Okay, I've had my first order St. Augustine lens for a while now, and have been waiting for some reactions/critiques. Any info or predictions on how this one is selling? I personally think it's one of the best. The small size compared to previous lenses surprised me at first, but I actually like the size and pedestal base. I think it makes a perfect display. Any responses?

Dave

All the Harbour Light lenses are popular. As we all know the HL 631 has demanded a fantastic secondary market on ebay. Generally around the low $200’s but sometimes as high as $300. Even the other two early lenses, the 650 and the 651, usually still goes for around its retail price up to as high as $160. Remember there were 4,000 of the HL631 and 5,000 of the HL 650 and HL 651. With the St Augustine light having only a production of 3,000 and keeping a price tag less than $100 it is a shoe in for having a secondary demand.
With all of that in mind and the St Augustine being a very popular lighthouse I see no problem in the next few years that the St Augustine lens becoming the most sought after Lens and eventually bringing in market value equal or even more that the HL 631.

It has not been very often that I have been able to say that I feel that a Harbour Light will be worth more in a few years than what you paid for it. Except for reunion pieces, the ELL and the White Mack it has been a long time since I felt that an new HL product would have a secondary market demand.
I bought one how about the rest of you?

I've always kicked myself for not buying two HL631's; there's no way I'm parting with the one I have, even if the price continues to climb. Maybe I should buy another #695 for speculation before it retires.

Dave

I like them all, but, I especially like the St. Augustine Lens because it is completely different from the rest. Come to think of it, they are all different from each other. Maybe that's why I like them so much. Is everybody confused?

I like them all as well, because they are each different...as they should be, because Fresnel lenses are like snowflakes. In the real world, there are no two exactly alike.

HL has done a fine job of representing the different types of lenses, and I hope they keep going.

I do wish the HL First Order Fresnel, being representative of the largest of Fresnels in the real world had not ended up so small in the HL world.

But then, I haven't held one in my hand as yet.

Judy

I have held it in my hand and, like Judy, was disappointed that it is so small. I was expecting a lens like that in SE Block Island Light--this one is more like the rotating first order Fresnel lens from the Cape Canaveral lighthouse. It's still a beautiful piece, but I wish it were bigger.

Sandy

I also was supprised that it was so small. I was kinda disapointed. But because of all the detail I think if they didn't cut down the size it would have been a $150 plus lens. I also feel that HL did the right thing. Keep the price under $100 and the production low. These two things will help its secondary market better than keeping up the size.

I like to try and visualize the real thing. The HL description says the lens is 9 1/2 ft tall. The St. Augustine Museum's site says that it is 12 ft tall and 6 ft in diameter. The pedestal, I think, would add about 10 ft to the total height. Regardless of the decrepancy, the total structure rises 20 ft +.

The pedestal was designed to work like a giant grandfather clock, rotating that gigantic lens. Can you even imagine?

The recently restored 1854 Hatteras First Order lens was reunited with it's pedestal late last year, and now stands on display at the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum in North Carolina. I can tell you, standing at the base of that pedestal and looking up at the lens is a breathtaking site.

At first, my disapointment in the size of the HL was because I would have liked to have seen more lens.

I'm liking that pedestal more and more.

Judy

I won't be getting one...I haven't bought any of the lenses other than the fabulous 5th since HL turned the rest into blinkers...like the Xmas pieces, anything HL that has metal, plastic, and batteries is doomed to failure in the Ebay graveyard...

Rock
I am not so crazy about the electrical stuff either, but in my case, I have the first five lenses and just don't light them. The good thing about the new-lighted Fresnel is that they come with their own power pack instead of relying on batteries. I think HL has come a long way from the earlier battery only versions. Though I must admit, the first lens is my favorite. Simple and no batteries, but there is no way I would pass up the St Augustine with only 3,000 made. That is the lowest ever. For the normal limited edition lighthouse that many may be in the running, but for the popular Fresnel Lens it should retire very quickly.

Just received my lens today. And I just love it . The on/off switch is on the side. Therefore no one has to lift it up to turn it on or off.

The base is facinating. The size is perfect. Any bigger and it would fall off the mantel. Harbour lights did an exceptional job with this one.

bobo