How about scale models of rotating Fresnel lenses? These could even have the cable mechanisms for winding the lenses.

Why not a one time merger of Harbour Lights & Swarovski? HL provides the design detail & Swarovski the fine crystal, together they could make a replica of each size Fresnel lens. A lens is definately a beautiful piece of art.

For a great lens close-up, take the Pigeon Point weekend tour.

What's everyone think of this idea?

Here's a link to another thread on Fresnel & his lenses:

http://216.46.163.97/forums/Forum5/HTML/000003.html

I think HL or Swarovski quality lens replicas would be FANTASTIC.

Thanks to my boss, I also have a small Swarovski collection. I think it's a great idea and would be a fantastic piece.

Joanne

I would definately purchase one, especially if they had a real light inside to light it up! I could visualize a couple down the hallway as custom wall mounted sconce lights, or a few in the china cabinet to help light up the sculptures if strategically placed, etc. Many possibilities
[This message has been edited by Rod Watson (edited 12-05-99).]

Sounds good, but I wonder what the price tag on an item like this would be ???

"TheLightkeeper"



[This message has been edited by TheLightkeeper (edited 12-05-99).]

Fresnel Lens sets were discussed before. I will once again say that is a great idea. Sign me up! I'll take one of each.

Bob

Yup, been here before. But that's OK, I still love the idea!

http://216.46.163.97/forums/Forum4/HTML/000095.html

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-Art

I also like the idea but like Mike am wondering what the cost would be. We New Yorkers don't have that much left after we get though paying all those taxes!

I would love to have one or two. I especially like Rod's idea of having a light inside and using that to help illuminate a curio cabinet.

With the advances that have been made in plastics, I wonder if the technology is there to make the "glass" portion of a Fresnel lens out of lucite or something similar. I seem to remember reading or hearing that one of the lighthouse restoration projects is using something along these lines to help repair/restore their Fresnel lens.

I'd love to see a HL produced Fresnel replica. You know it would be a great piece.

Dave

I'll start saving now for a HL fresnel!

I was thinking about the price of Swarovski crystal and thought that might be in the hundreds of dollars price range. It's a great idea but maybe a different crystal manufacturer might be more reasonable.

Joanne

Dave, I think you are thinking about Ponce Inlet. I know that they used some form of plastic to replace some of the broken prisms from the Cape Canaveral First Order Lens. If you ever get the chance to visit this lighthouse,GO! Even though I love the Lighthouses of the North Carolina Outer Banks, I think Ponce Inlet has a better museum then all of them combined. You can check out their website at: http://www.ponceinlet.org/

To make the URL a hyperlink:

[This message has been edited by LamarB (edited 12-07-99).]

Strongly concur with the idea of HL producing Fresnel lenses. These are every bit as much a work of art as the lighthouses which support & shelter them. Hard to imagine they would be affordable to the average HL collector if they are are made by Swarovski. I would happily accept the use of polycarbonate or similar material to make it affordable. HL might want to consider mounting them on a pedestal (like the real lenses) and place them under glass (a la the lightships) to help keep them from showing dust as well as protect them from oily fingerprints.
Also storngly concur with Weasel that the museum at Ponce Inlet is outstanding, especially the display of Fresnel lenses.

Weasel,
Most definitely agree on the fantastic job they have done at Ponce Inlet. The display of lenses is magnificent. That may be where I was thinking of. Also seem to remember reading that their curator loaned his expertise to another restoration project, maybe out west???

Dave

You all just keep talking, because I love this idea. I know many of the collectors would buy them. (If they are not out of range for us.) I also have been to Ponce light, and it is beautiful. I love it. A great place to visit. Can get really close to the lenses....

Rusty

I ran into this thread of lenses and its was mentioned that Harbour Lights and Swarovski could get together. I found this very interesting as I am a collector of Harbour Lights and just recently starting working for Swarovski.

Just to let you know, all of their silver crystal in handcrafted in Austria and shipped over to the U.S.. I have not come across them making anything with a lighthouse theme but they have released some nautical items as of late.

You never know, but maybe someone can drop a hint that lighthouse collectors would love to see a fresnel lense included in their collection in the future.

Turbo

Sounds like a great idea! I have seen the display at Ponce Inlet many times. I would gladly put an item like this in the center of my collection!

I would definitely buy one of each order lense. They are beautiful pieces of work in their own right.

Fun to speculate.

Someone at the home office (go for it Mr. Bill) needs to make the $$$ inquires as to design and numbers need to head into production.

Then a survey could be put out on the forum for indications of serious interest based on cost.

Help! Someone that gets a chance at a signing....ask Bill to put out some feelers to producers.....lets see if we can start the ball rolling....

...please allow me to "ramble-on" for a moment. As a occasional product-designer I can see a Fresnal model which could be relatively inexpensive. If you look at the lowest-cost "senerio" I can see acrylic panels slipped into brass mullions which would be easy to fabricate and errect. The panels would be one-piece. On the other hand...if you really wanted a work of art you could have the same panel formed in crystal and set in the same brass mullions. I don't believe that you could affordably produce this thing with individual panels as is the case with the real thing. I can envision this item with an approximate height of about 7 to 9" with a maximum diameter of about 4". I could easily design it...just wouldn't have the "where-with-all" to manufacture it...i.e. panel and mullion moulds. I would think that it could be "retailed" in the $85-$125 range....but, without further cost analysis...that would just be an educated guess. As I said...I'm just "rambling-on".....

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Brent

Sounds like good "RAMBLING" to me and you would have to do each size of the Fresnels for a set.
Larry

I wonder if the Wacko Pin committee could ask their contacts in ASIA to take a look at the costs?

Yea, Larry....if the price could be in the "hundred dollar range" there's a good possibility that most "die-hards" would take the time to purchase all 7 "orders"....or....in the begining maybe begin by producing the 3 most popular "orders" such as 1, 3.5, and 6 and see how the sales go. It would be interesting to see how HL would set the limited-edition numbers on such an item. Also....I've seen all types of nautical lamps on the market but haven't ever seen one with a Fresnal Lense replica...wouldn't that be neat? 'Tiffany type, maybe....???

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Brent

This sounds like a great idea. Ill take one, no make that several. How about producing it as a kit? This would keep the cost down.

Monty

Hey Monty....the "kit" idea isn't a bad one, either. Let me tell you just how much of a "Wacko" I really am.....the other day I was standing in the electrical departmant of one of the Home Depot stores, just brousing, when I came upon a simple backdoor light-fixture. I must have stood there for 15 minutes envisioning that thing as a Fresnal lense. It had a similar shape with a hint of finned-presmatic sides with a slight curvature, etc. It wasn't but about 7 bucks but simply lacked enough detail, and couldn't be modified. For a minute there I thought I was "on" to something...LOL!!!

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Brent

[This message has been edited by Brent (edited 02-24-2000).]

Hey Brent! You missed my earlier posting saying that for Christmas I put a red bulb in one of the outdoor lights next to the garage door, then made an outline of white lights in the shape of a lighthouse (modeled on Nauset). So I guess I made that light my lens! Problem was that the white lights got sort of wiggly-jiggly and my neighbor asked me if it was supposed to be Santa Claus!

'Very creative, Mombo!! 'Sorry that I missed your earlier "post". "Gr8 Wacko's think alike"....LOL!!

My March issue of LIGHTHOUSE DIGEST arrived today. The cover is a great closeup photograph of the "magnificent lantern room and lens" - Point conception Lighthouse.
7' high and 5' diameter.

Thought about this thread on miniture lenses and wanted to bring it back for more discussion and to help BY decide to research this area more.

If Liberty sells.....we know a lens replica will really sell.

Your thoughts?

I still think this is an excellent idea! I definately would buy one.

Dale

"Ditto" "Ditto" "Ditto" !!! (Oops, 'guess I'm getting a bit over-anxious, here)

What a lovely addition to intersperse with the already beautiful HL groupings.


KYKEEPER - Pat

It would be great I think!!

Glad you all are keeping this thread alive! I still believe this is a great idea. Brent, if you keep it up, you probably are going to stumble onto something...

Rusty

As I said in the past, the idea of fresnel lens replicas is a great one. I would prefer to see HL offer those than things like Bill dolls, lobster pot floats, etc.

Bob

I agree, Bob. Not only are they beautiful but when one consider's their historic and scientific value....I'm sure that they would prove to be a real "winner" for HL.

This might just be the slowest thread to ever reach 50 posts, but it just won't go away. The idea has staying power.

Paul instructs us in another thread to "Think Fresnel Lens!!!!"

Think people, think!

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-Art

"I'm thinking, I'm thinking"... ...and it just seems to make alot of sense for HL to issue atleast one type and see how it goes. My rationale is simple....anyone who loves the "Lights" (and HL in particular) would have to have one to add to their display. I'm not a marketing expert but this one seems like a "win/win" all the way!

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Brent

Like Paul said "THINK".

KYKEEPER - Pat

Think Beehive! Think Wheels! Think Brass-like metalwork!

Think Fresnel!

SaintWackoPaul '
Keep the Flame

I would rather think Bi-valve!!!

Fresnel
http://www.smithsonianmag.si.edu/smithsonian/issues99/aug99/object_aug99.html
http://www.west.net/~pamass/htmfiles/freslens.htm
http://www.jmloptical.com/products/singlets/technical_fresnel.html
http://www.creative-visions.com/fresnel.htm
http://www.longislandlighthouses.com/mtkmus.htm
http://www.longislandlighthouses.com/fresnel.htm


SaintWackoPaul '
Keep the Flame

Think "Prisms"!!!

/ \
/ \
/ \
/ \

Here's your bivalve:


Please let the Fresnel Lens be a beehive style!



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-Art

Glad to see my thread is still alive and doing well. I still feel that with consistent nagging most anything can be accomplished. This thread seems to have the staying power required to do just that. Next time you see Bill or one of the Reps, remember to think fresnel and a little whining helps to.

Being one that has replaced some of the glass work in the various Fresnel lenses (and has a few pieces from Cape May, Cape Henry and Currituck) the idea of Fresnel lens collectables is a wonderful idea. Count me as one that would be very interested if it comes to fruition.

Think leetle teeny boilers. My vote still goes for miniature fully operational Fog Signals.

Rgds,
Saint Woofer

Think all of the above! A new series! What would you name the new series? How about "This Little Fresnel of Mine"?

Ok, Yes I want one. Realistically I can't afford another collectible nor do I have the space for one. I know I will end up fitting this into the collection. All I ask is don't produce more than one every year.

Sean

Just one month and nine days shy of two years for this thread to reach 50 postings. A new record, I believe. Congratulations, Jodster! But more importantly, thank you for opening this can of worms. I hope the soon-to-follow Part II thread is all "ooohs" and "aahhs" over a new fresnel lens addition to the HL line.

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-Art

It'll be a "winner".....

Closing the thread after 50 posts.... To continue the Fresnel Lens thread:
Part II Fresnel Lens