Unreleased and Prototype Lamps

Expo

The name “Expo” was given to this lamp by the collector community. It’s also been referred to as the “Apollo,” though there’s no known evidence that Lava Lite ever officially released this model or assigned it a name or number. It appears to have been produced solely for promotional use and not sold through retail channels.

The known examples feature a textured base and cap. One variant has been documented with a smooth black cap and no printing on the globe. The lamp pictured in this article was customized for Expo 67 in Montreal. Only two confirmed examples have been photographed, though a third is rumored to be in the hands of a private collector.

It’s possible this lamp was never released under the Lava Lite brand due to a licensing arrangement. The band Blues Magoos sold the same model as the Psyche De Lite, with no Lava Lite branding. That deal may have prevented Lava Lite from offering it through official channels.

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Graffix Prototypes

Around the time Lava Lite released the Icon Series, Haggerty Enterprises explored a possible collaboration with South Park Studios. For reasons unknown, the deal never went through. However, during the prototyping phase, a number of sample lamps were created. Some of these eventually ended up in collectors’ hands.

These prototypes exist in various stages of completion. Some are fully functional, while others are hollow or unfinished. A few appear to have been converted from ceramic water pipes or bongs that ICON Ceramics was already producing—repurposed into lava lamp bases as part of the project.

One eBay seller who offered a Kenny prototype for sale provided this background:

“The Kenny has an interesting background. In 1995 I was the GM for ICON Ceramics which was the largest manufacturer of ceramic bong bases in the world. In 1996, we got a contract to produce 10,000 lava lamp bases for world. In 1996, we got a contract to produce 10,000 lava lamp bases for Haggerty enterprises. We retooled our molds to produce our pieces in a way that would accomodate the lava lamps. There were jesters and clowns and a few other pieces. In 1997, Haggerty gave us the contract to produce SouthPark characters. The one you have is a prototype that never went to Haggerty.

Scott Johnson was the artist that sculpted all of ICONS pieces. He is the son of the late Snellen Johnson who was a famous bronze artist here in the southwest. There were only about 6 or 7 of the one that you have that were even poured (with the stitches and bullet holes). I called the guys that I worked with at the time and we think that yours is the only one left. I haven’t talked to Scott but if there is another one left he would have it. I’ve asked the other guys I worked with if they have any more of the bases or the molds and I’m waiting to hear back from them. If I come across any more bases I will let you know. Thanks for the feedback and have a great day.”

There are two versions of the Kenny prototype lamp. The type with the stitches and bullet holes can not hold a globe. The other kenny prototype was fitted to handle the same electrical equipment as other icon lamps. Jim was able to take the electrical equipment from an icon lamp and turn his kenny prototype lamp into a finished working lamp.

eBay seller

These are likely some early bases made by Scott Johnson using existing molds for their bongs sold by Graffix.

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Grande Starship and Colossus Starship

The Grande Starship is arguably the most coveted prototype ever produced by Lava Lite—rivaled only by the elusive Colossus Starship. Both models were ultimately cancelled due to safety concerns, but they remain legends among collectors.

As the names suggest, the Grande Starship was designed to use a 250 oz Grande globe, while the Colossus Starship was built around the massive 10-gallon Colossus globe. Of the two, the Grande Starship came much closer to release. It went through multiple design iterations, had a refined shape, and even appeared in promotional materials. Product listings were briefly posted to retail sites like Amazon in preparation for launch, but the project was cancelled before hitting shelves.

Only one Grande Starship was officially distributed—gifted directly to head Lava Librarian Autumn Palmer, and personally signed and numbered by then-CEO Dale Zalusky. All other known units surfaced outside of official channels.

One was discovered at a Goodwill in Renton, Washington, though it was missing its cap. How it ended up there remains a mystery. Another surfaced on eBay UK, where it was spotted by Lava Lite and subsequently retrieved after being confirmed as stolen company property.

To my friend,

I admire your lava passion + knowledge.

Enjoy,

Dale Zalusky President + CEO Lava Lite LLC

#1 of 6

9/17/12

Dale Zalusky

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Colossus Starship

The Colossus Starship was never intended for mass production. It was developed only as a proof of concept, and the project was quickly canceled due to significant safety concerns.

Only two units were ever made. One remained in China, in the hands of one of Lava Lite’s manufacturing partners. The other was shipped to Lava Lite’s headquarters in Chicago, where it was briefly displayed in the company’s entryway lobby. Before that, it had reportedly sat in a Chinese warehouse after production.

The reason for cancellation was simple: size and weight. The lamp was designed to use a 10-gallon Colossus globe, weighing nearly 100 pounds when full. A fall from even a short height could result in serious injury or worse—posing a risk to small children, pets, or even adults.

The current location of the known U.S. unit is unclear, but it’s believed to be in the possession of Lava Lite’s parent company, Schylling.

Colossus Starship in the USA

Colossus Starship in China

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Early Ceramic Base

This rare, unidentified lamp first appeared on eBay in 2013 and was quickly purchased by a private collector. To this day, no official name or catalog listing for it has surfaced. Its only known appearance—until that auction—was a small line drawing printed in The Lava Liter, an internal company newsletter from 1966.

Longtime collector Jonas Clark-Elliott shared his personal encounter with this lamp during a visit to Lava World’s Chicago headquarters in the summer of 1998:

Trust me: if you’re nuts about lamps so rare, no model name is known, THIS IS YOUR THREAD!

Today’s story: What do a trip to Lava World in 1998 and a weird-looking lamp have in common?

The time: summer, 1998. The place: Chicago, Illinois. The protagonist: Me.

I visited Lava World. I may have told about this before, but for those who haven’t heard, this was what Lava World was like c. late-90s. Walking into the plain building’s lobby, one saw a door on the left (offices), a staircase going straight ahead and up (offices) and, to the right of the stairs, a secretary’s counter with a Magma Time clock on it. The secretary was answering phones non-stop. To the right was a sitting area, and a low shelf along the far right wall loaded with about 40 working Lava Lites, all new, with the newest colors down front. (I bought a red/blue!) Through double doors at the back, you could occasionally catch glimpses of a warehouse-like space, with forklifts carrying stacks of pallets full of Midnight bases.

They were VERY busy – so busy, in fact, that I had to make an appointment and return a few hours later – though that let me go on a lava hunt (hello, Coachlite!) When I returned, they pulled out all the old catalogs they had. They didn’t have much; I was told that, whenever an exec retired, they’d take something with them. Among what they had, though, were three issues of the Lava Liter, which was an in-company newsletter begun in 1966 when 14 new models joined the one original Lava Lite. “We’re sitting on top of the world!” touted the headline, beside which sat a cartoony man in an office chair atop a globe. The header even showed a b/w line drawing of a Century along with two more 52-oz lamps in oddball bases – prototypes, maybe? One had a base that had a rocket booster-like faceted design; the other was a wide bowl or tray speckled with maple leaves. Nifty stuff! They made photocopies for me, but they were very, very dark.

That leads to today: Thanks to Deb for the link. Has anybody seen this? Wondered if it’s homemade? Either way, it’s cool, no?

<<defunct eBay link>>

…well, wonder no more, and pull out your pocketbooks. The 52-oz pictured in the header of the Lava Liter, issue 1, 1966, which I’ve described as resembling a rocket booster? Never, EVER pictured in any known catalog? It certainly isn’t in the 1965 leaflet, and it isn’t among the 14 new models of 1966! Yeah? Yeah. You’re lookin’ at it. Ceramic. Yes, ceramic.

To whoever gets this, I bow to your awesomeness. And please ask the seller where/how they got it. You think the Executive is rare? This is as rare as a Menorah Prayer Lite or a Blues Magoos Psyche-De-Lite: “rare” doesn’t begin to describe it!

http://oozinggoo.ning.com/forum/topics/gather-round-goo-heads-for-lava-lite-storytime?id=1566398%3ATopic%3A458161&page=5#comments

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Concept Lamps

These lamp designs were uncovered through patent searches. Some, like the color-changing model and the squared-off base design, appear to have been genuine product development efforts that may have reached the prototype phase.

Others seem more likely to have been defensive patent filings—submitted not with the intent to produce, but to prevent competing manufacturers from introducing similar off-brand products in the U.S. market.

These designs offer a rare glimpse into the experimental and strategic thinking that shaped Lava Lite’s product roadmap—even if many of them never made it to shelves.

Color changing lamp.

Lava lamp with squared off edges.

Likely just patenting other shapes outside of the typical lava lamp shape.

Resin Prototypes

Most of these lamps were shown in catalogs, but were never released.

Western Saloon

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Money

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Bats

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Boob lamp

This one may have been released, but limited to some smaller markets or perhaps just in very small amounts.

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Les Paul

4 Gibson lamps were made. They were just prototypes and nothing more. One was a flying V, another was an SG.

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Wine Deco

Unreleased Wine Deco lamp featuring a burgundy master fluid that has only ever been released with this model.

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