"Sky Bound" Something New From Younger & Associates

Wouldn\'t you like to fly in my beautiful balloon?

Thanks for the update, John. I remember being in a hotel in Arizona several years ago with an floor to ceiling exterior glass wall. Then I awaken Sunday morning and opened the drapes, the entire sky was filled with multi-colored hotair baloons...lighthouses aside, it was a breathtaking experience. I'm going to look carfully at this new series. Thanks again.

Younger & Associates is really expanding. They can make glass grasshoppers as long as they keep making fine quality limited edition lighthouses.

I won't be buying any of the hot air balloons. No display rooom, no storage room, and no interest.

Bob

Verrry Interesting. I could really be talked into buying those balloons. When we first moved to Ocala, every Saturday and Sunday morning in the summer and fall you would wake up to the strange sound of wooshing in the sky. You could look out your bedroom window and there would be balloons all over the sky. They had some kind of clubs that met on weekends. Haven't seem them in many years so I don't know if the club disbanded but the balloons have always remainded a memory. I will call Harbour Lights on Monday to find out more info on them.

Rich

Wow. Very charming. I think they succeed quite well at capturing the spirit of ballooning, especially the one called "Festival."

I wish them luck.

There nice If you collect everything that comes along, I collect lighthouses not balloons,boats or lifesaving stations. Will Harbour Lights be changing its name to Harbour Balloons??

I don't think so

My biggest question: "Will Bill Younger & Harbour Lights start making detailed Cookie Jars next? Because he sure seems to have his hands in a lot of them!"

Beautiful detail and I'm sure if I was into Hot Air Ballooning I would be thrilled to see this collection start up. But I'm not, so no, unless they start making them with lighthouses on the base I will not be purchasing any of these beautiful items. Best of luck to Bill with this series - may he make a lot of money from them!

Not trying to get HL collectors to buy the new line, just looking for ways to keep his crew busy and selling product of some type. Gotta pay the bills and all. Capitalism at work.

Dave

I think the ballons are cool! Now if I didn't have all these @$&##* lighthouse? lol
Bob
I think they'll do well.

I like the balloons but I'm not quite into that subject matter yet therefore I'm going to have to pass on them. But, who knows what I'll get into next. Lighthouses were the last thing my parents ever thought of as a hobby for me.

shirin

The balloons or nice, but they really don't capture my interest. About the only lighter-than-air vehicles I'm fascinated with are zeppelins. Now maybe if they made the Graf Zeppelin...

John - I have a friend that wants to know if the balloons are actually made by Younger & Associates because nowhere on the web page does it say who makes them.

She told me that she was given the web site at a balloon rally and liked the balloons, but the web site doesn't say who makes them, so she didn't buy them. She told me that if she had know that they were made by Younger & Associates, she would have bought them. What proof can I give her as to who makes them? Why is there no company name at this web site?

Suzanne

They are a product of Younger & Associates. They aren't marketed under the "Harbour Lights" name because that is a reference to lighthouses.

Kim told me last Sunday that she had been at several rep showrooms in the past weeks and had a nice reaction from reps and Harbour Lights dealers who had seen them for the first time.

I understand they showed them at the Alburqerque Balloon Festival this Fall and they were well received. I don't know if they were taking orders or had items to sell, however.

Gosh, I would think the closest thing to miniature lighthouse that would likely set off a similar collecting craze might be miniature covered bridge. Does anyone do that yet? Your talking about distinctly different locations and in many times different looking bridges.
Just a thought.
JB

I have been to hot air balloon launches. Really a great feeling to see them slowly rising.Two years ago, I saw a moving van shaped baloon launched. A different feeling than that of seeing the lighhouses, which although do not have the vibrant colors that the balloons have , speak to me in a much more meaningful way. The history of each one, and what they stand for , for me,is so very awesome. As for collecting baloons, I think not. No room in my life for them. LIGHTHOUSES RULE!

We were at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta in October. This was our first trip back to see the Fiesta in 11 years. We lived in Albuquerque for 16 years and even had hot air balloons land in our yard. Moved to Texas in 91 and finally made it back to Albuquerque for the Fiesta. Can't believe Harbour Lights was there and we didn't see them.

John, do you know the name Younger & Associates was using at the Fiesta? We have the 2002 Fiesta program and of course Younger & Associates is not listed as a merchandise vendor. There were over 100 vendors at the balloon park.

Sorry, Tom... Don't know. Don't know if it was an official display or what.

JWB:
Scassis makes a line of covered bridges.
I don't think it is the only one as their web site says they started this line last year (probably means 2001) and the they do not have a sculpture of the Burfordville Covered Bridge in Missouri. I have seen a line of covered bridge sculptures in some stores around here in the past, which included this bridge, so these were probably by another manufacturer.

Well, they're better at covered bridges than they are at lighthouses.

But that's like saying liver is better than tofu...it may be true but I ain't touchin' either of 'em with a 10 foot pole.

I won't be purchasing any of the different line of products made by Younger & Associates. It's tough enough to justify all the money spent on lighthouses and Anchor Bay, if and when we have more releases from that line.

I think the HL Crew is reaching out for new people who have interest in things other than lighthouses. With their great marketing and business ethics, I'm sure they will do just fine with this new line. They may not have to put on a second shift, but they will move many pieces.

Bob

I don't think HL is making any effort to get their lighthouse collectors to start on balloons. The balloons appear to be more along the lines of really nice giftware than collectibles. I think they will do very well with the concept - the balloons are very colorful and will brighten things up; the bases are neat little mini-displays in their own right; the pricing is good. I hope they do sell well for HL, and maybe can slow down on HL intros with the balloons creating income for them and keeping the factory busy.

Dave

Here's a close-up of that base with the lighthouse.



And here's the cover of the very nice brochure. You can call HL and get a copy mailed. 800-365-1219 M-F 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM Pacific Time.

Again, it looks as though HL has paid close attention to the detailing on these little balloon treasures. I agree with many comments made here, they are very well made but lighthouses are what make me want to go UP-UP-AND-AWAY. I'm sure they will be hot little items for those who enjoy that type of nostalgia.

I think we would have to ask if they are Limited Editions, and will there be G.B.O.W.(s) or minatures and ornaments? If you take a look back and see that the Boats didn't float, No body rounded up the Knights, and I think the ballons will deflate easy.
Jakescol