Coquille odity

Has anyone ever heard of, or seen, a Coquille River with a brown rock base (instead of grey), brighter green roof, black catwalk and beacon cap, with grey felt? A friend of mine says she has. Admittedly, she had never seen anything like it before, and I'd definately consider her an HL afficianado. I suggested she raise the question here in the forum, but...as of today, I don't believe she has (unless she's posted it in another section). I've never heard of, or seen such a version. You?

What is the serial (edition) number? What do the bottom labels say or look like?

The bottom has a '91 label. Uncertain of the number...(?)

I suppose I should interpret the silence as confusion (or, maybe just general lack of interest?). Anyone else have any input or feelings on this one? I'm confused...

Does it have a lightning rod (or place where the lightning rod might have gone)?
You said gray felt? Does it have any "made in..." stickers on the bottom?

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digitalman

>>I suppose I should interpret the silence as confusion (or, maybe just general lack of interest?). <<

Or perhaps no one has seen such a piece. More information could be helpful.
I've probably examined only 20-25 Coquilles and not seen one in the condition you describe.

It would help if your friend said what the edition # is on the flag. Perhaps she could borrow a camera (digital or otherwise) and take some pictures. Send 'em to Pauly and he'll get 'em posted if you/she are unable to do that.

__
/im

Thanks for the input guys. I do appreciate it. I have found out that the piece does have a lightning rod and it is un-numbered. No "Made In..." sticker. Another collector (not in the forum) has speculated that it's a paint sample of the original color scheme, (that since led to modifications to the colors that we all know and love today...) If this in in fact true, then does anyone have a guess as to a fair value? Thanks again for any input.

Schtuke

The best thing would be for the owner of the Coquille to take it to a signing event.
Let Bill younger look at it and verify if it is an Artist proof.
If it is, I would ask him to document it on paper.

My silence was due to the fact that I asked you to say what the serial number was and what stickers appeared on the bottom. Your response was incomplete. A few photos would help.

Early pieces (approximately 250) of the first 17 Harbour Lights (HL101-117) were cast in Southern California. These have grey felt glued to the bottom. When production was shifted to Canada, a roll of the grey felt was shipped there too, but eventually, the bottoms of Canadian pieces were 'flocked' with green flocking.

A missing serial number could be 1) A Paint Sample or Artist's Proof or 2) a number that faded out over time due to exposure to sunlight or flourescent lighting.

For more information on the shift from California to Canada:

www.harbourlights.com/modifications/pages/canada.htm

If you scroll down, you'll see a photo of the bottom of two items, both with gray felt - two different kinds of felt.

Here's a link to the image: www.harbourlights.com/modifications/images/Two_gray.jpg

You can certainly take it to a signing and show Bill. He'll give you his opinion, but he's not likely to give you something in writing. If you want an appraisal, contact a reputable secondary market dealer. It this is an Artist's Proof or Paint Sample www.harbourlights.com/glossary.htm , it will certainly have value over and above what it would otherwise have. And the missing box would be a moot point (since APs didn't usually come in a box).

The significantly different paint color shades tend to favor it being a 'paint sample'. An early casting that was painted in 'trial colors' until the correct colors were arrived at.

[This message has been edited by JChidester (edited 06-03-2000).]

Thank you Daniel and John. Sorry about the incomplete data in my earlier inquiries. You know, getting bits and pieces second hand...and not having actually seen the piece she's been referring to...well, I just thought I may have started a thread no one was really too interested in. It appears I was wrong though. Thank you again for your insight. By the way, the felt would appear to be the lighter, California variety.

[This message has been edited by Schtuke (edited 06-03-2000).]

for all you Coquille owners out there...

T3RP

I have never seen one like that. Old story, did anyone ever get any photos to share?

Mine is just the run of the mill Coquille if you can say that a Coquille is run of the mill.

Rich

This post made me pull out my piece and inspect it closer. Here is the "mixed" results that I find:

My flag is #28

The rocks are grey

The catwalk and beacon cap are black

The roof is also black

The windows are "less detailed" only a horizontal divider.

The felt on the bottom is green flocked that does not extend to the edge, & there is no sticker.

The ventilator cap has a ring.

It has a brown box with no markings.

At this point I always thought that I had a California mold, but I am starting to wonder if I have an early Canadian mold. I like the idea of taking it to a signing to let Bill advise, but that will be next year for Colorado. Does anyone have some "expert" advice?

Dick
Does it have a 3 panel door or a four panel door?
Are the window frames in the lantern room green or white?
Is ”Oak Carton Corporation, Los Angles, CA” written on the plain brown box?

The door appears to be a "three panel". It has 3 recessed sections seperated by 2 raised panels. The windows appear different than both of the pictures in the modifications link above, in that the have 2 recessed sections with no panes like the pictures on the modification page.

The panels in the latern room look like they are streaked blue with white posts between them.

The box is stored in the crawl space so I can't easily get to it, but will look when I have time. I do know that it is brown.

The one thing that is very different from my other earlier pieces is the flag number. The number is writtten more in script style. The numbers are more "loopy" than what the "block", or "straight" sytle of other pieces.

Overall the quality of the piece appears cruder than most and the paint is not nearly as detailed as other pieces.

If any of this makes sense to you I would appreciate your insight.

Now you have me interested. My Coquille has a totally different color scheme the above. The details on my Coquille are:

S/N 917
Green Felt 1/4" from the edge w/Canadian sticker
Plain white box
Dark green house roof and lantirn room roof
Brown catwalk
4 Panel green door and windows
Bottom of the lantirn room green w/white window frames
Light grey rocks

Is this the NORM for Coquilles? I've had Bill sign it but he did not elaborate one way of the other, but, then does he ever?

Rich

Dick - I'm the guy who discovered the Coquille Variation while at the 1997 Reunion. We had 5 Coquilles to sell and I was comparing them.

The three panel door and collar indicate it was made in Canada. The green flocking is the real giveaway. ONLY those made in Canada (though not all of them) have this flocking.

The fact that it is #28 probably means that it replaced a broken #28 that was made in California.

So John, what does it mean when you have a 4 panel door, white window frame in lantirn room and brown catwalk with dark green roofs and ring around ventilator ball.

I assume this is your typical paint scheme for a Canadian piece as I have green felt with Canadian sticker. This is what happens when things are raised from the past. We are reinventing wheels.

Rich

Thanks for the information. Although I am somewhat disappointed that it isn't a California mold, I am still happy that I have a Coquille piece in my collection. I not real sure how much it cost since I was fortunate enough to get this and a #76 CH mold 1 at a reasonable price for the two together.

John

Isn't the Three-panel door a California mold? At least that what it says in the Green book.
That would explain why Rich's Canadian 917 Coquille has four panels.
If we plug in the idea that a three panel is a California, that would make Dick's Coquille a California Mold.
The fact that it has the green flocking that doesn't go to the edge and the white window frames would mean that it came from Canada. AS you know, When production switched from California to Canada, every thing was sent over. The California plain box, the painted & unpainted figurines, and felt.

To me it looks like That Rich's Coquille follows the normal Canadian format.
But Dick's looks like a Coquille figurine that was made in California and then sent over to Canada where it was painted and the standard Canadian green flocking was added. Then sent out in a California plain box.

When it comes to the roofs, Rich's being green and Dick's being black
Maybe Dick's also has the original California paint with some Canadian Modifications like the white window frames.

Does anyone else have a Coquille that they would like to give the number and describe it?