I've notice a change in the Hudson Athens piece. The first version has a break in the railing going around the outside of the lighthouse at the base of the tower. The new version has the complete railing without a break at the base. I noticed this while looking at the piece in Rosemont. Has anyone else noticed this? I was informed by HL that a collector complained that the first version was incorrect so they changed it. Approximatley 4,000 version 1 were made.

I have not seen the new version, but I hope that you are correct.The actual lighthouse does not have a break in the railing. For the record, I must confess that I am the collector who pointed this out to HL and do hope that they made the change.

"the lightkeeper"

Thanks thelgtkpr for pointing this out to HL. I had noticed this error also in their photo prior to seeing the piece in person. My piece also has the break in the railing and I suspect these pieces were the first to be shipped out to dealers (auto-ships). Future shipments should have the corrected version.

As Tom noted above, the first 4,000 (the initial order) of Hudson-Athens has the 'break' in fencing at the base of the tower.

Subsequent orders will have the fence run past the tower base.

I looked at the display item in the booth at Rosemont and it had the break, but Kim mentioned the upcoming change.

We'll have to call this "The Lightkeeper Correction". Congratulations, Mike!

Yes, thanks alot Mike. Now I will have to buy the closed railing version, you just cost me more money.

Just kidding, good job on the railing. It's just to bad they make 4000 at a time now.

Saint WackoPaul '
Keep the Flame

At the show in Rosemont, it was pointed out to Kim about the railing on the Hudson Athens piece. She said its not a variation, but a production modification.
Call it what you will, but I'll buy one.

"Production Modification" is the term Harbour Lights prefers to what we call "variations" or "errors". Basically, these are changes made 'on-the-fly' during production.

Back in the early days, ordering quantities were smaller and so "modifications" could be made after just 200 or so were made (Like Split Rock MI/MN) As more and more collectors had 'discovered' Harbour Lights, initial orders increased. At the time the Beavertail tower was changed from tan to gray, there were 3,000 made initially.

Now Hudson-Athens shows us 4,000 were initially ordered.

These larger quantity orders also means that production is more consistent through a run since there are fewer 'breaks' when colors can be changed etc.

John

I saw Hudson-Athens for the first time over the weekend, and what a GREAT piece it is! It deserves a Holy Toledo! Wait, no, that saying applies to the Great Lakes. How about a quote from the venerable Ketih Jackson, WHOA NELLIE! Anyway, Hudson-Athens has moved straight to the top of my wish list.