New to the group

[John]

Not  new to lava lamps. I remember them from when I was a kid and though I never had one I always wanted one and now I'm decorating my house with a 70s theme I'd like to find a lamp (Or perhaps a few) lamps manufactured from 1970-1980. How does one accurately determine the age of a lamp that is not dated? Is there an easy and accurate way to determine dates of manufacture? I will need to limit my choices to those $100 or less.

[Keith]

Welcome to OG! 

Here's your reference for a start.  Look about half way down the page

http://oozinggoo.ning.com/page/lava-library

[Modulo '70]

Welcome to Oozing Goo and good luck with your 70’s theme...sounds Fab.

Hope you can get some cool lamps and other items for your place.

[Keith]

Maybe some helpful info found here

http://oozinggoo.ning.com/forum/topics/a-quick-question-for-the-lava

"All lamps by Lava used a screw-on cap until the early 90s, when 32oz. globes switched. Shortly after, 52oz. globes switched, too. In both cases, the bottle has a beer bottle-type crimped cap, and a decorative metal or plastic cap sits over this to look like the old ones. Lava Lites made before the China switchover had "Lava Lite" in red on the white bottlecap along with a date code and color number, early China globes had unmarked gold bottlecaps, and later China caps are marked.

Incidentally, most 52oz. and 32oz. globes' caps have a date sticker inside, usually with a date like Oct. '72, and a series number: Century is 100, Starlight Aristocrat is 1120, Lava Coach Lantern is 6000, Enchantress 8100, Enchantress Planter 8200-N. Some Coach globes will have a sticker (sometimes the wrong sticker) on top of the cap since the lamp's decorative top covers it. Wrong-number stickers indicate a replaced globe or, rarely, a factory mix-up."

[Keith]

Also read my comment here as well as the other responses

http://oozinggoo.ning.com/forum/topics/century-year-question-1

There may be a couple of ways to determine when made though.  One is to take the globe and turn upside down, look to see if there is a date imprint in the bottom of the globe.  Sometimes it's there, sometimes not.  Another way is to look through the glass into the cap area.  There should be identification labels there if the globe has not ever been opened.  This should have a date on one of the labels (sometimes there is only a single label).  Here is an example of a cap that has been removed that has the labels still attached.  (not my pic)

[Keith]

http://oozinggoo.ning.com/forum/topics/century-bases-they-are-diffe...

[John]

Thanks I appreciate that. I'm looking forward to the searching and even more the finding.

Modulo '70 said:

Welcome to Oozing Goo and good luck with your 70’s theme...sounds Fab.

Hope you can get some cool lamps and other items for your place.

[John]

Thanks for the tips. What is your favorite source for lamps?

Keith said:

Maybe some helpful info found here

http://oozinggoo.ning.com/forum/topics/a-quick-question-for-the-lava

"All lamps by Lava used a screw-on cap until the early 90s, when 32oz. globes switched. Shortly after, 52oz. globes switched, too. In both cases, the bottle has a beer bottle-type crimped cap, and a decorative metal or plastic cap sits over this to look like the old ones. Lava Lites made before the China switchover had "Lava Lite" in red on the white bottlecap along with a date code and color number, early China globes had unmarked gold bottlecaps, and later China caps are marked.

Incidentally, most 52oz. and 32oz. globes' caps have a date sticker inside, usually with a date like Oct. '72, and a series number: Century is 100, Starlight Aristocrat is 1120, Lava Coach Lantern is 6000, Enchantress 8100, Enchantress Planter 8200-N. Some Coach globes will have a sticker (sometimes the wrong sticker) on top of the cap since the lamp's decorative top covers it. Wrong-number stickers indicate a replaced globe or, rarely, a factory mix-up."

[John]

Thanks I appreciate the tips.

Keith said:

Also read my comment here as well as the other responses

http://oozinggoo.ning.com/forum/topics/century-year-question-1

There may be a couple of ways to determine when made though.  One is to take the globe and turn upside down, look to see if there is a date imprint in the bottom of the globe.  Sometimes it's there, sometimes not.  Another way is to look through the glass into the cap area.  There should be identification labels there if the globe has not ever been opened.  This should have a date on one of the labels (sometimes there is only a single label).  Here is an example of a cap that has been removed that has the labels still attached.  (not my pic)

[Autumn]

 All screw caps are going to be older lamps made in the 1980's or earlier. If the lamp does not have a screw on cap and has a bottle cap you want to make certain that the lamp does not have a Chinese bottle cap. They are not required to put "made in China" on the bottle. 

This is the page you want to look at if you are looking to buy American made lava lamps.

http://oozinggoo.ning.com/page/lava-lite-color-codes

The main page linked earlier will give you a break down of what was made year by year. The more recent Chinese made lamps are not nearly as well documented because there have been so many released that are mostly the same lamp, but in different colors and with graphics wrapped onto the base. If you find a lamp and it isn't listed here it's probably not vintage.

http://oozinggoo.ning.com/page/lava-library

[John]

Thanks

[Keith]

Thrift stores, yard sales, facebook marketplace, craigslist.  You can find specifically what you want on ebay if you are willing to pay those prices along with the shipping.  If you use ebay follow the link at the top of the page for easy access.

John said:

Thanks for the tips. What is your favorite source for lamps?

[John]

Now I haven't looked more than a month, but I can't find any in local stores. The hunt goes on!