Posted By: JTimothyA
Wacko Psycho - 06/26/01 04:24 AM
Once upon a time the term 'Wacko' in reference to HL models meant a person who was committed to collecting the entire set of Limited Editions. Nowadays its been diluted to mean someone who posts 50 messages in these forums. Not much equivalency there, but like so many words, the meaning has changed.
Let's look for a moment at the notion of a 'wacko' is this classical sense. I'm talking about the person who collects Limited Editions and would like to have all in the 5500 series of them. (Its tempting to ask the obverse, why collect giftware? But I don't think the reasons will be anywhere near as interesting.)
Obviously lighthouses have something to do with it. But can it be 'just lighthouses' - can it? I don't think so. After all, Harbour Lights makes giftware models which devalue the moment they're purchased, but are pretty nice models - probably cast and painted by the same folks that do the Limiteds.
Why collect Limited Editions? What is the psychology of the wacko Collector? I'm interested to hear from you. (But frankly I'm not interesting in hearing from the person who says 'I love lighthouses, it doesn't matter to me if they have no value because I'll never sell my collection' - lets keep that one for another thread.)
Is it acquisitiveness? The desire to have stuff? Well, yeah I suppose so - but this doesn't seem to particularly differentiate the Collector of rare things from the person who acquires a bunch of non-rare things. People collect string, matchbooks, bottlecaps, all sorts of stuff. Lots of people *acquire* things for no more sophisticated reason than for the sake of having them.
Let me start by offering up some of the more common reasons that individually or collectively might explain the notion of the Wacko Collector.
1. The Wacko Collector started collecting Harbour Lights early on - before there was HL giftware. Once a base collection is built, it has meaning to them and they continue doing what they've been doing.
2. The Wacko Collector is someone who acquires not only things they are attracted to, but things that will hold their value over time.
3. The Wacko Collector is someone who enjoys the idea that they have a collection of something not just anyone can have. After all, they collect Limited Editions, and yes they are indeed limited in quantity. Is this elitist? Probably. But so what - its certainly not unique to HL models - look at coin, stamp, and automobile collectors. Rarity is desirable.
4. The Wacko Collector knows his/her stuff about what he/she collects. He knows the difference between versions 1 and 2 of Assateaque, he knows the difference between REXM and REXA, red and blue signs. He knows about Mulkilteo.
5. The Wacko Collector may not have started when HL models first came out. He may buy or trade on the secondary market. But he's excited by the hunt - looking for a good deal on that elusive special model to fill a hole in his collection.
And now a couple ideas about what the Wacko Collector is not...
6. The Wacko Collector is not collecting as an investment. That is, while they recognize their collection as rare and of a certain value, they don't collect in order to make money. Most people who can afford to be a Wacko Collector are smart enough to know the lighthouse collectibles business is not an investment market. On the other hand, the Wacko Collector is someone who does not like to buy things that have no value.
7. The Wacko Collector does not tend to lose interest over time. There may be ebbs and flows of interest, or even some holes in the collection of pieces he know will be on the market tommorrow. But overall, the Wacko Collector likes his hobby and doesn't give up on it.
OK - now its your turn. What drives a person to be a Wacko Collector? Are you one? Do you know you're not one and never expect to be one? Why or why not?
From the Fogsignal Building,
__
/im
[This message has been edited by JTimothyA (edited 06-26-2001).]
Let's look for a moment at the notion of a 'wacko' is this classical sense. I'm talking about the person who collects Limited Editions and would like to have all in the 5500 series of them. (Its tempting to ask the obverse, why collect giftware? But I don't think the reasons will be anywhere near as interesting.)
Obviously lighthouses have something to do with it. But can it be 'just lighthouses' - can it? I don't think so. After all, Harbour Lights makes giftware models which devalue the moment they're purchased, but are pretty nice models - probably cast and painted by the same folks that do the Limiteds.
Why collect Limited Editions? What is the psychology of the wacko Collector? I'm interested to hear from you. (But frankly I'm not interesting in hearing from the person who says 'I love lighthouses, it doesn't matter to me if they have no value because I'll never sell my collection' - lets keep that one for another thread.)
Is it acquisitiveness? The desire to have stuff? Well, yeah I suppose so - but this doesn't seem to particularly differentiate the Collector of rare things from the person who acquires a bunch of non-rare things. People collect string, matchbooks, bottlecaps, all sorts of stuff. Lots of people *acquire* things for no more sophisticated reason than for the sake of having them.
Let me start by offering up some of the more common reasons that individually or collectively might explain the notion of the Wacko Collector.
1. The Wacko Collector started collecting Harbour Lights early on - before there was HL giftware. Once a base collection is built, it has meaning to them and they continue doing what they've been doing.
2. The Wacko Collector is someone who acquires not only things they are attracted to, but things that will hold their value over time.
3. The Wacko Collector is someone who enjoys the idea that they have a collection of something not just anyone can have. After all, they collect Limited Editions, and yes they are indeed limited in quantity. Is this elitist? Probably. But so what - its certainly not unique to HL models - look at coin, stamp, and automobile collectors. Rarity is desirable.
4. The Wacko Collector knows his/her stuff about what he/she collects. He knows the difference between versions 1 and 2 of Assateaque, he knows the difference between REXM and REXA, red and blue signs. He knows about Mulkilteo.
5. The Wacko Collector may not have started when HL models first came out. He may buy or trade on the secondary market. But he's excited by the hunt - looking for a good deal on that elusive special model to fill a hole in his collection.
And now a couple ideas about what the Wacko Collector is not...
6. The Wacko Collector is not collecting as an investment. That is, while they recognize their collection as rare and of a certain value, they don't collect in order to make money. Most people who can afford to be a Wacko Collector are smart enough to know the lighthouse collectibles business is not an investment market. On the other hand, the Wacko Collector is someone who does not like to buy things that have no value.
7. The Wacko Collector does not tend to lose interest over time. There may be ebbs and flows of interest, or even some holes in the collection of pieces he know will be on the market tommorrow. But overall, the Wacko Collector likes his hobby and doesn't give up on it.
OK - now its your turn. What drives a person to be a Wacko Collector? Are you one? Do you know you're not one and never expect to be one? Why or why not?
From the Fogsignal Building,
__
/im
[This message has been edited by JTimothyA (edited 06-26-2001).]