Edward Craven Walker facts for kids

Edward Craven Walker was a clever British inventor. He is famous for creating the amazing Astro lamp, which you probably know as the lava lamp! He was born on July 4, 1918, and passed away on August 15, 2000. His invention, the lava lamp, became a huge hit around the world.

Edward Walker's Life Story

A Pilot in World War II

Edward Walker was a brave pilot during World War II. He flew a special plane called a DeHavilland Mosquito. His job was to take pictures over Germany. His plane was unarmed, meaning it had no weapons. After the war, he continued to enjoy flying.

How the Lava Lamp Began

The Idea from a Pub

After the war, Edward Walker found a cool idea in a pub in Dorset, England. Someone had made a simple device there. It used two liquids that could not mix, like oil and water. This device was used as an egg timer. Edward saw great potential in this simple invention.

Making the First Lamp

He set up a small lab in a shed. There, he started mixing different liquids in bottles. He wanted to make the idea into a lamp. He found that a "Tree Top Orange Squash" bottle worked very well. Its shape even helped create the design for his first lamp, called the Astro Baby Lamp.

The Company and Its Journey

Starting Mathmos

Edward and his wife, Christine, started a company. It was first called Crestworth, then later Mathmos. They began making the lamps in small buildings in Poole, Dorset. Edward believed his lamp would always be popular. He said it was like the "cycle of life," always changing and restarting.

Ups and Downs

In the late 1970s, lava lamps became less popular. The "hippie" style was not as fashionable. The Walkers kept their company going through the 1980s. They made fewer lamps during this time.

A Comeback for Lava Lamps

In recent years, lava lamps became popular again! People who grew up with them wanted to find original lamps. These old lamps can be quite expensive. Many new lava lamps are also sold today. Mathmos still makes original lamps in Great Britain. They even have updated versions of their classic designs.

Later Years and Legacy

New Leadership for Mathmos

In the early 1990s, a young couple became interested in the lamps. Cressida Granger and David Mulley met Edward Walker. They started helping to run the company. In 1992, they renamed it Mathmos.

Edward's Continued Help

Edward and Christine Craven Walker worked with the new owners at first. Over time, Granger and Mulley bought out the Walkers' share. Edward Walker stayed on as a helper for Mathmos. He continued to work on improving the lamp's special liquid formula.

A Lasting Invention

The Astro lamp has been made for over 60 years. It has been handmade in Britain since 1963. Mathmos still makes them in Poole today. The special formula Edward Walker created is still used. His company, Mathmos, celebrated its 50th birthday in 2013.

Edward Walker's Death

Edward Walker became sick with cancer in the late 1990s. He passed away in Hampshire in 2000. He was 82 years old. He was buried in a small cemetery in the New Forest.

See also

In Spanish: Edward Craven Walker para niños