New "Revised" 44' MLB

Just what is Harbour Lights trying to do now with the "Revised" version of the 44' MLB? They originally brought out the 44' MLB as a limited Edition #110S of 4000 pieces. It was under glass and had little people on it. It sold out and was very popular. Now they are bringing out a "Revised" Limited Edition #113 of 4000 pieces without little people. If they are going to bring out another 44' MLB it should have been a OPEN EDITION and not another Limited Edition. This is the same stuff that Spencer Collins did with their lighthouses. They brought out a series of Cape Hatteras of so many pieces and after they sold out, they brought out another series of Cape Hatteras with a different number of pieces and sold those.

The Revised 44'MLB is different from the original issue but it is still classified as a limited edition and it should be an Open Edition. Who knows, after the Tybee and 41'UTB sell out the 4000 pieces that they have been issued as, HL will probably "Revise" them and bring them out as Limited Editions (Under Glass) and sell another 4000 limited editions.

Is anybody else upset about this or is it just me?

Rich

You make a good point - the Coast Guard AB was issued as a LE of 4,000, but apparently the size and sculpture is exactly the same, except missing the case.

and the people...

GLOW, Giftware, irritated. The one thing Harbour Lights continues to do that I just don't agree with.

I have all the AB's but I will not buy the revised 44' MLB. The price is right without the case but I have the same basic boat with a glass case. Why would I want another.

It does no harm for Harbour Lights to re-release this boat as a revised edition. It gives people the opportunity to purchase it when they may not have been able to justify spending the original cost of the glass case version. Maybe the glass case version sold out before they could get one. There's a lot of "coasties" out there.

When it comes to HL limited editions, I get one of each. If you consider this revised edition a limited edition, then there will be two limited editions I don't own, Coquille River and the new revised 44.

Bob

After about 2,500 of the 44' Life Boats were made, Harbour Lights could get no more glass cases.

1. Should HL only make 1,500 more of the AB113 'revised' pieces?

OR

2. Should AB113 - the revised edition - become an open edition? (Recall that HL did say in the past that all future AB pieces would be limited editions.)

With the lower price and additional USCG ships and boats coming, this group might have more appeal to active duty Coasties who might want the 'first' boat which would otherwise not be available.

Catch 22. What's your opinion?

Somebody better call the Coast Gaurd and tell them there's one of their boats floating out in the water with no people on it!

Number one issue should be to repair the mistake with the positioning of the mast, then make the 1,500 and quit. No people, no case, why is another 4,000 needed? And I hate the continued notion that just because something is retired it can't be found at retail. I thought I put that rumour to bed several years ago with Retired@Retail.


[This message has been edited by SThompson (edited 01-10-2002).]

Just got off the phone with HL. I had called earlier in the day and expressed my concerns over a "double" issue of 44' MLB Limited Editions. HL said that they would call me back later in the day after this concern was brought to the attention of others at HL. Don't know who the others were but when Michelle called me around 5:30 PM EST, she said that my concern was being discussed and that she had read this forum on thers opinions and that a decision would be reached on what direction to take. Don't know what that decesion will be but as I told Michelle, I would be satisfied with either finishing the original 4000 pieces with this "Revised" piece or starting with this "Revised" 44'MLB as an Open Edition and putting out as many as they wanted, as long as there was an "A","B" etc. after the serial number. Whatever way the dice fall will tell the tale. I for one am going to sit back and see what happens. Hopefully this will be a quick decision and if the result is to add a letter prefix to the serial number, I'm sure that could be handled at HL offices and that is fine with me. If the answer is to keep it as a "Revised" Limited Edition for this one time I can live with that, but, I will sure be looking to see if it happens again. If they continue the run and finish the initial 4000 with this "Revised" piece, then that is also fine with me.

Rich

Sorry - I will repost this message On Tuesday PM - jumped the gun before the reps knew.

[This message has been edited by JChidester (edited 01-14-2002).]

When there are future Limited Edition Anchor Bays produced that don't have an Open Edition planned, I will think about purchasing them and continuing my collection. I am calling my dealer and passing on the Utility Boat and will take the chance of purchasing it through the secondary market should an Open Edition not be released. I sit here with my fingers crossed that an Open Edition is not in the works for the Patrol Boat.

Is it me, or am I the last collector here that enjoys the uniqueness of their collection?





[This message has been edited by SThompson (edited 01-14-2002).]

When I first brought this subject up I had a real concern over what direction HL was taking and after talking to HL I decided to sit back and wait for their decision. I continue to wait for the decision that HL is going to make on the "Revised" 44 MLB. I have said it before and I will say it again "I am against Open Editions" but realize that there is a place for them and a need for them for other collectors, but not in my collections. If HL now starts making "revisions" to their AB lines to drum up more business, I will drop the line from my collection and then sit back and see if they start it on the LE lighthouses. It's a waiting game now for me.

Rich

To all concerned, I either have good news or bad news depending on your collections. Harbour Lights got back to me concerning the "Revised" 44' MLB coming out as a Limited Edition of 4000. This would have been the 2nd Limited Edition for this piece. Harbour Lights also told me that it would be OK with them to post this information and that I was not jumping the gun.

HL has decided to make this "Revised" issue an Open Edition instead of a 2nd Limited Edition. The serial number will have a "letter prefix" as all open editions have. I for one am glad that they went this way as it makes the smaller then planned edition of the "Original" glass cased 44' MLB more valuable but also introduces another Open Edition to the Anchor Bay Line. I would have preferred HL just finish the planned 4000 pieces of the "Original" 44' MLB with the "Revised piece and than stop. But, it is still much better then having two limited Editions of the same piece. I am just glad that HL is still listening to their collectors, as they always seem to, when it is within their power or within reason.

Rich

[This message has been edited by flacoastie (edited 01-16-2002).]

You did good Rich.

I too, would have liked the 44 ft lifeboat to end at 4,000 with no open additions. But; you persuaded Harbour Lights to do the next best thing. A low amount of L.E.’s (2,500) with a model change for the open.

I must have missed the usscg 41-foot utility boat. When was that news released.

http://www.lighthousekeepers.com/forums/Forum19/HTML/000378.html


There's a link in the thread that will take you to the "New 2002 Releases" at the Harbour Lights site or you can just go to the Harbour Lights homepage.


http://www.harbourlights.com/catalog/2002/


[This message has been edited by SThompson (edited 01-16-2002).]