The Groovy History of Lava Lamps
A Psychedelic Journey
Fellow voyagers, close your eyes and cast your mind. I want you to imagine yourself back in the psychedelic haze of the 1960s. A jangly tune plays on a vinyl record player, the air is fragrant with–ahem, incense, and the room is washed in a soft, mesmerizing glow. But where does this gentle, pulsating illumination come from? Slowly, your dry eyes sweep the room and spy a truly wondrous object: an incandescent glass and metal tube with swirling colors. Dear readers, I could not be more pleased to bring you lava lamps! Let’s take a moment to hike up our bell bottoms because we’re about to go on a journey through the groovy history of these beloved novelty items.
In the swinging sixties, a year before Beatlemania stormed the world, an eccentric British bloke named Edward Craven Walker found himself utterly entranced in a pub. It wasn’t a new Beatles track or a classic Austin Mini that captivated him, but a homemade egg timer. A quaint cocktail shaker filled with bubbling, vibrant liquids was merrily heating away atop a stove, holding him spellbound. Here, the story gets a little hazy, but somehow Edward made the connection between the bubbling liquid and the thought, “I’d like to make a lamp out of that.”
Allow me to gently remind you that we’re talking about the 60’s and this is literally the guy who invented the lava lamp. However you believe he made the connection, our hero, armed with a head bursting with ideas and a shed full of tinkering tools, embarked on a journey of trial and error that lasted two years. Edward finally struck gold in 1963. He successfully created the world’s first commercial lava lamp, christened the Astro Lamp.
The lava lamp quickly became a symbol of counterculture and psychedelia, not to mention a staple of dorm rooms and basements. Initially, lava lamps sported a futuristic look reminiscent of a spaceship, encapsulating the Space Age fascination of the ’60s. But as the decades rolled on, their designs evolved, embracing various trends and styles. They’ve featured in countless films, shows, and music videos, adding an instant dose of retro cool. They are the ultimate staple of the era. Picture Austin Powers’ swinging pad — would it be as shagadelic without a lava lamp? Absolutely not, baby!
So how do these groovy gizmos work? It’s all down to a dance between two liquids that refuse to mix– one water-based, the other wax-based. When the lamp is turned on, the heat source at the bottom warms the wax, making it expand, become less dense, and float up to the top. As it cools, it contracts, becomes denser, and falls back down. These are the blobs. We love the blobs.
Ever caught yourself gazing at a lava lamp, completely transfixed, as if the dancing blobs were whispering cosmic secrets in a language only you understand? This mesmeric fascination isn’t a mere coincidence. It’s a sensory waltz that psychologists say can stir a gentle meditative state within us. As the wax blobs rise, fall, split, and merge in their rhythmic dance, our brains tend to mimic this slow, steady pattern. It’s akin to the relaxing lull of a hypnotist’s pendulum, or the soothing roll of ocean waves, lapping against the shore. The repetition and rhythm captivate our minds, allowing us to drift away from the noise of reality and bask in a moment of tranquil respite. Just you and the blobs.
And speaking of your best friends, next time you’re at a party, break out this fun fact: There is a colossal lava lamp in Soap Lake, Washington. It’s not just big, it’s gargantuan — standing at an astounding 60 feet tall. Now, that’s not something you see every day, is it? The idea to erect this mammoth homage to the beloved lava lamp was cooked up as a snazzy strategy to jazz up the town’s appeal and inject a bit of mojo back into its veins. Why a lava lamp, you might ask? Well, the magnetic attraction of the lava lamp is universal. Its hypnotic dance is a siren call that beckons to the young and old, the hipsters and the squares alike. And in a world where everything old is new again, the lava lamp’s retro charm has never been more in vogue. In other words, lava lamps are like, cool, man.
So why not treat yourself? There’s a lava lamp out there waiting to cast its hypnotic spell over you. Not only will it add a splash of psychedelic charm to your space, but it could also become a groovy companion during those introspective late-night chats or impromptu dance parties in the living room. Keep it in the same place you keep all of your party lasers. We all have a bunch of party lasers in our houses, right?
Hi, Lacuna here! I’ve been having a ton of fun on Threads this past week. It’s been a unique experience to get digital face time with huge accounts doing similar things to me. In other news, you may be noticing some upgrades to the art soon. Long story short, I’m going to spend a little money on tools because I’m getting better at making art and I’m reaching the limits of what I can do for free. Stay tuned!
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