Old MInot's Ledge Retired

From Tony Constantino, Director of Sales & Marketing

Collectors who visit retailers are welcome to post which stores still have this piece available. Retail price is $99.

The replica is of the original skeletal lighthouse was first lit on January 1, 1850. It was lost in a hurricane on April 16, 1851, with the loss of two assistant keepers.

Official Guide to Collecting Harbour Lights page 207

We could determine the highest number held by a CF member if everyone with this piece lets it be known what their number is. That knowledge would provide at least how many "known" pieces were produced--right?

Mine is #619--anybody have a higher number?

Sandy

I think we can probably get that information from Harbour Lights; I'll try tomorrow. In any case, everyone is welcome to post their number here. Wait... Is this piece numbered? It WAS issued as an "open edition".

Interpreted this to mean original HL kept no record of how many were produced and present HL's physical inventory of 1/15/07 determined it was sold out. Wrong interpretation? Where's the calendar. . . .

Numbered on paper tag on bottom of piece.

The highest number on ebay right now is 3298.
My guess for production is 3500 or 4000.

Thanks, Sandy. I've got to dig mine out of storage to look.

That computer crash in '02 (I think that's when it was.) might be blamed on missing production counts if there isn't a number. (Are YOU backing up your hard drive?)

I'm also asking about production numbers for the 2003 pieces that retired at the end of 2006.

Where's Tim when you need him?

There was many a spirited discussion about open editions aka GLOW's, aka OE's, when it was extremely difficult to find or afford HL replicas of certain lights.

I do believe the following question came up at that time; "If a GLOW is retired, does it actually then become a limited edition?"

There could be several different but true answers. As Coach Bill Belichick says, "It is what it is."

Bob

I didn't think the #646 Minot’s Ledge was an open edition.

I thought the only open editions were the GLOW's. Which are in the 400 number series.

Aren't the 600 series pieces just special editions?

OK, I'll get it out of the way - post #6000

HL 646 was an open edition. I don't have inside info on why, but the educated guess is that it was done this way intentionally so that it could remain in inventory and available for a while. Bill was very, very proud of this light. Those who were at Rosemont at the regional event back in June 2002 will remember Bill giving a very special one to Nancy in honor of their 50th anniversary. (BTW, the page linked to above says announced June 2005 which is not correct). He wanted people to be able to buy it for their special someone, with the I-4-3 flash pattern that it shows.

How many years to get to 6,000? Don't want to rain on your parade Dave, but do you do anything else?

Sandy

I asked Tony. I think he's waiting for us to guess how many. Mystery man sometimes. He's headed on the road to Gift Shows next week.

Keep reporting your numbers, especially if you have something higher than anything that's been posted here.

MAYBE I can talk him out of a prize from Harbour Lights for the person who reports the highest number or comes closest to guessing without going over or something.

Mine is #429.

#59

I have a high number...6703.

Sooooooo, Daniel--does that put the production at 7,500 or 10,000????

Sandy

My guess would be 8000.

I did not buy the Old Minot's Ledge. I waited to long deciding if I was going to buy it or not.

I had flag# 87 at one time, and sold it. I'm not into the "plug-in" lights. Old Minots was just far too different from traditional HL's so it was sent to another collector who appreciated it more.

How many were made, or is it how many were sold to collectors? Maybe a better way to phrase it would be how many exist. My guess would be in the high 3000's. I say 3867!

Bob

An alert CF Member brought "Wolfdevil's" post to my attention after I posted my above estimate. Let it be known I still think there were less than 4000 made and sold, and just maybe there may have been a few thousand flag#'s skipped over in error. Stranger things have happened.

Bob

Bob, just because you are not into 'plug in pieces" doesn't mean it did not get produced in larger numbers than you might think. I knew of a few people who aren't into HL's who have or had the Minot's Ledge piece. Personally it was a take or leave piece as far as I was concerned, but I did end up with one eventually.

Kinda wish I'd gotten one. It's not the type of HL we know and love, but it is pretty impressive.

Bill said he made it open because he always wanted it available to be bought for that special someone.


I often wondered why they did the light with such a large wave. This picture must have been the one to inspire the sculpture’s large wave.

Article

This Old Minots ledge was not a big hit with traditional collectors (like Rich, Bob M and Daniel) but it seemed to be popular with others. The young collectors and novice collectors liked it. Sales are still good for the Old Minot’s; they are going for $55 to $81 on ebay. (That is good for a light that has been around for 4 years)
I was always going to get one because my kids loved it. My post over four years ago stated I would wait and buy one on ebay for $30, which never happened.

Call Harbour lights for a dealer listing of those that still have one. It should still be available at some dealers.

Lighthouse Depot still had it in their last catalog. Not sure if it's sold out since then.

Guess what I got as an early Valentine's Day gift?

Number 5327

It looks like the Old Minots Ledge was pretty popular. I just found one on ebay with a number as high as 7450.
So far that puts it's production at 7500 or 8000.

Looks like Cyndi had the best guess at 8000.

Oh, boy, I thought this one was going to be around forever, I better pick one up before it is too late!

I just bought the last one my fave dealer had...it is #7486...I believe it was the display model...the base of my wave is such a washed out blue, it is almost white, so much so that you can see the internal wires.

Bought mine this last weekend in St Augustine. It is number 7465.