My Next Purchase

I hear a lot of discussion about what is coming out on the market. I am a serious collector who is acquiring older models first before they go to a secondary market. I plan to purchase Highland and Wind Point next week. Next month I'll acquire Hillsboro and La Jument. My reason is that they are being held by my dealer at retail for me.

Does anyone out there want John to have a post for discussion by newbie or conservative spenders on linited means.

Moby

Your question fits well with topics covered in 'By The Numbers'. Collecting with a goal in mind allows you plan your acquisitions regardless if you plan on spending alot or a little. Check out the free Excel spreadsheet available in that forum. It may offer some new ideas about prioritizing your purchases - particularly if you look to acquire soon-to-retire or older models.

Are there certain regions or models you prefer to collect - or are you a true wacko, ultimately going after them all?

Rgds,
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/im

ultimate WACKO, I'M AFFRAID

MOBY

Fear not! Welcome to the UGATA club - at least half the fun is getting there. Its nice to know there are still folks willing to start down this path.

Consider this - right now is one of the best times to acquire the mid-range priced models. Its a buyer's market, but I don't think it'll last forever.

Rgds,
__
/im

Tim,

I've gone over to by the numbers. Talking about my efforts and want to talk to those just as frustrated at times as I am. A release forum for real wackos.

Moby of Tidewater

My next purchase...??? When the next new HL is released it will be purchased. I have also been buying AB ships/boats when the right deal passes by. Still looking for good deals on the 9 LEs I'm missing but no luck yet. All comes to those who wait...time will tell!

Bob

My next purchase? This morning I will renew my Society Membership.(I got permission from my wife yesterday. Yeah!)I always by a HL on vacation, at Long Beach Island, NJ. Then I beg on my birthday,and Christmas. HA! Father's day is not far away.
I say I want to collect NJ lighthouses, but I usually buy the one that "hits my fancy". My dream would be one day to get Navesink and the 1st Xmas HL Big Bay. We'll see. You never know.
Take care everyone
QC

My next purchase, hmmm...............??

Well, Fathers Day is a couple of weeks away and U.P.S. delivered a package from the Lighthouse Depot that I didn't order (which is very strange!!). It felt heavy enough so we'll wait and see!

My next purchase will be a departure from the norm for me. I'm collecting East Coast lights for know since I just started a 1/2 a year ago and doing the East Coast and New York lights before branching out. However, I find Tillamok Rock a fascinating light and location so that's my next one. Unless, that's the one in the box, I dropped a few hints. If it is then it's Saugerties, N.Y, or Jeffreys Hook, or it's so hard to choose, I love em'all!!

My wife said if I buy one more Harbour Lights she will leave me............................

I'm sure going to miss her! (Just kidding, she is really very understanding for not being as into lighthouses as I am. She likes to visit them but she is not a collector).

Keep the Flame!

My next purchase? Well, as an ex-member of the UGATA fraternity, I suppose it will be the new Collector's Society pieces. They're east coast (actually Chesapeake Bay) lights and that's the focus of my collecting efforts these days.

When I started this collection (addiction, phobia, fixation?) it occurred to me that I had a chance to "have them all". I spent the better part of six months tracking down all that I had missed. Eventually found all but Coquille and Cape Hatteras. I was current and just about "had them all".

Harbour Lights is the first 'collectible' that I was ever interested in. What I didn't realize when I made the decision to have them all was how many there would be. I got set up with a dealer to have one of everything shipped to me. But this lead to a very unexpected situation. UGATA was getting to be automatic. There wasn't any tension, no un-certainty. There was no thrill of the hunt. Harbour Lights kept issuing new pieces, lots of new pieces, and as each one came out, it showed up at the door.

I was running out of room to display everyhing, funds to buy everything and the thrill was gone. So, around the time that Yaquina Bay and Gray's Harbor came out, I decided to focus the collection more. No more West Coast or Great Lakes. I packed them up and they're in the attic. I'm going to stick to the East Coast, Gulf Coast, Chesapeake Bay and Delaware Bay.

Right now, the Hudson River series presents a quandry for me. They don't fit the focus, but I've already seen Tarrytown and have a better chance of seeing the river lights than seeing the OR or WA lights.

Decisions, decisions. Now there's some uncertainty again. Should I or shouldn't I? It brings some tension back to the hunt, although this is one decision that I'm pretty sure I don't have to make today. The HR series will probably be on the shelves for a while. Besides, Rosemont is coming up and who knows which lights will be announced that fit the focus of the collection? Gotta get them first anyway!

Enjoy your collection, no matter it's focus nor it's size. After all, that's why we really do this HL thing, isn't it?

Rick

Hey Folks,

Glad to see I have plenty of company. Is there a Harbour Lights Anonomous? Just Kidding!

Moby of Tidewater Virginia

Enjoyed reading evreyone's thoughts on the next HL to buy. I wrestle with that thought every week nowadays.

I finally broke down & bid on e-bay. Just used the site for months to monitor prices. Orv had encouraged me to register which I did. Bid on two not retired LE's at less than retail. Love getting a bargain!

Actually they are the first HLs that I've bought that aren't retired, all that catching up to do. It is hard decision, there are so many HLs that we've seen or hope to see or just like.

I don't want to try to collect every light, but if I see an older retired piece @ retail it is very tempting even if I may never visit it.

It certainly makes me feel a whole lot better to read that my obsession is shared by others. In fact had my husband read the thread so he understands that I am not the only flipped out person over lighthouses.

We visited Jeffrey's hook yesterday in the rain. Of course it is one of the e-bay HLs that i'm now getting.Now we need a Curio, the shelves are all over the place. Then one curio will grow to be two etc. etc.

But I know I'm in good company.

Donna

DeDo, I don't know how to tell you this, but if your husband also gets involved in the HLs, you are really going to need more curios. I got hooked first, then my other half, and the curios keep coming.

Kathy

Kathy,

Lets put it this way: he doesn't discourage me. I guess he is an enabler. He really enjoys visiting the lighthouses, but he is getting tired of putting up new shelves every week.

I was the one back in Feb. that said no HLs that we wouldn't visit but he really liked White Shoal so we went out that Sunday & bought it.

He calls it my mid-life crisis.

Should I buy stock in a Curio company?

Donna

DeDo - buy stock in a curio company mutual fund. Spreads the risk over numerous curio companies. ;-)

Stock isn't a bad idea! We've reached the stage of downsizing - but where do the HLs go then? One room strictly for HLs has already come to mind.

Kathy

>>Spreads the risk over numerous curio companies<<<

ROFL !!

Hey, Tim, when you get up off the floor, where are you going to put all your HLs in that gorgeous new home? Curios? Enclosed built-in shelves?

Kathy

[This message has been edited by Al and Kathy (edited 05-26-99).]

My next purchase? I just got 13 last week. Including Hilsbourgh!! I have been collecting for about a year & last summer I bought a 9.5ft curio & it is about full!!
I have a question, Fenwick that I got last week had a tree uprooted on arrival. If I glue it back into the base & I ever have to sell (God forbid I ever have to give up any of my lighthouses) do I report that as a "repared piece"?
& yes I definitely have the "HL BUG"!!!!

>>Curios? Enclosed built-in shelves?<<

(dusting myself off) Thats a good question. I promised the wife she gets her china cabinet back when we move. We had some built in display cases designed but ended up taking them out. There are a few lighted niche areas that will do nicely, and some nice spots in the built-in cabinetry in the hearth room but I really do need to come up with something. Probably curios - definitely more room for free standing furniture - probably turn the rec room into the HL room. Sure wish the little dears didn't collect dust. But for a while the one thing I don't think I'll come up with is 'extra' money for lighthouse cabinets - heretical as it sounds, there are a few other pieces of furniture we need more! lol

At least we have more lighted wall space for our lighthouse paintings and prints.

Rgds,
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/im
[This message has been edited by JTimothyA (edited 05-27-99).]