the original blue/white color. Next, go out and get a 100% brand new lamp with a silver base/cap and blue liquid and green lava. Switch the caps and then place globes on each other's base. I will finally have the blue/white and silver one I always wanted and restored my globe and base/cap back to its original look. Then maybe one with a white base/cap with colors that are not blue, white or green. Maybe something in the violet range, my third favorite color. I am not much of a fan of slower end of the spectrum (red, orange and yellow). Does anyone here have the original unsealed globe? I think this is also the place where members sell the lava and liquid right? How much for blue liquid and white lava with a black cap in a 52oz unsealed globe, Oh and the metal coil?  Please and Thank You again!

I am surprised how quickly I found the information I needed on here. You guys are amazing! Seriously, I have been looking since 2009. So really only Seventeen inches tall? It always felt bigger. Every time I would see a lava lamp about what I remember the size of mine was I would unscrew the cap and I was always disappointed to see it sealed. I would screw the cap back on and put the lamp back on the display shelf. Then walk away very disappointed and sometimes depressed. :) I had no idea the design was changed. It makes sense now for safety and legal reasons. Really the black bases and caps are rare, interesting? Because black is the only color I would find in stores for lamps about the size of mine. I like how the base of the Century lets you see more of the globe and has a Dalek look to it. I always loved how the caps on the Aristocrat, and now the Century models are simple and small. I am not a fan of the cone-shaped ones that seem like they are trying to fill in the space of a smaller globe. I guess I will keep my base black authenticity purposes. Instead, I might get two or three lamps. I think I just figured out lava lamps are like cats. You need to have at least one more to keep it company. First I will feed my blue/silver obsession by trying to find the original globe or a recreation of it for my base in the original blue/white color. Next, go out and get a 100% brand new lamp with a silver base/cap and blue liquid and green lava. Switch the caps and then place globes on each other's base. I will finally have the blue/white and silver one I always wanted and restored my globe and base/cap back to its original look. Then maybe one with a white base/cap with colors that are not blue, white or green. Maybe something in the violet range, my third favorite color. I am not much of a fan of slower end of the spectrum (red, orange and yellow). Does anyone here have the original unsealed globe? I think this is also the place where members sell the lava and liquid right? How much for blue liquid and white lava with a black cap in a 52oz unsealed globe, Oh and the metal coil?  Please and Thank You again!

[MichaelN77]

The one in the back with the blue liquid in front of the giant one, does it have white lava? Is there any objections painting a gold base and cap silver?

Funny I was looking at that one too. Turns out the person selling it lives like three hundred miles away and does not do delivery. After I looked at it a second time I realized the lava is green. That combination seems pretty easy to find. Probably why I got it for Christmas/Birthday to begin with. Blue/White on the other hand seems rare in the 52oz bottles. 

I am going to visit my local stores on Tuesday with all the knowledge everyone here has giving me. Now I know to look beyond a sealed globe.