Production of Harbour Lights

I have a question about the manufacture of Harbour Lights that I have wondered about for several years.With multiple new releases every year with limited editions ranging in the thousands and open editions, exactly how many workers are involved in the manufacturing process? I have read multiple times that all of these are hand painted so without giving away any industry secrets I was wondering about how many folks provide the manual labor in the production of Harbour Lights? I am really interested in the role of the painters. How many folks paint them, how many does a typical person paint per workday, how do they learn to paint them, how do they paint in very small areas (like window panes), how do they paint the water to have white caps on the waves, painting tools they use, etc? If someone gave me a mold of a Harbour Lights to paint from start to finish, I don't think I could come anywhere close to the quality of the final product.

Excellent question, Wolfdevil! I've been wondering the same things.

Would you believe it's done with spray cans by the Keebler Elves? No, I wouldn't believe that either.

I guess it comes down to some one who really needs the work, has good vision, a steady hand, and patience. The part that amazes me is the fact all the HL's of a particular light usually look exactly the same. One would think after painting a couple of dozen there would be a few "variations" in the group, but it doesn't happen very often if at all. The painters pretty much stick to what's on the paint master or something like that.

Bob

This would be an excellant question for Harry Hines, since he goes over there to check on production. I always felt that if I really knew what went on in a China factory I might have a problem buying products made from them.

Great question, Wolfdevil.

Here are some photos of the painting process taken by Harry Hine on a 2006 trip to China.


Note this painter has two brushes in her hand. She is adding two colors to the casting. Some of the brushes have only a few hairs on them for the finest work. She manipulates the brushes very quickly. Typically each painter only adds one or two colors to a casting.


A wider view showing many painters at work.




This is the inspection room - very well lit so that any flaws can be easily seen before numbering and packing.


Don Devine and Harry Hine with representatives of the factory. Note the display case behind them. It contains the paint samples of the items still in production (not sold out).

Wouldn't YOU love to have that collection!

As for Daniel's possible concerns... These factories are very carefully chosen. No child or prison laborers, good working conditions, etc.

First painter is working on my #54 :rolleyes:

Sandy

Thanks John for sharing the pictures with us.
and thanks for putting my concerns to rest.

Very interesting, John. Thanks.

Great pics, John !!!

Very interesting !!!

Information and pictures were very enlightening John!
If painters typically add only one or two colors to a casting, do they then get up and move to another section of castings? I see that the pieces are lined up on tables- not a conveyor belt.
Do they paint the two colors and then wait for the paint to dry before adding more colors?

... wouldn't I just ...

Thanks John for sharing the pictures. Very interesting!

It seems a very labor intensive process.

I know I wouldn't have the patience for this job but I'm very happy someone does. Keep-up the good work. It's much appreciated.

I believe the painters move from one group of pieces to the next, adding their colors to that batch. From what Harry told me, one person does not paint the whole piece, just their one or 2 colors. They get very very good at doing their 'little bit' of the colorization and can be consistent from one piece to the next.

I guess I didn't think too much about each peice
being hand-painted. I think we're lucky we get them for the prices that we do.

I find the whole process amazing. I don't know what these "painters" are being paid but I'm sure it isn't a lot. If it was, we would be definitely paying a premium price for our HL's. I figure if they were being painted in America, we would be paying roughly $250-$300 for the average HL.

:rolleyes: Bob

John, Thanks for posting the pictures. It clears up a lot of things. I was also looking for the conveyor belt in this scenario. After looking at the pictures, I wondered is there anything done for like airborne particle control (dust, hair, small bugs,etc). Although 99% of the Harbour Lights of mine look perfect and I am still in awe that these are hand painted and look wonderful, my LL Point Aux Barques has some kind of particle covering part of the lighthouse date. The particle was painted over so I only see part of the date on the lighthouse 18--. Not that I lose sleep at night about it..it kind of makes it unique.

I also noticed that there was only one male painter in the pictures.

I confirmed my copy with Harry this afternoon. He said there were times in the past when they would scout out a possible new manufacturer and after driving up to the factory and seeing the conditions from the outside, they didn't even bother going in.

He also said that it was getting harder and harder for the factories to attract and keep talented craftspeople. China is booming even with over 1 billion citizens. Wages must go up, benefits, etc.

Many of the factories have dormitories for the workers. Harry said he's seen new improvements in these dormitories recently with game rooms, redecorating, etc.

Oil is a part of the formula for resin and so with the cost of oil going up, resin is more expensive. Transportation is more expensive also.

We are lucky that the retail prices are what they are today.

Since all the models seem to be in a fixed situation, I'm guessing the painters are the assembly line and move from piece to piece 'like bees to flowers'???

Nice to see the actual painting of the pieces. At one of the seminars at the last reunion, Harry was talking about meeting some of the former painters who had actually worked a few years, saved their money and then returned to their village and bought property to farm. This would be no different than you or I going to college to get a skill or a licence and then going to work with our new means of employment. For them they acquired the capital for a better future.

Thanks for the pictures John. It is a very interesting to learn how each piece is done.
I am glad that HL cares about the workers and the conditions of the factories.