Cheboygan Crib Begins Shipping... Ooops

Talked to Harry Hine today and he said the signing had been completed on the Cheboygan Crib light (available to order only at the Mackinac Island Reunion) and some of them were shipped today. The rest should go out next week.

But after all were signed someone noticed an error on the piece. And it's on ALL the pieces. Perhaps one of the early recipients can spot it and report on it.

I'll try to get the quantity made next week. It should be a pretty 'limited' limited edition.

YAHOO!!!!

I look forward to adding this to our collection. It will hold very special memories of the Harbour Lights Reunion.

Ron
(CT Keeper)

I totally agree with Ron. The 2005 Harbour Lights Reunion was an event that I will remember for the rest of my life -- thanks to Dave and his associates.

The Cheboygan Crib light put the entire festivities over the top.

bobo

My AX card was charged last week from Harbour Lights for the Cheboygan Crib pieces. I'll see how fast they make it to UT. Has anyone else noticed if their charge card was charged for these pieces?

Yes, Lorie, same here in NoCal...

Our credit card was charged on December 3rd.

My account was charged on Dec. 2 and there were others charged before me. Does that mean ours were the first to ship? I hope, I hope.

Mine was charged 12/7. I hope I get it this week!

CHEBOYGAN CRIB HAS ARRIVED IN ST.LOUIS.UPS JUST CAME BY.LOWEST NUMBER IS 18 HIGHEST 406.

Any how does it look in person?

Bob

Mine arrived yesterday but I just now opened it. Dumb me! It came with about six Amazon pkgs. so I just stashed everything for Christmas wrapping today. It looks terrific - except for the ugly flag. I found the mistake, John. (It's really not that evident - or bad.) Another neat surprise - I'd forgotten that we all signed our names; those appear on the "Reunion Attendee Exclusive and Certificate of Authenticity". That makes it extra cool! Gotta run but wanted to let you all know.

It is so extra special that the baby's name "Felicity" is on the boat. Brings back such wonderful memories of a truly unique reunion - with many special Harbour Lights people whom we'd not had the opportunity to know before. Thanks again to Dave AND to Harry for making it possible.

My Cheboygan Crib arrived this afternoon. Three of them actually. It's a beautiful piece. Maybe the lighthouse moved location?

bobo

Ours arrived today and I think that the error is real evident!! It only took seconds to find it..

But you and I were looking for it, Paul. If John hadn't said there was one, it would have taken me longer to find it. Of course, you probably have a hawkeye for these things!

Our Cheboygan Crib lighthouses arrived late today.

Beautiful replica of the actual lighthouse!

Very easy to spot the error! (Just what I thought the error might be)!

BUT......

On two of the lighthouses that received, a broken tree on each base....

Hopefully HL customer service will help with this problem.

Our credit card was charged almost three weeks ago and still no lighthouses .

Tom & Joyce,

Maybe you'll get some that aren't broken.

I ordered three Cheboygan Cribs -- all three arrived, but two of them have broken trees. What a shame. They were all well packed -- but something sure happened.

bobo

What a disgusting mess...this has totally destroyed the buzz generated by this once-special piece...I ordered 4 pieces, they arrived yesterday, I took a look at only 1 of them, which appears to be OK...I don't even want to attempt to unwrap the other 3...seriously thinking of just sending them back and asking for my $$$ back...when-oh-when will HL learn?!

As for the "error", a few years back, it was funny and cute...now it is inexcusable...

Our three lights arrived late yesterday. Opened all three and didn't find any damage. There were a couple minute fragments of green in one box (outside the plastic bag), but didn't find any chips on the trees. Based on all the comments so far, we removed the foam strips from the trees very carefully. Thanks!
Based on the UPS tracking number, the package was shipped on 12/19 pm.

Received the 2 I ordered on 12/20 #36 & 67. The 36 is the same as my reunion number, but I was very very surprised to receive a second 2-digit. I didn't open and remove foam pieces until this morning, and very carefully. Both pieces are okay, just like Tom and Joyce had a few green chips but mine were on the foam, but I was not able to find chips on the trees.

Our Cheboygan Crib lights arrived last Wednesday or Thursday and all appear to be fine. I took the foam off of only one of the pieces (the one I put in the display cabinet) as the others are going into storage. I am now thinking of going back to check them more closely by taking the foam off. I'll let you know if anything is broken.

Ron
(CT Keeper)

I received mine this week and very carefully took it out and unwrapped the trees. Thankfully, there was no damage. I feel bad for those of you that received damaged ones but HL's will replace them so don't dispair.

This was not good timing for quality control to let their guard down. It must be terribly frustrating to wait for such a special piece only to find out it has problems. Even if your piece made it to your house okay, will it be subject to breakage in the future even with normal handling?

Harbour Lights is trying to do the right thing by offering replacements. Often time the aggravation of returning an item and waiting for a replacement will leave a less than desireable taste in one's mouth about future HL's.

The Cheboygan Crib piece is indeed a rare piece. It would behoove anyone who has this piece to have it replaced while they can. Otherwise, you may be whistling Dixie a year from now if you don't.

:rolleyes: Bob :rolleyes:

Well, our arrived on 12/23. Checked all three. The tree trunks were cracked on all three pieces.
Plus there were some chips out of the branches on two of them. The real odd part in the ones we received were the numbers. We had reunion numbers 244 and 245. We received box numbers 239, 244, and 245. The piece numbers were 239, 240, 245.
Something got messed up somewhere. I know HL will make it right. If they want pictures of the mismatched numbers, I can take and send some. I am afraid we got two pieces that should have been sent to another reunion attendee.

I'm starting to wonder if those that arrived intact may have had some stress put on them so that we will have problems later on. Few of us seem to have models that don't have visible damge. I wonder what the percentages are running.

My two lights arrived today. Opened both and they are OK. No 'chips' in the box.
Rich

Rec'd my pieces last week and both were fine. However, I received #256 in a #251 box.
Darlene

I received my three pieces today. I opened the first one, very carefully unwrapped the foam from the tree and the tree trunk stuck to the foam and broke off the tree. Parts of the tree trunk are still stuck to the foam. I am afraid to unwrap the foam from the other two pieces. I agree that the foam is too tightly wrapped around the tree.

One of my pieces is a different number than the box(368 in a 385 box). One of the boxes has a white piece of paper with the piece number on it stuck to the box and my invoice has two numbers whited out and rewritten.

Having received my Cheboygan's today, I believe that the problem is not so much that the tree is wrapped too tightly - I think the issue is the way the end of the foam strip was tucked in to complete the wrap. In tucking the end in, the strip most likely had to be pulled even tighter and then the end tucked in. This would most definitely stress the tree way more than it should be.

That said, I was able to get the foam off all five of our pieces, being very careful in the process. Tried to cut one off, but wasn't getting anywhere with razoe blading it and went back to carefully unwrapping it. (FWIW trivia dept: one of my trees was wrapped by a leftie - the wrapping was counter clockwise instead of clockwise as most were.) No flakes or chips in the bag or around the light. However, taking a small flashlight to really look at things, 3 of the lights have what may be stress fractures. No obvious breaks, but there are definite lines where the paint has cracked.

The mis-matched numbers are in all probability the fault of the folks at El Cajon. Happened when the lights were taken out of the boxes to be signed and didn't get back into the right box.

Dave, earlier I mentioned that I have concerns that there may be structural "fatigue" of some sort and that even those lights which look okay may have damage which is not visible. I'm starting to wonder if there should be a "recall" or something - not a scare tactic, just a concern.

I've suggested to HL that each person who received one or more of these pieces needs to receive a letter about the possibilities of damaged pieces and how to check them and get replacements.

In an email from Harry today, he says they will do that. They, of course, would like to wrap up this project by the end of January.

I received my piece on the 27th and did not see anything broken or fractured. I'll give it the flashlight test tomorrow when I get home. Fingers are crossed!!!

Have to tell you that this thread is beating out CSI as to forensics--got a lot of super sleuths amongst us collectors.

Sandy

Got mine on the 27th and just gave it the once, twice and thrice look over. My tree wrap came off rather easily but then I am always careful with wrapes. Everything seemed fine with mine. no chips, scrapes, or cracks I could see even with the flashlight. Its a nice looking piece and looks very much like my picture of it. Iam not however, thrilled with the flag. Compared to the rest of the piece it looks a little yuck to me. Have a happy new year ya all.

Everyone who has visited since my Cheboygan Crib came says it's beautiful, but they are appalled at the "ugly flag". These are non-collector friends. They mention how beautiful the detail work is, if only ....

Well Folks,

In previous posts in this and related topics, I have been definitely "pro-flag". But unfortunately, I've been forced to listen to the same reactions that Grace had to endure relative to the "ugly flag".

NO MORE FLAGS. It cheapens the entire piece.

bobo

Instead of all of this negative flag talk, maybe there's a better way to do the flags.. The Cheboygan (Reunion Lighthouse) has a flag honoring GLLKA and their restoration work on the actual crib light..

Chebogan Crib Light

I, for one, have made suggestions about the way to do the flag so that it complements the beautiful models instead of detracting from them. It's not a matter of negativism, it is fact that it totally takes away from the wonderful work done on the light. Most people ask why would they put such a cheap flag on such a beautiful lighthouse. Just the facts.

Recieved two pieces, both with broken trees. And everybody was so worried about the flagpoles breaking.....
Mike

Thought I was over the hump. Briefly checked my 4 pieces - thought ok. Gave one to Kristin for her birthday and it had a big chip in the tree trunk floating around. Now I will carefully review the other 3.

To all. Even though I did not go to the Reunion, I did buy a Cheybogan Crib from a couple that went. They ordered 3 pieces and one was broken but they thought the other two were perfect. I received one of the "perfect" pieces by UPS and after giving it a quick once over and thinking all was fine, I looked at the big trunk under a magnifying glass and saw a hairline crack running horizontal around 3/4 of the trunk. I emailed the reunion couple and told them how I had found the crack and they examined their "perfect" piece and found the same kind of damage. DO NOT JUST LOOK AT THE PIECE WITH YOUR NAKED EYE!!! Get a magnifying glass and examine or you will surely miss those hairline cracks that the naked eye cannot pick up.

I agree with Rich, look very closely--preferably with a magnifying glass. A woman I'd bought the Waugoshance trio from contacted me yesterday to let me know she has a Cheybogan for sale. I emailed her asking if the foam had been removed from the one that she's selling and was she certain that it was not cracked. She replied last night indicating that not only did the "salable" Cheybogan have a hairline crack, but thanks to my query, she and her hubby examined the one she had displayed and found the same hairline crack on the big tree. She was very grateful for the information I provided which I came to have only because of my Collector's Forum membership. So, a hearty atta' boy/girl to all of you from me and someone from Michigan.

Well I didn't go to the reunion either but it sounds to me that the whole bunch should be redone and maybe the tree left off? And care should be taken that the properly numbered pieces are sent...

Well after reading the last few posts, I'm going to have a second much closer look at my 2 pieces to check for that hairline crack.

I went over my 'Cribs' last night and all 4 had fractures or chips. I also got my replacement Wackoshaunce and one of the out building broke off.
Spoke to Cathy, and she said replacement "cribs" should come in and start shipping in about two weeks. Harry will personally check them all. Thank you Harbour Lights!
Bob

I'm trying not to seem dumb here but...are these cracks real obvious? I've looked at mine with a magnifying glass and can't seem to see any stress fractures. Maybe my eyes are just getting bad.

The stress cracks can be seen with your naked eye if they are severe enough, but, the ones that are just starting or are well hidden must be seen through a magnifying glass. They look like a horizontal line running around the tree trunk. How far around they run is how severe they are. Another way to see them is to put a very light pushing pressure on the green leaves of the tree and see if the cracks show up on the tree trunk. The crack will show up as a white horizontal line as the trunk separates. If you do not see a crack after that I would guess that your trees are fine.

Hey, Rich, I think I'm going to ship mine to you to check out. I have to get a magnifying glass first. Then, if I take my contacts out, I should be able to see any problems. Durned contacts won't let me see details.

Grace - Hopefully you are kidding about sending the piece to me to examine. I would be glad to do it but you would be taking a chance shipping it to me and then back to you. Seriously, if you are unable to see if there is damage, take thew piece to a jeweler that you trust and have them look at it through their eyepiece that they examine diamonds with.

I thought I would post some images of my three broken Cribs so collectors could see what Rich is talking about and what to look for on the trees..


The one above is pretty obvious..


This one has two different points of stress cracks.. The same spot as the first lighthouse and then another area further down the tree trunk..


The third one has a stress line right in the center of the image of the tree trunk, much harder to see but just as broken as the first lighthouse pictured...

I do not have this piece because I didn't attend the reunion. If I did, I would send it or them back for replacement before you find yourself with a damaged piece further down the road without any options for replacement.

Just because your piece arrived okay doesn't mean the defect will not show up at a later date. Take advantage of Harbour Lights' offer while you can.

Bob

Are there official photos somewhere of this piece? Couldn't find it on the HL site. The one John posted earlier under the "Reunion 2005 goodies, auctions, and giveaways" thread doesn't show that double trunk. Are there two trees real close together that look like one?

Just kidding, Rich!

Bob, I don't think there is an offer; you can only get a replacement if you find a problem. That is why I have been concerned about the possibility that I will have problems after it is too late. I sort of mentioned that HL should do a recall but I don't believe that is going to happen. A letter was supposed to go out warning everybody about the potential problem but I have not seen one yet. A lot of people who are not forums members purchased this light and may not be aware that they may have damaged pieces. I am thinking of sending an email to some folks whom I know.

By the way, Paul, your photographs are very helpful. Rich, the tips you provided have been very helpful, as well. I feel I know better what I should look for. I don't see any problems, but I am going to have someone else take a look.

Knowing the percentage of breakage on this piece so far, and the probability that the pieces not broken already will probably break in the future, I would think HL should do the right thing and recall them all.

If you feel your piece may be weak in the tree, pick it up by the tree and you will probably have a two-piece HL. Then you can send it back.

Bob

Hu-m-m-m. Actually, Bob, now there is a lot more talk about a recall on another thread. Maybe it will happen - it needs to happen. Just think about all the folks who are not on the forums and don't know a thing about the problems.

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