Mathmos; since 1963. The inventors of the Lava Lamp.
"I think it will always be popular. It is like the cycle of life. It grows, breaks up, falls down and then starts all over again." Edward Craven Walker.
Mathmos are the proud inventors of the lava lamp and have been manufacturing these psychedelic beauties in the UK since the creation of the first Astro lamp back in 1963.
Before going into the history of the firm it would make sense to start with the Astro lamp inventor; Edward Craven Walker. Craven-Walker served in the RAF during WWII flying on photographic reconnaissance missions in an unarmed and light wooden framed DeHavilland Mosquito plane. After the war he initially became known for his embrace of naturism and directing films which embraced this pastime under the pseudonym Michael Keatering. Films such as ‘Travelling Light’ (1959) and Eves On Skies (1963) got around Britain’s strict post-war censorship by not showing any pubic hair, whilst the former became the first naturist film to receive a public release in the UK. This slightly bohemian world view would naturally later manifest itself in a design classic of the hippie and psychedelic era.
Ever the keen inventor, Craven-Walker was particularly drawn to an unusual egg timer he came upon in a Dorset pub. This one-off design utilised liquids that could not be mixed, and although somewhat rudimentary, it was just the inspiration that Craven-Walker had been seeking. After some experimentation with various liquids and containers the design of the original Astro Mini lamp came to fruition.
Craven-Walker alongside his wife Christine set up a company initially called ‘Crestworth’ to produce the new lamps, operating out of an industrial estate in Poole, Dorset. During the 60s and 70s these psychedelic lamps became incredibly popular in the UK although as fashions changed by the end of the 70s so did company fortunes.
The companies fortunes improved with the arrival of Cressida Granger and David Mulley who would rechristen the company Mathmos in 1992. The name Matmos itself comes from the seething lake of lava underneath the city Sogo in the 1963 comic book Barbarella; perfectly combining 60s nostalgia with the lava lamps liquid contents.
Craven-Walker stayed as on as a consultant at Mathmos until his death in 2000, with Granger gradually taking full ownership of the company. New lines were brought on board and sales continued to grow, thanks to a fantastic combination of retro style and forward looking innovation.
Mathmos is still going strong today, and still manufacturing in Poole, Dorset.
The original Astro Lava Lamp in green with red lava and the iconic Telstar Rocket Lava Lamp in pink with yellow lava.
The original Astro lamp is now joined by a number of stylish new lines, including stylish candle-powered lamps, meaning you can take a bit of psychedelic light-show style wherever you go. A perfect decorative item and fantastic retro gift option, Atom Retro is proud to present a fabulous selection of Mathmos lava lamps.
The child friendly Neo Lava Lamp in blue with green lava and the candle-powered Pod Lava Lamp in yellow with orange lava.
Check out the Atom Retro Mathmos range here.
