The History of the Astro Lamp

Message from Johnny... Click on the image below to see John's unrivalled Crestworth Collection.

This site, which has been in the making for sometime, is to bring you the history and development of the Astro lamp from its beginnings in 1963 through to the present day. This is a comprehensive site showing you the different model designs of the Astro lamp and its offspring with a brief description on each model. This is the first site of its kind based on Crestworth/ Mathmos products.

The information on here is only a guide as no true 100% accurate information is available to the public if it exists! Most information on here has come from old catalogues/ brochures and years of knowledge picked up from collecting and other collectors/ ex-workers of the company.
Although some items may be missing from this site due to the rareness of the item we would appreciate any help with them or other information/pictures/comments you may have on these products and this site.

The first time I heard about Mathmos was when I was in my early teens when I was doing a school project on lighting and wrote into Mathmos. A few days later a beautiful shiny metallic purple folder came in the mail, full of images and catalogues regarding the range at the time, and I took the pictures and stuck them on my bedroom wall because they were too nice to place into the project. I don't remember a lot of this folder, but one image I do remember is of all the Mathmos employees standing outside the factory together, some holding bits of lava lamps.

I first came across a lava lamp when I was in my early teens and past a London shop on the way back from school, everyday. Mesmerised with the flow, I saved for a while by cleaning windows, doing dishes, selling junk, and bought a simple white Jet with Violet/Orange colour combination. Then my second lamp, an Opal Fluidium.

Lava lamps offered me a distraction into a world of water and wax and I would get lost looking into them and contemplating life. Over the past years, I have been trying to learn more about these wonderful lamps which are a fusion of art and science in motion and have seen that there is a lack of clear documentation of the history. This site attempts to create a timeline from past brochures.

If you are reading this and have pictures of information please email us and we will be more than happy to include your photos to the site and am always open to suggestions. Please click here to see my latest display of lava lamps.

Firstly, I would like to thank Mathmos for allowing us to build a site regarding their wonderful history and pouring so much attention into the lava products and making them great again. Thank you to Cressida and David for seeing the true potential of the Astro and making the 1990s as stunning as the 1960s and continuing the flow of lava. Thank you to Gunther for being such a wonderful guy and helping me with these lamps. I have never found a company so friendly as Mathmos.

I would also like to say that this site would not have been possible without namely a person who has helped me extensively, patiently and amazingly with finding the information about these wonderful lighting products that have been released by Crestworth and Mathmos. I would like to say a big thanks goes to my close friend, John Reynolds. This is a product of his learning, his knowledge and I hope you enjoy the site. John is an amazing guy, with an unrivaled collection of Crestworth lamps and without his patience and his help I'd wouldn't know what I know about lamps today.

I would also like to thank Oozingoo for the wonderful forum they hold and are very eager to see this. (They even discovered the site before we even announced it :))

Above left: Crestworth Company logo. Above right: 2007 Mathmos Company logo.

My personal advice to you if you are thinking of buying a lava lamp is to only buy from the original inventors of the ‘Astro’ lamp Mathmos, Masters of Luminosity. You can buy their complete product offering including LED fazing lights, lampshades, candle products and also the new revolutionary Airswitch range at Mathmos's Online Store.

We have done our very best to bring you the most accurate timeline based on all the brochures and information we could find from collectors and from our personal collections. However, a great deal of information still is missing regarding the models produced in the 80s. Also unlike other years, it is a mystery as to why the brochures from the 1980s never surface. We have been told that production reduced to a very low amount during the 80s, and maybe that may account for that. If you have an information regarding Crestworth during the 80s or any information that is not listed on the site, please email us at astrohistory@googlemail.com. If you were an employee from the Crestworth time, we would love to hear from you, regarding your experiences at the company. All feedback is helpful and would be appreciated. Thank you.

Princess (glitterlite or lava version)
Fireball (lava)
Giant (lava)
Mistrolite (giant and astro base type) < if you have any info on this model please let us know. astrohistory@googlemail.com
Table lamps (mk1 and mk2)
Canon timer (novelty telephone timer)
Wall lamp ( lava/glitterlite copper/silver)
Twiggy (flexible all purpose lamp) < if you have any info on this model please let us know. astrohistory@googlemail.com
Galaxy base stand (clear plastic base tend to break easily)
Pre nordic base with peddle stool base (pre nordic cone type jet bottle base silver/copper)
Leatherette sticky sleeve. (for living jewel bottles)
Astro (2 part open base first design)

Ocassionally a product will appear that we believe was produced by Crestworth or Mathmos, but is not listed in catalogues, is one of a kind and is very rarely seen, in fact it is usually the case it is the only one around.These lamps could be prototypes, or just fun that factory staff had when they had a neat idea, however what ever they are they are mysteries. If you fancy a challenge and would like helping us to solve a mystery please email us at:astrohistory@googlemail.com A job for Captain Caveman and the Teenangels. Simply press on the mysteries button below:

The Astro lamp is a Pop design classic, a defining and iconic image from the Sixties but one which is still a contemporary piece today.

Invented in 1963, by Edward Craven Walker, the Astro was born out of a fascination with the behaviour of two contrasting liquids within a lamp. Craven Walker had come across a similar contraption in a country pub and then spent years refining its properties until he developed it into a working lamp identical to the one that is still produced today.

Almost immediately, the lamp sold extremely well in the UK and had begun to be seen in all the most groovy homes. Its cult status was achieved after appearances on TV programmes like The Prisoner, Doctor Who and The Avengers. Please see our TV section for video clips. The lamp has become synonymous with that time.

Although the Astro is known as an icon of the Sixties and Seventies, it is actually more popular today. Recent years have seen a massive resurgence in demand for all things from that era. At the end of the late Eighties two young antique dealers who specialised in post-war artefacts, kept coming across the Astro which were promptly snapped up by keen collectors.

Intrigued by the Astro’s obvious appeal, they contacted Crestworth. The factory was still producing but at a rate of 100 per month. Realising the current fascination with the Sixties would endure and spotting the dawn of an era of New Age, Cressida Granger and David Mulley introduced the lamps to a whole new generation.

The Mathmos Astro has been exported to nearly every corner of the world and it is a tribute to Edward Craven Walker, that his wonderful invention will always stand the test of time. (Thanks for this text from Brtish Excellence).

Edward Craven Walker (1918 –- August 15, 2000), born in Singapore, is mainly remembered as being the inventor of the psychedelic ‘Astro’ Lamp, or ‘Lava Lamp’ as it is known in America.
Craven Walker was also an accomplished pilot and during WWII flew a DeHavilland Mosquito over Germany taking photographs of enemy positions. Despite the distinct danger of flying deep into enemy territory with no lights and armed only with a 3D camera, he successfully made it through the war. He met his first wife, Marjorie Bevan Jones, during WWII at one of the Air Force bases where she was serving with the WAAF. Craven Walker continued flying fixed wing aircraft right the way through his life.

After the end of the war Craven Walker set about developing an idea he had had in a country pub. The pub had on display a contraption that fascinated Craven and he vowed to expand on the concept. It had been made by one of the pubs old regulars Mr Dunnet who had since departed and was a one-off homemade device consisting of an egg-timer and a lightbulb. While the device itself was fairly rudimentary, Craven saw its potential and set about perfecting it. Above on the right is the original Crestworth factory on the right of the image.

Above: Patent Specification: Inventor:- David George Smith (Crestworth Limited of 59 Kennington Road, London, S.E.1).

The image above shows: 59 Kennington Road in 2007. Amazingly the building is still intact with all the modern developments that have surrounded the building. It is extremely nostalgic to think that this is one of the first locations where Crestworth existed in 1965. Little fact is really known about David George Smith, however the patents do show that he worked for Crestworth in the early years and was involved with the patents at Crestworth. The building is unlike any on the street in ornamental decoration is the original and is now home of Charles Taylor wines.

David George Smith, London, England, assignor to Crestworth Limited, London, England.

Above: USA Patent Office> DISPLAY DEVICE. Edward C. Walker, Woodspeen, Forest Corner,

The lamps were a massive success through the 60's, becoming symbolic of psychedelia, and virtually every household had one. Craven Walker said of its mesmerizing motions, "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". Through the high-flying 80's the ‘Astro’ lamp was considered extremely unfashionable and Crestworth pretty much closed down. However, in the early 90's, a young couple once again saw the potential of the lamps and began manufacturing and selling them successfully. Cressida Granger and David Mulley approached Craven Walker after becoming interested in the Astro’s popularity at Camden Market. Craven Walker offered them a deal penned on a piece of A4 paper. They would take on 20% ownership of Crestworth and run the company for a year and if they could make it profitable, they would be given 80%. It was a great opportunity so they worked extremely hard and were successful in their mission. They changed the company name from Crestworth to Mathmos in 1992 but continue to manufacture the lamps from the original factory in Poole, Dorset to this very day. Mr. Walker remained a minority shareholder in the company for five years and then remained a consultant at Mathmos until he passed away.

Toward the end of the decade Craven Walker had began to get ill. Over the next few years he battled with Cancer, defeating it once only for it to reappear. He died in August 15 2000 at Matchams in Ringwood, Hampshire from Cancer and was buried in a small cemetery in the New Forest. He was 82.
Edward Craven Walker was not just responsible for the ‘Astro’ Lamp. He was one of the first dedicated Naturists, setting up his own camp at Matchams in Hampshire. The club thrived and became one of the largest of its kind in the UK. He was also extremely interested in film and he combined this with his love of naturism. In the 50's and 60's nudity on film was very taboo and virtually unheard of but he managed to evade the censors by not showing any pubic hair. As a result he became a pioneer in this early genre of film. Under the pseudonym Michael Keatering, Craven Walker directed the landmark naturist film Travelling Light (also known as Traveling Light (1959)). This was the first naturist film to receive public release in the UK. Described as an underwater ballet, this film was shot off Corsica and was released in 1960.
It is a tribute to him that his invention has stood the test of time & continues to touch the hearts of many people. He will be sadly missed.

::: Queen's Head Pub. :::

Mr Walker saw the foundation of the idea of the lava lamp from a contraption at a country pub in the New Forest in England. This pub named: Queen's Head still exists today. Queen's Head. The Cross, Burley, Ringwood, Hampshire BH24 4AB Tel. 01425 403423. Please click here to see more information.

After numerous prototypes and patents the ‘Astro’ was released in 1963, the image above shows the very first edition of the Crestworth ‘Astro’. The early Astro had liquid wax as apposed to solid wax and came in a copper anodised finish. Below one can see the progression and the change of the Astro cap as it changed from being rather thin and flat to being far longer. The design changed over the years for aesthetic reasons. Below one can see that unlike modern versions of the Astro, the base was manufactured from two cones that slipped underneath and one can also see the lack of a name plate and also the wiring underneath the early Astro. Early designs of the Astro can be seen in the Cult TV Series: The Prisoner. Please look at our TV section for images and movie clips: Our TV Section. To see how the Astro's design progressed through the decades please visit a special page: Detail: Astro Progression Design.

Images Above: Base design of first Astro Type & Wiring of First Astro. Steve has also kindly sent in what seems to be an early Astro model with liquid wax which is extremely rare. This is the only example that has been seen. Please see the image far right bottom corner above.

Please also note the variations of cap styles used in the Astro and the bottle type that was changed. Please see images below:

Left Image: Progression of Astro Cap Design. Copper caps models they were used on 60s & 70s Astros.
Left and middle cap used on models 1 - 3 (shorter lengh for wider neck bottles)
Right cap used on models 4-5 (standard size). Still in production today.

Right Image: Two variations of the Astro Glass Bottles The bottle on the left with the metal screw cap was used in Astro Models 1 to 3. On the right of the image the Astro bottle was changed and bakelite tops were used to seal the bottles.

Original Documentation of Crestworth Astro Typed Below.
These instructions come from an Early Astro and has an early address which is rare to see referred to: Crestworth Ltd. West Quay Road. Poole Dorset.
Unlike later which have the Sterte Avenue Address.

The "Astro" Lamp is made in a wide range of different pairs of contrasting colours, designed to compliment your home. All its components are made by craftsmen, the base and lamp-house behind hand-spun and the vase being of best quality glass. The special chemical components comprising each of the two non-miscible liquids have to added in minutely accurate proportions in order to create the singularly fascinating effect. At one time, both of these components remained liquid at all temperatures, but this led to the danger of emulsification if the lamp was shaken. In order to counteract this and, at the same time, to facilitate handling, distribution and refilling, the lower (moving) liquid is now made to solidify when the lamp is cold.
The following notes are given in order to ensure that the "Astro" Lamp will give the maximum pleasure, beauty and satisfaction that it is capable of bringing to your home.

>Room Temperature.
An "Astro" Lamp uses heat as well as light. The "Solid" will melt and start to move only when it has been gently heated up to about blood temperature (about 37 degrees Centigrade or 98 degrees Fahrenheit) by the electric bulb supplied in the base. The lamp should never been heated up by any other means, nor should it be cooled down artificially, as any sudden change in temperature could crack the glass or adversely affect the action. On no account should the Lamp be used if the vase is cracked or damaged in any way.

It has been designed to operate best in an average room temperature (about 15 degrees to 20 degrees). In such conditions, (although it will probably start throwing up fascinating "solid" shapes after the first quarter of an hour or so) an "Astro" Lamp should take about one and a half to two and a half hours (and an "Astro" Mini Lamp about half of this period) to start working continuously, according to such factors as the heat of the room, the presence, according to such factors as the heat of the room, the presence or absence of draughts, local voltage fall-offs, etc. If it takes longer to start in an average room temperature, check that the bulb is correct for your local voltage. A 240 Volt 40 Watt bulb is normally supplied with the lamp, and on no account should a bulb with a different Wattage be used.

If the room temperature is too low (less than about 10 degrees C, the lamp may not start at all. If, on the other hand, the room temperature is too high or if the lamp is run for too long periods (normal running time up to about six hours daily), it will overheat, that is to say it will break up completely into bubbles, in which case it should be switched off immediately.

Repeated overheating may eventually cause clouding, and this will necessitate a refill of Master Fluid (See "After Sales Service" No. 1a): but the best remedy for repeated overheating is to "retard" the action of the lamp to suit its particular environment by means of one of our small capsules of Retarding Fluid, which can easily be applied at home (See "After Sales Service" No. 2).

The lamp should be kept well away from sunlight, as ultra-violet tends to cause colours to fade, and direct sunlight can also cause extreme overheating.

It is important to place the lamp in an effective position. Normally, this should be fairly high up --- at about eye-level, if possible. The right selection of background is also worth experimenting with. The proximity of flowers or plants with matching or complimentary colours will be found most effective.

It is best to place the lamp on a mat so as to avoid any danger of marking --- particularly where a highly polished surface is concerned.

Any "Solid" which may have remained floating after the lamp has been run should be shaken down gently when the lamp is cold.

It is wise to check from time to time to see that the cap is crewed down firmly --- otherwise some water may evaporate from the Master Fluid. If this happens, the vase can be topped up with distilled water when the lamp is really cold (never cool artificially). but great care must be taken to see that it is not overfilled. To allow sufficient air space for expansion when the lamp heats up, the level of the Master Fluid should also be clearly visible below the cap when the lamp is cold, in normal room temperatures. In a cold room in cold weather, there should be a visible gap of about a quarter of an inch. After refilling it is important to check that the "seal" (the special "Viton" O-Ring in the case of the large vase or the round disc --- foil downwards --- in the case of the Mini and the Nordic vases) is replaced centrally on top of the vase before the cap is replaced and screwed down again firmly.

Finger marks and other blemishes are best removed with a good glass cleaner and soft rag.

Above all, it should be remembered that the lamp should be treated with every possible care and should be handled only when necessary.

Never store the lamp or leave it for long periods if it has been switched on for a few minutes only and he "Solid" has set again unevenly. Run the lamp for at least an hour or two so that, on cooling, the "Solid" assumed a flat surface. Store for long periods in a cool, dark place with an even temperature, and make sure that there is no chance of freezing, as this would crack the glass.

(a) The Master Fluid of the lamp can easily be renewed at your home (when the lamp is cold, i.e., when the base liquid has solidified) should you wish to change the colour of the liquid, or should it have become over-clouded or faded through misuse. (See attached Order Form No. 1a). On no account should the cap be loosened or removed while the lamp is at all warm (and then only when necessary for refilling). Never at any time should any other refill but Master Fluid be used, although distilled water can be used for topping up if evaporation occurs (but see "Periodic Checks" about overfilling).

Master Fluid refills can be supplied in the following Colours: Rose, Primrose, Clear, Yellow-Green or Blue-Green.

(b) The "Solid" also can be renewed (and the colour changed if desired) but since this necessitates a complete refill and special chemical cleaning, it must be done at our factory.

The "Solid" is made in the following colours: Ruby (Red), Amber (Orange), Topaz (Yellow) and Emerald (Green).

If you wish your lamp to run in gotten than normal conditions (or for longer than normal periods) you may find it necessary to slow down the action slightly. For this we can supply you with a small capsule of "Retarding Fluid".

If, on the other hand, you wish to accelerate the action of your lamp because its operation has become: "sluggish" (usually because the temperature is lower than normal), then we can supply you with a capsule of "Accelerating Fluid" (but first check to see that a 40 watt bulb of the right voltage is being used --- see middle paragraph of left inside page).

The Original Brown Astro Packaging can be seen in the image below (underneath the Traction Lamp).

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