50 years of Mathmos lava lamps
Introduction Edward Craven Walker spots a British invention for an egg
timer. He spends years developing this concept leading to the invention
of the world’s first lava lamp.
1963 – With offices in London and a workshop on a boating yard in Poole,
Edward and his wife Christine launch the ‘Astro’ lava lamp to the UK
market. They travel the country selling from the back of an ex-postal van,
also known as ‘Smokey’.
1964 The Astro is taken on by Selfridges and Habitat and is then followed
by the Astro Mini (Astro Baby).
"If you buy my lamp, you won't need drugs... I think it will always be
popular. It's like the cycle of life. It grows, breaks up, falls down and then
starts all over again". Edward Craven-Walker
1965 - 7 Lava lamps make their screen debut, appearing in two episodes of
Doctor Who and The Prisoner, (a cult BBC spy fiction series).
1968 Lava lamps appear on stage with Linda and Paul McCartney’s band,
Wings. Linda McCartney loved lava lamps and often likened them to "A
pet goldfish that never dies". Sir Paul McCartney is often seen with lava
lamps on stage in memory of Linda.
1969 During the height of Beatlemania, Ringo Starr buys an Astro from a
store in Birkenhead near Liverpool.
1970 The Princess lava lamp is launched: a large floor standing lamp with a
wooden tripod base.
1971 David Bowie is photographed with an Astro Mini lava lamp in his
recording studio.
1970s Mathmos lava lamps appear in Are You Being Served, The Sweeney,
Carry on Laughing, and The Good Life.
1980 A bespoke lava lamp is designed for the hotel suite scene in
Superman II.
Late 1980s Throughout the 80's lava lamps are falling out of fashion until
the Craven-Walkers teamed up with young entrepreneurs, Cressida
Granger and David Mulley.
Cressida had realised their potential after selling them on her vintage stall
in Camden Market where Marc Almond was a regular buyer.
1990’s The range was restyled and presented to a new generation with
the original company name Crestworth being replaced by Mathmos
(referring to the bubbling force in the cult1960s sci-fi film, Barbarella). This
led to a second era of extreme popularity, with millions being sold
worldwide.
Early 1990s Mathmos open their Drury Lane shop and offices visitors
include Sir Paul Smith, and Yasmin and Simon le Bon.
Giant Mathmos Lava lamps appear on the set of Channel 4’s The Word.
Lava lamps are also shown on Chris Evans’ TFI Friday and The Big Breakfast.
The Lunar is launched. This floor-standing model appears in Absolutely
Fabulous and The Graham Norton Show.
Late 1990s Mathmos is included in the Fast Track 100 list as the UK’s third
fastest growing manufacturer and wins two Queens Awards for Export.
Mathmos’ in-house graphic design team win Best Commercial Website at
the Yell awards and Best Multi-Media prize at the Design Week awards.
Mathmos move into their Old Street Headquarters.
2000 Mathmos set up the Mathmos London Design Studio and begin to
design and manufacture a range of award-winning LED products which
compliment the lava lamp range.
Fluidium is launched: a new lava lamp designed by Ross Lovegrove. The
Design Council describe the Astro lava lamp as a “Design classic’.
Edward Craven-Walker sadly dies having remained a consultant on mix
and formulation at Mathmos up until his death.
2001 - 6 Industrial Facility design the interior of the Mathmos’ Old Street
showroom. Mathmos then open a boutique store in Covent Garden
designed by Carl Turner Architects.
Two icons of the swinging sixties, the Mathmos Lava Lamp and The Beatles
join forces to create a limited edition in celebration of the release of The
Beatles' Love album.
Mathmos Lava lamps feature in the video for the Stereophonics hit
Handbags and Gladrags.
2008 - 10 Mathmos Astro is included in Harrods’ Design Icons exhibition,
which then travels onward to the Design Museum.
Mathmos introduce Fireflow: a candle powered mini lava lamp shaped as
a rocket and powered by a single tea-light.
Mathmos introduce both the giant Monster lava lamp and the Smart Astro.
Mathmos has a patent pending on this new way of operating a lava lamp
that allows for colour changing, touch control and heat regulation.
2013 Mathmos celebrate their 50th Birthday and fifty years of the original
lava lamp. To this day the wax formula remains a strict trade secret.
Mathmos launch a 50th Birthday gold Astro lava lamp signed by Christine
Craven-Walker, alongside a new Heritage collection which is inspired by
1960’s colours and finishes.
To this day, global sales of Mathmos lava lamps have exceeded four
million.