Choosing a Lava lamp

Lava lamps can be called "60s relics" or "hippie home accessories". For half a century, they have been decorating British interiors with their not strong, but stunning light. It was in Britain in 1963 that the first sales of these "pieces of magic", as they were originally called, began. Since then, millions of models of this invention have been sold worldwide.

A "lava lamp" is a lamp with bubbles floating inside. These lamps, with their vibrant colors and whimsical bubble movements, gained immense popularity in Britain in the 1960s. The British "generation of love" caught the connection between the unpredictable nature of the lava flow and the spirit of those decades. It was the time of Carnaby Street, the Beatles and the beginning of space exploration. The first model was made in the form of a rocket and was called the Astro Lamp.

After the Beatles drummer Ringo Starr bought one of these lamps, it sold in the millions. And they grew up after Ringo Starr starred in the hit British film Doctor Who. At the time, advertisements advertised the lamp as the perfect gift "for my relatives, friends and, damn it, for myself."

The idea for its creation is attributed to Edward Craven Walker, who in 1948 drew attention to the timer for boiling eggs in a bar in Hampshire (England).

The timer was a glass vessel filled with water and a piece of wax. This vessel was placed in a pot of boiling water, where an egg was boiled. When melted, a piece of wax began to move rapidly in the bottle, indicating that the egg was boiled.

The device was patented by a man named Dunnett, who had already died by that time. Walker pondered the possibilities of further development of this design. The product he presented included a light bulb that provided heat to melt the wax. He began work on this project in the second half of the 1950s with Crestworth, based in Dorset, England.

In Walker's final design, the mixture that was placed in the vessel consisted of oil, wax, and more than a dozen other ingredients. The composition of this mixture has been patented. The mixture was placed in a glass vessel on a gilded stand. Available colors for "lava" included red or white, and for liquid, yellow or blue.

In 1963 Walker set up a lamp factory in Poole, England, called Crestworth, Ltd. The following year, at an exhibition in Hamburg, American executives bought the rights to manufacture them in North America.

They began selling the Lava Lite through their Chicago-based Lava Brand Motion Lamp, which later became known as Lava Manufacturing Corp. For several years, sales have exceeded seven million units worldwide.

Sales began to slow in the 70s, but Walker continued to control the business until the 80s. In 1995, the business was bought by an entrepreneur named Cressida Granger for her company Mathmos. Mathmos has revived the popularity of lava lamps, whose sales grew from about 2,500 units per year in the 80s to over 800,000 in the late 90s.

Mathmos is the only official Lava Lamp manufacturer in the UK. And to this day, despite the decline of British production, with many well-known brands disappearing or moving production to countries with cheaper labor costs, Mathmos remains at its plant in the southwest of Great Britain, still using the famous proven Craven-Walker formula.

A lava lamp is a lamp containing a colored oily liquid that flows up and down and resembles molten lava. As the liquid rises and falls, it changes shape and turns into globules of different sizes, which has a magical effect due to constantly changing patterns.

The main components of the lamp:

• Container. A transparent glass cylinder is used to accommodate liquids. The classic shape is an hourglass measuring about 10 inches (25.4 cm).

• Liquid components. The exact composition of the ingredients used in Lava Lite Lamps is a secret of the company, however, some ingredients are known that can be combined to obtain the effect of lava. A lava lamp can use a mixture of isopropyl alcohol and water plus mineral oil. Other materials that can be used as oil phase ingredients include benzyl alcohol, cinnamyl alcohol, diethyl phthalate, and ethyl salicylate.
• Other additives used in fluids include various oil and water soluble dyes. The specific gravity of the aqueous phase can be controlled by adding sodium chloride or the like. In addition, a hydrophobic solvent such as turpentine and similar paint thinners can be added to the mixture for better lava flow. Antifreeze ingredients can also be added to increase the rate at which the lava is heated.

• Heat source. A lava lamp uses a regular incandescent light bulb as a source of light and heat. The type of light bulb is critical to ensure that the lava does not overheat. Haggerty Enterprises lists several lamp types suitable for their fixtures, depending on the model: 40 watt matt lamp, 100 watt internally cooled reflector lamp, some models use fluorescent lamps even though they do not generate high heat. flow.

• Hardware. This is a ceramic base in which electrical appliances are placed: a light bulb with a socket, a wire and a switch. A 0.635 cm thick foam rubber layer can be used as a cushioning material to seal the chamber. The lamps can be equipped with a dimmer or a small fan to control the temperature.

The lava effect is caused by the interaction of fluids inside the lamp. These fluids are selected based on their density so that one of them floats freely in the other. In addition, they are selected based on their coefficient of expansion, so that when heated, one of them rises or falls faster than the other. When the heat from the bulb heats up the heavier liquid at the bottom, it rises to the surface.

By the time the "lava" reaches the top, it begins to cool down, becomes denser and sinks to the bottom. As the lava descends, it approaches the light bulb, heats up again, and the process repeats over and over, creating an ever-changing pattern of waves of color moving up and down inside the glass.

Lava lamps are available in a variety of colors, sizes and styles. The original Century model, which is still in production today, was the most popular model in the 60s and 70s. In this model, the gilded base is perforated with tiny holes that simulate starlight, and the container is filled with red or white lava and yellow or blue liquid.

The Enchantress Planter Lava Lite is decorated with plastic foliage and flowers. The Continental Lava Lite is the only model that uses a candle flame to heat lava. There is also the Lava Lite Mediterranean luminaire, decorated with black wrought iron.

Decorative lava floor lamps are a real treat for modern design lovers. They are a combination of functionality and stunning lighting.The moving light looks exceptionally beautiful and brings an exotic atmosphere to the decor.

A fun and attractive lava lamp for children can help those parents who want to create more than just a nursery, but a room that their children will enjoy. Children of all ages love to watch the bewitching dance of colorful bubbles.

In terms of height, the most common range for this value is 35 to 75 cm. There are other lamps, both large and smaller, but this range is the most common. In addition, there are so-called giant floor lamps, the height of which reaches 1 m or more. They really look amazing and add a magical glow of color to any home.

In addition, large lava lamps give off quite a lot of heat. Consider this fact when choosing a location for placement.

When choosing a lava lamp, the choice of color is critical:

• Blue or blue-yellow The lava lamp is ideal for a nursery decorated in warm colors. Cooler shades will balance the overall color scheme.
• Red Lava lamps, in terms of design, are usually associated with music such as pop or rock and roll. They create the appropriate aura, which is why many clubs use them. Thanks to its bright color, such a lamp carries a fiery and bold energy that can have a positive impact on someone who is tired or lost motivation to work. Therefore, it is a good option for desktop installations.

• If you are equally fond of blue and red so that you cannot choose between them, choose purple lamp. Violet is a blend of blue and red and is vibrant and bold yet cool and soothing at the same time.
• It also has a calming effect a combination of green wax and blue liquid... This lamp is ideal for relaxation, so it can be used in the bedroom or for yoga.

• Glitter lamp able to create explosions of brilliance throughout the house! Use any beautifully colored glitter lamp and add as much sparkle to your home as you like!
• But you can not stop at one color, but choose multicolored lamp. You will see how powerful an entire color palette can be combined in one lamp, so you can't get away from it!

Operating rules and precautions:

• Do not shake the lamp or let others, especially children, shake it. Also take special precautions so that the lamp does not tip over.
• Do not use the lamp for more than eight to ten hours in a row. It is simply not designed to work permanently. Cooling periods are necessary in order for the ingredients to harden and thus maintain their properties. Use timers or buy multiple bulbs that will run in turns if needed.
• Keep the lamp in a cool place away from direct sunlight. Lamps exposed to direct sunlight tend to fade gradually and lava flows more slowly.

• Since the device itself is subject to heat during operation, keep the lamp away from any flammable material. Always place the lamp on a non-combustible surface.
• Do not unscrew the top lamp cover.The interior is only accessible through the incandescent lamp opening and only for replacement. Use a small 40W light bulb or follow the manufacturer's recommendations. Do not use bulbs with higher wattage.

• The air bubbles in the lamp are specially designed for proper operation, so do not add liquid to the container.
• In the event of any breakdown involving liquid spills, use gloves to collect it and ventilate the area. Be careful when collecting broken glass.

• A large red lava lamp looks great in this modern interior. The base of transparent glass and polished black wood harmonizes with the decor and enhances the beauty of the lamp.
• Go back in time with this gorgeous orange wax lava lamp. A great piece for retro styling, perfect for a cozy bedroom on a bedside table or in a study.
• A gorgeous table lamp filled with bright orange lava creates a pleasing contrast against the dark background. The lamp will create soft lighting and will be an unusual party decoration.

• The high quality lava lamp consists of a cylindrical glass container and a metal base. The deep blue of lava against the background of a transparent container creates a sense of airiness and space.
• This classic 70 cm high lava lamp will be a wonderful decoration for your room. The drop dances are especially wonderful and attractive in the dark. If you want to relax and relieve stress, this lamp is a great solution.
• A decorative and practical lava lamp that is used as a night light. Robust metal frame provides resistance to wear and damage.

For information on how to make a lava lamp with your own hands, see the next video.