I thought I would start a thread about the latest HL from Maine.

This newest HL is a definite crowd pleaser, especially at the modest price of $75. I remember buying HL 128, Southeast Light Block Island in the summer of 1994 for that price.

It is about the same size (5 x 9) as another HL from Maine, Pemaquid Point, HL 164. Pemaquid retailed for $90. I remember buying Pemaquid Point around five years ago and thinking what a super piece it was for $90.

It still amazes me that Harbour Lights can increase their attention to detail and put out such a succession of super HL's as they have in 2002. Everything else in life is going up but Harbour Lights is keeping their prices down.

Hendricks Head is destined to be a classic and even has the classic edition size of 5500 as compared to Pemaquid, a 9500 edition size.

Make your plans fairly early on Hendricks Head. It will probably retire in a years time.

Bob

Bob, I looked this piece over today when I went to pick up the lenses. It's very nicely done and it's huge. So yes it's more lighthouse for your money. But if HL continues to make lots of the new lights that big curios will fill up in no time at all.

It would be great if we all had a talented brother-in-law who could fashion us custom made curios! But in most standard issue curios with non-adjustable shelves there's just so much wasted space height-wise.

Hi Sue,...Yes, Hendricks is huge and follows along with the other 2002 HL's in the "size" category. I must admit I like the bigger models. They seem more impressive to view.

One thing collectors need to be careful about is putting too much weight on the glass shelves of their curios. Those little "whatchamacallits" that support the four corners of the glass shelves could fail if stressed with an overload of weight. A failure at the upper shelves would include every shelf below it.

Collectors are better off reducing the size of their display in their curios, and rotating their stock of HL's. It's safer and allows you to change what you're looking at every once in awhile.

Bob

At the risk of continuing to sound like a crotchety old goat, the newest LE's are nice but they're just WAY TOO BIG...why oh why doesn't HL dump the GLOW line once and for all, shrink the LE's down to GLOW size, and let those blasted LLOM's contribute to upkeeping the real things??? I'm a like a ROCK on this, people, and I cannot be moved!

Even my husband noticed how big this piece is. That's actually one of the things that I like about it. But then I have it, and all my Harbour Lights, on wooden book shelves. It is now tied with Pemaquid for first place. I think Harbour Lights really captured the feel of Hendricks Head. Terry

Bob, all I can say is it's time for better supports and thicker glass! I'm all for the bigger pieces! They look great and the detail is second to none! You are right about the supports! I can see all that weight crashing down on the pieces below! I hope this doesn't happen to anyone!

LIMIT, LIMIT, LIMIT!! That seems to be the answer. My curio is about 6 feet wide and the supports for the shelves are about 18 inches from the ends of the shelves, and they are made of metal with a rubber coating. The glass shelves are 3/8 of an inch thick and more important than anything else I LIMIT what I put on them.

I agree with BobM! I rotate my HL's rather than crowd them. Better visual and much safer.

I am looking forward to Hendricks Head, but according to my estimate it should take another three weeks before I get it. For whatever reason my dealer is slow in getting them, but they've been so good to me for the last five years that I can't leave them. Sooo, I wait!

Bert
[This message has been edited by MtnHkr (edited 05-01-2002).]

All my curios have the 3/8" glass shelves with the brass shelf supports. I think the average curio offered usually has 1/4" glass shelves, and that's okay as long as you don't overload your shelves.

When I bought my first curio, I had a tendency to try to put too many HL's on display. Things got overcrowded so I bought another curio. Things got overcrowded again so I bought another curio. That one also filled up fast.

I finally came to the conclusion that too many HL's in a curio is too much. It was then I decided to store a portion of my HL's and rotate them with the ones on display every couple of months or so.

This works out just fine. My curios aren't as crowded, the displays look much better, and only about a third of my collection is on display at any one time. The change of HL's keeps more interest in what's displayed.

Bob

I got my Hendricks Head today! My wonderful wife got it for my birthday present! I had to pick it out for her because she has no idea which ones I needed! (Monday May 6th in case you want to get me something Big Dave!)(LOL)

What a fantastic piece! So large and the detail is magnificent! I know some out there do not like the pieces becoming so big recently, but I say keep them coming! The improvement over the years with detail and size has been wonderful! Thank You Harbour Lights and to my wife for such a great present!
[This message has been edited by Randy Kremer (edited 05-04-2002).]

gee, Randy - I was gonna go shopping to get you something this weekend while we were up at Michigan City, but we were just too busy doing good things to take time to shop for you. After all, gifts are soooooo material. So, I decided to get you what you got me for my birthday last year. I know you'll understand.

Happy Birthday, goldie.

Dave

gee, thanks Dave! We need to keep this gift exchange going for a while! (LOL) We had planned to go to Michigan City this past weekend, but I had a "back" tooth pulled Friday, which was really hurting me for the past few weeks. Even today, the area around it still hurts from time to time, so back to the dentist I go in about an hour! I hope he can find out what the problem is! (What a day for a birthday!)

Hopefully next time we can get together at Michigan City! Looks like everyone did a great job!
[This message has been edited by Randy Kremer (edited 05-06-2002).]

Believe it or not, my Hendricks Head finally arrived. I got the call last night and went over to pick it up today. Sharon (my wife) bought it for me for our anniversary.

Absolutely a beautiful addition to anyone's collection. Well done HL!

Randy, looks like we made out. Your birthday, my anniversary. Way to go!

BobM. THis ones got a footprint! WOW!

And it arrived two weeks before I predicted I would get it. Wow's all around!!

Bert

Bert, it's a great piece to get for a gift or to get for any reason for that matter!

I got mine yesterday - wow! Neat little bell - and other details, as well.

Stainz

PS - Way off topic - I also finally got my Alabama light today - #187 from Collector's World in MA - Thanks!!

Now, H-L, how about a Sand Is. Light (AL)???

Just got my Hendricks Head also. I really like the size! My Dealer thought that the
little bell house was a playhouse for the
Lighthouse Keeper's children! I didn't dare
tell him what it really was. He was just so
enthused that I didn't want to burst his
bubble!

I saw a special, I think it was on PBS, on Hendrick's Head, the bell tower is now a play room for the kids.

O.K.!!!!!! So my dealer was right!!!!

I watched the History & HGTV lighthouse specials I taped... also the PBS DVD's. I noted an 'Alabama Connection' to the Hendrick's Head Light - it, SN 000, is now owned and occupied by Ben & Luann Russell from Alabama. The bell tower's top is a roost now, too. Interesting.

John