We received our new society gift piece today. It is a low number also, 52. Did anyone else receive their piece stating on the flag that it is the Ape Hatteras Beacon? I didn't notice it at first and then Diane brought it to my attention.

Tom

Looks like we may have a variation right at the start of the issue of this new piece. I haven't received my package yet, but when I do I'll let you know whether it is Ape or Cape.

Bob

I received one of mine today too, #364 is a Cape... not an ape

#526 is a "Cape."

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Courtesy of Tom & Diane and their neighbor with a digital camera:






[This message has been edited by JChidester (edited 05-14-2002).]

[This message has been edited by JChidester (edited 05-16-2002).]

I can see the very faint "C" when I look at the flag on #52. Do they letter/number these flags with a special pen? Maybe it is some sort of ballpoint type pen that starts out a bit dry like many of them do.

Quality control-wise, what would be better: leaving the "C" so faint you can't really see it without straining your eyes or writing over the "C" again. (Would that be similar to the "double struck" 1955 penny?)

Bob

The name of the lighthouse is incised into the resin, Bob. It's not written on the piece. Only the edition (serial) number is written on the flag with a Sharpie permanent marker.

John

I'm glad to hear they have made it as far as Ohio. NJ can't be too far behind! Now I'll be stuck waiting for the mail man every day...

They have made it to Massachusetts. I received mine today and it has the cape completely spelled out. No variation here! The # is 1175. Neat little light and as always a welcome gift from HL

Thank you HL!!

Bert

You lucky people, it hasn't made it to AZ!!!

well.... I got my second members piece (Michelle's) #1196 yesterday, a day after the first piece arrived. Well it wasn't an "ape" hatteras either and I wouldn't call this a varition but it came in a different box with a different label on the box, the label on the piece it's self is the correct oval society label though.
P.S. the picture is real and not doctored.

[This message has been edited by Mark Wagner (edited 05-15-2002).]

We received ours today. It's #67 and spelled correctly as CAPE HATTERAS. I think it is the best society gift piece yet.

Whats up with the "normal" HL box and generic label on my society piece??? Are some getting the "dark blue" box and standard society label and some getting a generic box with a simple computer type label??? Cape Hatteras Beacon arrived yesterday #1639.

Since I get the impression from a few people about the authenticity of our "Ape" Hatteras Beacon piece, I can tell you that it is actual and the picture is not doctored in any way or written in pen. Hopefully at least one more person will receive one of these to further prove this mistake.

Tom and Diane

Tom,

Even if your the only one, I think you have a winner. Looks good to me!

Bert

Tom and Diane, If you are referring to my p.s. about my picture not being doctored, what I meant by that was -I have doctored a number of pictures for humor purposes in the past and come to think of it I did even doctor a picture of the flag on American shoal once, but I was trying to let everyone know that my picture was real and not another of my "funny" pictures. So please don't take offense to it, I most certainly wasn't suggesting that your picture was doctored.

I received an AP of Cape Hatteras Beacon today - it was correctly spelled.



[This message has been edited by JChidester (edited 05-16-2002).]

Recived my piece yesterday. Correct spelling and regular box. Moby

I talked to Bill about these type of errors at a recent store event in California. He was signing a "Mlkilteo" that I recently bought on EBay. It's a stamping error and similar to yours. There are, or usually are, no AP's of this as some other variations due to mold errors which are different. This type of error is usually one of a kind. This depends on how the stamp is set and how close it is being watched. Occasionally, a letter in the stamp may recess, or be off the mark in some way. With all the lighthouses being stamped, errors do occur. Not all are caught. When I asked what happens when a stamping error is caught he quickly changed the subject. When I brought it back up, he looked up at me and with the famous Bill smile, said there are a few errors of this type out there. It's just that maybe nobody's noticed. I am currently looking at all my "Flags". I have found one that has no edition number, but I don't consider that a rarity since the numbers are penned in. Whereas the name is stamped. You truly have a good find. It's one of a few, if not the only one.

[This message has been edited by JeffMarsh (edited 05-17-2002).]

Note Jeff that all 'timed' releases do not have edition sizes on them. This includes event pieces, "name your own lighthouse" pieces and "Liberty Enlightening the World" and "Eddystone". Those pieces that were changed from "GLOW" to Limited also do not have edition sizes on the flags.

http://www.harbourlights.com/modifications/pages/open2limited.htm

You're right, John. The piece I was referring to, though, was the Hooper's Strait NON-reunion piece. I didn't take the time to look when I got it because I already had the reunion edition. The funny thing, though, was that the box was numbered "#4175". It went straight from the box to the display case. I didn't even look. Good thing it wasn't damaged. Come to think of it, I reserved this piece as soon as it was announced, but it took me a long time for my dealer to receive it. About 2 months after others started to announce that they had received theirs. I wonder if the original had broken and that this was a replacement for that specific number. My first Fresnel lense was sent back due to a defect with bottom track. My dealer got back the same number. With Hooper's Strait not having a limited or last edition, so to speak, would Harbour Lights use the same number or would they just go on from where they left off? Just curious.

[This message has been edited by JeffMarsh (edited 05-19-2002).]

Our #26 is a Cape and it came in a blue box.
The thing I found interesting is that, although the flag says "Cape Hatteras Beacon", both the label on the box and the sticker on the bottom say "Hatteras Beacon".

Marilyn

Cape Hatteras Beacon # 1782, received on Thursday 5/16, with a light blue box, not the dark blue as has been used in the past for society pieces. Apparently HL's is saving a few $'s and using existing boxes.. No big deal! LOL

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[This message has been edited by pharologst (edited 05-21-2002).]

Mine (#2453) arrived yesterday - properly spelled, with a print and a pin, and in a dark blue box! Still no Legacy, however.

John

#295 Cape. Very clear.

Still waiting for mine but I have a question. A few days ago I received one of those email notifications saying to expect delivery of a package from HL on a certain date, along with the tracking number. Did other folks receive one of these also? I've never gotten one before from HL.

Yes, I got one too. Must be a new thing with HL. I like the idea of being able to track. Thanks again HL for always trying to improve.

Rich

Didn't get one here in New England. Just the package.

Bert

I got an e-mail here, too. I appreciate HL taking that extra step to let us know when the package is coming in...

Yup, I got one of those e-mails on 5/23 from UPS notifying me of the impending arrival of a package from HL. Now THAT's a first!

I received an e-mail also. Somehow, I think our webmaster had a hand in bringing HL.com to HL in El Cajon. Thanks John, for helping us with all the extras.
Jim
Johnson

It wasn't my doing. But I suspect that if you joined or renewed online, HL would follow up online by email.

I got my Beacon today, with no advance email. My extension of membership was taken over the phone (HL called me!)

My renewal was taken over the phone and I received an email about tracking information..

Sue's beacon arrived a while back with no notification... there was still two years to go on her membership and those were shipped first, I was informed by HL when asking about mine..

I wonder if a more logical answer is that HL has some of our email addresses on file from Reunion registration time. I renewed by phone and did not give my email address at that time.

FWIW, I called in to renew March 1st - this used to be the first day you could renew. They were somewhat unprepared, IMHO, but did take the information. Whoever took the info first tried to renew last year's membership, but I was called by HL customer service to advise me of the goof. About mid-May, when I still had not seen my renewal kit I called to find out what was happening. After several attempts to get thru to them (closed mid-day, closed early and such) I was told yes, we see your renewal. No, we haven't billed your card or shipped it yet. May 23 I received the email from UPS indicating expected delivery on 5/30.

No problems like this last year. . . . .

Dave

My #61 arrivied today and it's a Cape. If anything, the C is more clearly formed than the other letters. It also came in the dark blue box. Looks like the factory caught the error early and that Tom and Diane got the only one to slip through so far. Congrats guys, you got the unique piece. Thanks to HL for going through the trouble to match us up with our autoship numbers when it was possible.
Jim
Johnson

Received my "CAPE" #21 yesterday!!!

I received #659 in a light blue box. "Cape" is very clear.
Thanks.

Finally!!! Mine arrived today! Of all the "freebies," I like this one the best!!!

I receive my Hatteras Beacon yesterday. I just opened the dark blue box with the oval sticker "Society Exclusive". I received my autoship number, #87. The flag is very clearly marked "Cape Hatteras Beacon". No variation on mine.

Bob

Received my Society Kit today.
All looks like standard issue.
Blue box and correct spelling.
Except for one major improvement.
I got my auto shipment number.
I have been trying for four years to get a double-digit society gift and this year I got it. Not just a double digit, but my auto shipment double digit.


Daniel

Finally got mine Cape, no Ape, Hatteras yesterday and I am mighty impressed. HL has certainly done a fine job "dressing up" what must have been a pretty plain looking little lighthouse. Lots of dodads on it. I especially like the natural colored boat, the open door and the open window that has open space behind it. But I think the best feature of this light is the stairway, really great job here! I almost missed the ladder stored down in the legs. Was this used to wash the windows or get up into the lantern room? Maybe both!

My only complaint is that my number rose from 354 last year to 3476 this year. I guess I should have given HL the number of the pieces I normally get from my dealer. Not on autoship but not spoken for by anyone else either. Live and learn.

I also noticed that my numbers were higher this year. I get two pieces and both were over 2700. In the past, I received numbers that were below 800. I wonder why it was different this year?

I got my cape in a dark blue box yesterday a nice piece of history but not the best freeby yet Nice but no wow.Bill O'Brien

Display from a Memorial Weekend Bill event at a dealer in Yaupon Beach, NC.

Here's another view of the 'official' Collectors Society display that dealers get:

It was great to have HL contact me and ask if I wanted my autoship number on the society pieces. I said, "Yes", and ordered them all!

This is just another example of HL's friendly service to their dedicated collectors.

Bob

For four years, I tried for a low number for the membership gift. The first time I signed up for my new member ship right when the new membership started. I got a high number. Then I found out by customer service that to get a low number for the free gift I would have to sign up for the three year membership the year before. The year I did, Harbour lights started the new computer system (mom) and it lost my records that I paid. They did correct the mistake but I lost my chance for that year for the low number. Next year I was a two year paid membership and I was told I was put behind the three year paid membership. Again, I got a number in the 3,000’s.
Okay Last year I thought I paid up for the three year. But Harbour lights customer service said I wasn’t. So again I got a number in the 3,000’s.

Last year I did asked for my auto shipment number on the free gift and society piece. Customer service said they have been thinking of doing that but didn’t know how to implement it. I told her to just let collectors know that they can register their number with Harbour Lights. And if they don’t register it. Don’t worry about it and just give them the number they would normally get. She said that was a great idea and would pass it on to management.

So this year I got my low auto-shipment number

Mombo and Randy

I think you got higher numbers because many of the lower numbers are now being used up by auto-shipment people and also maybe there is some shuffling around on how and who gets the low numbers.

Daniel

Daniel, I think I got your light. Want to trade? Just kidding, of course. I shouldn't have used the word "complaint" as I really like this light and the number doesn't bother me, really. Nice that you finally got a lower one and it sure sounds like you were instrumental in the autoship folks being able to get theirs with matching numbers!

Daniel,

I don't think there are 3000+ autoship numbers spoken for. Last year my dealer went from their autoship in the 1600 range to the high 800's this year. This tells me they lost an awful lot of dealers getting autoships. (My dealer just signed on for autoship last year). Plus, it is possible that not every autoship is taken by a Society member.

Much of the problem this year was what appears to be some unfortunate disorganization at HL. Like Mombo, I renewed my membership on March 1st, the first day they would allow. After first trying to renew my last years membership they then (apparently) put everything in a drawer where it stayed until I started asking why I did not have my kit. Even then it was over a week before they got around to shipping, and another week after that before the package arrived.

I have mixed feelings about folks being allowed to get their autoship number on their Society pieces. (Probably not a very popular thing to say in this group.) Is HL expected to hold your number 'till you decide to renew? Or, should they charge you on "renewal day"? Should you pay a premium for this? (you now pay a premium to have your Legacy delivered first class.) I don't have an issue with the priority of 3 year renewals getting first numbers and such, as these folks have made a longer term commitment to the Society. I'm glad that those with autoship are getting "their number" but those of us who do not choose to commit to buy each and every piece are losing the chance they used to have of getting a rare low number. (Not all of us have the space to store and display all that HL turns out in a year, or may not be willing to dedicate that substantial portion of our disposable or "play" money.)

In a nutshell, for each of the folks who HL has pleased by giving them their autoship, they have very possibly also upset a person who enjoys the "thrill of the hunt" by trying to be the first to renew.

FWIW, and I'm sure not overly well received,

Dave

We really should return to the intent of this thread, seeing if anyone else received a mis-marked cAPE HATTERAS beacon, and celebrating Tom's apparent good fortune in having a very rare piece.
[This message has been edited by Dave H (edited 06-03-2002).]

[This message has been edited by Dave H (edited 06-03-2002).]

This is the first year I've received my autoship number on my society piece. I would have purchased it anyway whether it was my usual number or something higher. I feel HL's offer of making my autoship number is good business. I appreciate the fact they took the time and cared enough to contact me about it. That, my friends, is good business relations.

I received my autoship number as a result of making an inquiry about a lower number here at the Collector Forums. There are collectors here that know of lower number autoships being available. If my memory serves me correctly, I had a choice of several different low numbers when I finally signed up with my current HL Dealer. I couldn't be happier with the service I have received.

Bob

Just returned from a long vacation to the Outer Banks of North Carolina to find a pleasant surprise waiting for me...... The society membership kit with Hatteras Beacon.

Number: 189
Box: Normal Dark Blue Society Box
Flag: Cape, "C" included

Very pleased with it and looking to purchase another one. Luv North Carolina pieces!! Anyone not interested in this light and wish to sell their low number one? If so, let me know.

Christopher

It is now a signed "ape" Hatteras...


Bill held it for me to get a picture of it right after he signed it at the recent event at Bayside Treasures. Tom and Diane brought it to show to Bill and of course get it signed...

Thanks for the picture Paul. Not only did we take it to the Bayside Treasures show but it also went to Bay City, MI., along the east coast of Michigan to Mackinac, over the bridge to St. Ignace where it spent 4 wonderful days touring all over the U.P. of Michigan. It got to visit 14 of it's cousins in all and can't wait to go back.

Tom & Diane