We all know what the first HL's of 2008 are, but we've only seen pictures so far. Our impressions may change once we actually see these HL's in person.

I thought it might be interesting to have your intial impression of the first six LE's. I do realize that collectors favor lights from their general vicinity so we all won't be thinking exactly alike.

Here's the game plan in simple form. Put the first six LE's in the order that you like and are most likely to purchase. Rate your favorite as #1 and your least favorite as #6. In other words rate the best as #1, second best as #2, and so on. Feel free to add comments about each piece if you like, but it isn't necessary to participate. Graemlins are also optional!

I'll start it off:

1. Bristol Ferry Light (hidden jewel about 30 minutes from my home)

3. Cedar Point Light (I need to see this in person re the "coaster" before I give it a WOW)

4. Windmill Point Light (A historic New England Light)
5. Waukegan Harbor Light (Nice HL, I like it better than South Haven)

6. South Haven Light (I don't like the "frosting") :rolleyes:

Bob

Funny you should mention frosting for the South Haven light since that is what my wife called it. Hopefully it looks better in person.

1) South Haven - provided it looks good.
2) Waukegan Harbor Light
3) Cedar Point

Since I only collect lights from the great lakes that's my list.

1) South Haven, MI* (Sorry, but I love the frosting!)
2) Cedar Point, OH (Neat design)
3) Bristol Ferry, RI*
4) Windmill Point, VT*
5) Crown Point, NY*
6) Waukegan Harbor, IL

* -On my "wish list"

1. Bristol Ferry Light

2. Crown Point Light

3. Cedar Point Light

3. Windmill Point Light

4. Waukegan Harbor Light

5. Cedar Point Light

6. South Haven Light

I don't care for either the Cedar Point or the South Haven for similar reasons.

I think the execution of both is great- based solely on a small photo- but I think the design of both takes too much attention away from the lighthouse itself.

The Cedar Point looks crowded out by the roller coaster- to my eye.

The "frosting" on South Haven hides too much of the structure- again to my eye.

Sorry if this upsets anybody it's just my personal opinion. I'll add again I believe the execution of both is very well done but they just don't please me.

The others look well done as well but I don't expect to buy any of them for various reasons.

Dennis

South Haven is first on my list precisely because of the winter wonderland look. (I've always thought it looked so awesome in winter pictures but I've only seen it in summer in real life.)

Cedar Point is a close second and may even be a tie; the metalwork has to be pretty spectacular. Can't wait for Paul to post closeup pictures of all of them - they all look pretty terrific! And what can we say about Harry?!! What a guy!!

My preferences are a combined personal opinion, as well as that of a retailer. I have already put the new lights onto my website and have gotten quite a bit of feedback from many of my customers, so that has influenced my preferences, as well. Here goes.
1) South Haven- Some of the most spectacular lighthouse photos I have ever seen are those which show the Great Lakes winter scenes. Harry's version looks eerily similar to a photo which I saw just a couple of days ago!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/ar...in_page_id=1811
This lighthouse is different, which is a retailer's dream!
2)Cedar Point- Another of those "different" lighthouses which make retailers happy. Great!
3)Windmill Point- This is a personal choice. I was just in Vermont in October and photographed the lighthouse for my blog.
http://letstalklighthouses.blogspot.com/2007/10/lighthouses-in-vermont.html
Harry captures this one very, very well!
4)Crown Point- The nuances of this lighthouse, I imagine, would make it a difficult one to recreate. Another fine job, Harry, as you've captured this one to a "T"!
5)Bristol Ferry- I think the photo of this piece will probably not do justice to the final product. At first glance, it seems not as spectacular as the others, but upon closer inspection, I think that this one could be a hidden gem when I am able to take a good look at the actual piece.
6)Waukegon Harbor- I love the "rusting" aspect along the sides.
All 6 of these pieces seem, from the photos, to be extremely well done. Today, I am a proud Harbour Lights retailer! Thanks Harry, and all who have been a part of these!

Thanks for your links and for your insight into some of these lights, Roland. Sort of puts things into perspective for those of us who are not familiar with all of them. I love the picture of South Haven. Every winter picture I have seen has been really spectacular.

I don't see a cord, but it looks like the South Haven HL lights up. I notice on the Main page the price is $99, but on the South Haven page the MSRP is $109. Which price is correct?

This and Bristol Ferry, RI are the only ones I would buy since they are the only ones I have visited.

My choices in order of preference:

1. South Haven – the “frosting look” is exactly the way I have seen the lighthouse in the dead of winter. And the lighting looks like it will be phenomenal.

2. Cedar Point – the roller coaster in the background is a fantastic touch. I brings the lighthouse into the world of realism.

3. Bristol Ferry

4. Crown Point

5. Waukegan Harbor

6. Windmill Point

7. Biloxi

bobo

No cord because I used batteries when I shot the picture..

South Haven is $99.50, Cedar Point is $109. My error, I'll fix that.

For those buying lighted pieces, remember the AC adaptors are now optional @ $5

1. Cedar Point Light – This is a real attention getter-Put this in your curio cabinet and I bet it will be the first talked about.

2. Crown Point Light- Love the Architecture of the light-but the house doesn’t match

3. Windmill Point Light- Love the stone.

4. Bristol Ferry Light- looks like a church I went to as a kid.

5. Waukegan Harbor Light- Neat Lighthouse, but somebody has to be next to last.

6. South Haven Light- Awesome light and neat light-up stuff. But I don’t like light-up Stuff. Great for someone else but not me.

I will hold off giving my thoughts of how this first batch for 2008 rank. I am on autoship so it really doesn't matter because I will get them all anyway. I size them up when I get them in my grubby big paws and look them over.

I am with Rich. I need to get them in my hands

Daniel, regarding the Lake Champlain Memorial - you have to match the stone tower of Windmill Point with the house on the Memorial. The previous tower which was there with the house shown was torn down and replaced with the Memorial lighthouse. Then not too long after the house was torn down too. If you go there you can see the foundation of where it stood.

My "first-blush" opinion is that this group demonstates a wonderful overview of the variety of architectural styles of American lights...And my kudos to Harry and L.M. Frank Carbone, NELL

1. Crown Point
2. Windmill Point
3. Bristol Ferry
4. Waukegan Harbor
5. South Haven
6. Cedar Point
7. Biloxi

1 - Lightship Overfalls
2 - Cedar Point
3 - Waukegan Harbor
4 - Bristol Ferry
5 - Windmill Point
6 - Crown Point
7 - South Haven
8 - Biloxi

This ranking will probably change once I see more of these new lights.

Until Paul is able to post more pictures, there are different views at the depot website. I was able to enlarge the views and get a better idea of the detail of each. Check them out.

http://www.lighthousedepot.com

I've been struggling with the decision whether or not to discontinue Harbour Lights. This offering makes it rather easy to break away. Paying $99.50 for a glop of white putty that does not require the precision that an entire light does is downright outrageous. Unless, of course, someone meticulously copied every single icicle from a blueprint or photograph. If Harbour Lights wants to start making Great Roller Coasters of the World, fine. Let them charge $109 for some damn roller coaster, then. Since I'm pretty sure that the lighthouse is not that close to the roller coaster, I resent having the view of one side of it impared by a mere novelty. And please explain to me—for as spare as the Biloxi piece is—why it has to cost $60? Look how much you get for only $5.00 more in the $65 pieces. Four of the new pieces have the customary appeal, but I don't like having gaps in my collection, and I don't like being coerced into buying pieces that are overpriced and of dubious representational value just to keep my collection complete. The "Barking Rocks" pastiche was bad enough, but if this is the direction that "creativity" and "originality" is taking the company, it is time for me to close down the whole thing and either cherish what I have or get rid of them. As many fine lighthouses as are waiting to be done, why did we need a nearly $100 crappy lump of snow and a carnival ride? Sorry to be such a crab, wet blanket, or whatever. The price keeps creeping up, my income stays the same, and the pieces get weirder and weirder.

Danny

The opinion of every member of the CF, who is willing to share it, is important, Danny. You told us exactly how you felt about the new LE's and that is important. If we all become "bobbleheads" shaking our heads to the affirmative every time we speak about Harbour Lights the company will never know about the dissenting opinions which could influence the design of future sculptures.

I'm not thrilled with South Haven and its "frosting". On the other hand, people/collectors who live in that area or have seen the icing conditions in person may be thoroughly impressed and love the piece.

When I think of the "coaster" piece, Cedar Point, I kind of think of the original Cape Canaveral with the rocket. We all know there's no rockets taking off that close to the light but the original Cape Canaveral was a "must have" because of the innovation. Will the same thing happen to Cedar Point? I really don't know, but collectors like interesting change and putting the coaster on this HL might be enough to spark the interest of area collectors who may be more familiar with the coaster than they are with the light itself. Time will tell on this piece.

Bob

WHOA NELLY!

Was there as bit of a "glich" in the space-time continum? I believe Bob just posted the same message nine times! Perhaps my TARDIS is not working correctly.....

I don't know how that happend, but I deleted eight of them so the thread would flow more smoothly. I'm long-winded enough without repeating myself nine times (LOL).

Bob

Well, welcome back, Danny!! We've missed you around here. As Bob put it so succinctly, you have every right to express your feelings. That's what the CF's are all about. South Haven and Cedar Point are actually going to sell for $99 each. (HL has corrected the pricing.)

I had a chance to review the pictures on the Lighthouse Depot website and got a better idea of the detail. I'm one of those who loves the innovation of the roller coaster - sort of puts the lighthouse into a "real world" perspective as Bob O. said. Now that I've had a better look at Crown Point, I totally agree that it is really beautiful and a terrific choice. But I do love South Haven in its winter trappings. I've always enjoyed pictures of it looking like that and hope to see it myself some day. After checking out the detail on the Depot website, I am even more impressed. Can't wait for Paul to post more pictures with views of different sides!

1. Windmill Point, VT (I've been asking for this one since 2003. Finally!!)
2. Bristol Ferry, RI (What else! I collect the New England Lights0
3. Crown Point (Fantastic looking light)
4. Waukegan Harbor
5. Cedar Point
6. South Haven

Thanks Grace for the added pictures.
I like some of the pieces better after seeing the pictures.

As a Mich-i-gan-der and having seen some of the most beautiful winter photograph's of our Lake Michigan lites, I would say it would be extremely difficult to get the effect in a HL winter piece that a color photograph blown up and framed on your wall (like we have) GRABS your attention with. Not being a sculptur, this may be the best they can do with a piece PLASTERED from head to toe with ice. But, the two are not in the same class.