Went by my dealer today, and she had received one Turket Point, so I grabbed it!
My first of the new ones! Being able to open the tower and see the spiral stairs is really cool!

While on vacation in VA, my brother and sister-in-law presented me with a late Christmas present Sea Pines, and the Keepers and Friends. Well waiting 6 months for this present turned out to be a great wind-fall for me. As I already had Sea Pines, I took the one they gave me back to their dealer. Turns out the dealer was getting out of the Harbour Lights line, and had all their stock @ 40% off, and I was able to get 149 Biloxi, MS; 157 Selkirk, NY; 162 Brant Pt, MA; 228 Big Sable Pt, MI; 233 Peggy's Cove, Ontario; 412 Split Rock, MN; and 622 Kilauea Is, HI!
Several of them were signed by Bill. Too many to bring back on the plane! Had to pack them up and ship them home!
Some of these have been displayed on open shelfs for awhile, and really need a cleaning. What's the best way to do this? I afraid some of the dust maybe too old to be removed with a soft cosmetic brush. This may be a stupid question, but would it harm them to hold them under running water (as long as I don't get the felt wet)?

I believe this post makes me an official WACKO

MelJB

Welcome to the World of Wacko's MelJB! I think you already know that this is a great place with the greatest of people. Looks like you made a nice haul on those lights at 40% off. I don't have and answer to your question, but I would render an opinion. NO, Not my HL under running water!!!

Bert
[This message has been edited by MtnHkr (edited 07-02-2002).]

MelJB,

In the past it has been suggested using a blow dryer on the low setting or a fine brush like the kind women use to put on make-up. I would think water is a NO-NO! John put one in a dishwasher just to see what would happen and it did a number on it!

MelJB, since HL uses a water based paint on it's lights, water is a big no-no.

Here is the link to John's dishwasher adventure, but the pictures are gone. http://www.lighthousekeepers.com/forums/Forum3/HTML/000136.html
Jim
Johnson

[This message has been edited by JimJohnson (edited 07-02-2002).]

If you put them under running water, the price wouldn't be the only thing that is 40% off!!!

Good one Paul.
If the dust seems to be "ground in", try a dry, soft bristle tooth brush. Has worked well on some I've purchased from display before.

Mike

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions, I'll try them and hopefully I'll be able to get some/all of the old dust off.

No dishwasher, or water though!

MelJB

Well; not so fast.

Never take water to an early model, the paint will wash right off.
The early ones are painted with watercolors. The later models are painted with more of a durable paint. You can dig up more information on this in some of the old Rutherford books.

This reminds me of a story.
After many years of dust collecting on the ones in my curio cabinet, I decided to dust them off.
I use a powder puff brush that came from a make up kit. This usually works pretty well. However, this time I could not find it. I finally located it; my 15-year-old daughter had it.
I started dusting several of my L.E.’s when I decided to look back at how well I was cleaning them. I looked at my White shoal and noticed that the snow on it had a pink cast. My first thought was that I got it so clean that I could now see the real colors. My wife had to tell me. That is make up. Sure enough my daughter used it for make up and never told me. At this time, I had five L.E.’s with a pink cast on them. White Shoal, Fort Niagara, Old Point Loma, Colchester, Brant point and North Head.

After I calmed down, I decided to wipe them off with a cloth dampened with luke warm water. The newer ones looked good as new. The water never phased them, But the Fort Niagara, some paint did come off.

Daniel

I'll play it safe...No water period.
Will make sure I get a "new" cosmetic brush and tell my 14 yr old its off limits.lol

MelJB

I didn't have my reading glasses handy when I got home with my Turkey Pt. - I initially thought that was a cat in the basket on the porch - despite it's being red! I guess they are huge apples - or refugees from the 'Attack of the Killer Tomatoes'. The open windows with sailing curtains, lounge chair, table set with table cloth, etc all add to that opening light tower side. Really nice lighthouse.

John