h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

The company which started making Lava Lamps in the 60's in the uK, Mathmos, seems to have come into a bit of a revival during the 90's.
Lava lamps are back and here to stay and still made by the same firm. They've got some funky posters, designed by the same cartooninst who works with the Super Furry Animals.

The Mathmos company (based in Poole, Dorset) also make other mind altering illusion machines which project images on wall etc.

Mathmos are THE company for quality lava lamps. All aluminium parts are hand spun and polished on site.

Special colour combination lamps can be produced for special occasions.

So what else do they make then?
I would have put where they were based if I could have remembered it

Well I don't -think- mine is a Mathmos, but it's a pretty good one, considering I got it as a promotional item.. and it's still got the original light bulb.. I've replaced all the bulbs in the house a dozen times since I got it.

'Nonnie

They also make:

Faze 3. Remote control colour/sound phasing pyrimid thingy

Fibre Space. Classic fibre optic space ship thingy

Space Projector. Wall projecting colour image maker thingy

Lunar Lamp. Beast of a lava lamp thingy....

Oh just take a look at http://www.mathmos.co.uk for more info than you can shake a stick at!

I am lucky, I had the pleasure of working with all the nutter down in the poole factory. Also managed to get a few lamps out of the bargin!

Plunk the twanger!

I would if I could!

Explain?

Its something from history that although resent, seems to most to be like the dinosuar age

Ohh!!!
*Scratches head*

I looked. Unfortunately they don't sell to the States. (Their words -- "We don't sell to the States" )

*feels rejected yet again*

'Nonnie

Shame, but it does make a change to see it that way rather than not being able to get things exported this way over the pond.
Does it mention any US importers for the products?

I just thought I'd pipe in with an interesting factoid.

The word Mathmos comes from the sci-fi B-movie Barbarella, which starred Jane Fonda and came out in 1968. Apparently, the inventor of lava lamps (Craven Walker) renamed his Crestworth Company after seeing the movie.

Lava lamp effects are used several times in Barbarella to represent space travel, dreams, and the Mathmos itself. The Mathmos was a sentient sea of goo lying beneath the city of Sogo which feeds upon evil thoughts and suffering. The city's corrupt Queen banished all good people, turned the remaining citizens towards decadence, and unknowingly set a good scientist on the road to violent conquest. At the end of the movie, Barbarella and the Queen fall into the Mathmos as the city crumbles. The goo decides Barbarella is too good for consumption, and spits both women out.

Well it seems that all things begin and end with Barbarella.
(Having seen a few references to the classic movie over the last couple of days on H2G2 )

I wonder if Lava Lamps (the company) and Mathmos are related in any way, since both seem to claim to be the originator of Lava Lamps (the frighteniingly hypnotical device).

'Nonnie

(Maybe we need a smiley. )

Craven Walker licensed his Lava Lamp to two different companies, one American and one British, to maximize his profits. It seems the British company didn't show much interest in supplying Americans at first. So both copmanies are, perhaps, both right and both wrong. Both of them had original licenses from the fellow who invented the Lava Lamp, but neither company 'invented' it.

It it's any help, lava lamp collectors tell me that the British Mathmos brand are much better constructed and last longer.

Mathmos still will not distribute to US, which could (now that you've cleared things up) be due to restrictions placed when they were licensed.

I dunno about lasting longer.. I've seen some pretty old Lava Lamps still working, and mine still has it's original bulb.

'Nonnie

But is the bulb still working Nonnie?

Yes, indeed.

'Nonnie

And, uhm.. still is.