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.