I received exciting news today from Tim Harrison at Lighthouse Depot via email which read as follows:

"Lighthouse Depot will have an exclusive piece from Harbour Lights. No other dealer in the nation will have it. This is a first for Harbour Lights Limited to only 1200 pieces, it will ship in December, but orders are being taken now.

It is a replica of the Fort Washington Lighthouse Bell Tower. Available as item #42901 for $44.95 plus shipping.

Because only 1200 are being made it is expected to sell out fast. It will be in our late fall catalog, but I figured you would want to know about this ASAP and pass the info on to other Harbour Lights collectors. It can be ordered by phone at 1-800-758-1444 or on the web at www.LighthouseDepot.com "

In order to view this exclusive piece you may visit the following link (where you can also oder it.
http://www.lighthousedepot.com/Order.cfm?orderitem=42901

This is certainly a first and I wanted to let all my Connected Collector Family in on this.

Ron
(CT Keeper)

Though I am completely turned off by Dealer Exclusive Pieces I do appreciate you sharing this information Ron! I have grudgingly ordered mine wishing I could have shared the money with my dealer who bends over backwards looking out for me. Are there any rumors of more store exclusives popping up so that we can budget the added costs of staying current?

Thanks for the scoop Ron!

Ordered mine.

I printed the picture and the first thing my 12 year old daughter said was, "There's the seahorse!"

Thanks Ron.

I ordered mine.

I actually heard from my dealer about a year ago that this piece was in production. I posted this "rumor" on the forums awhile back. Great to see that it has become a reality.

However, like Sean, I would have liked to bought the piece at my dealer who helps me out alot.

Ordered ours tonight. Thanks for the heads up, Ron.

I will also have to order one. A couple years ago, on a trip to DC to help get my mother ready to move, I was able to join members of the Chesapeake Chapter of the US Lighthouse Society on a work day at Fort Washington.

Dave

I'll order mine tomorrow....

Yes, it will look just right beside Sherwood Point.


terry

I will pass on this one. I don't like dealer exclusives, either. You won't find one in the Mid-West Harbour Lights Museum...

Paul L Brady

Thanks for the heads up, Ron. As a former Marylander, this is a must have for my collection.

Jack Wilson

Thanks for the word Ron.just got thru to someone who knew something this AM and got my order in for 2 one for a friend.Bill O'Brien

Thanks for the heads up Ron. Had to get one too, I'm a sucker.

Thanks Ron
I ordered mine.
Not crazy (wacko) about only one dealer having the exclusive. But I am very pleased about the low addition size. Looks like Harbour Lights is trying to put the fun back into collecting by throwing us all a left curve. We might have been too late on this one if we were not connected.


Daniel



[This message has been edited by Daniel (edited 09-22-2001).]

Agreed though I think demand in the future secondary market might be higher if it were a lighthouse. I would prefer to see these type of exclusives go to the gift shops at the individual lighthouses. I understand that there needs to be the committment from the gift shop to purchase the entire run. I can dream can't I?


[This message has been edited by SThompson (edited 09-22-2001).]

I am not ecstatic about the one dealer part but have been looking forward to this one for a while now hop this is not a trend.Bill O'Brien

Thanks Ron. I ordered mine. I was told there are still plenty left, but they are going quick. They are to be shipped out in December in time for Christmas. I, too, don't like the idea of exclusives, as I would have been deeply saddened by missing this opportunity.

As I have stated in past forums I consider myself a collector of history so on occasion I hve to by where I dont like as this 1 dealer thing.Bill O'Brien

Has this been done before? I would guess that with such a low edition number HL thought this would be the only way to market this item. Don't autoships account for around 2000 or so pieces? Giving them to Lighthouse Depot isn't the same as giving them all to say X number of selected dealers. Just about everyone who's into lighthouses is aware of Lighthouse Digest/Lighthouse Depot. However not every collector is "on-line" and able to subscribe to their email newsletters. I just received a new catalogue today and this piece was not featured in it. If any piece can't be made in enough numbers to satisfy autoship requirements it just doesn't seem fair to all collectors.

Interesting approach. I'll conjecture its a marketing test designed to learn who finds out about it through the means they've chosen to get the word out and to test how quickly a v. small edition size of a relatively obscure navigational aid will sell.

Part of being a collector is being 'in the know'. Folks who keep up on their hobby and actively seek out information about it are the ones who benefit the most. I don't see anything wrong in that and in fact encourage it. If you can afford to collect lighthouse models you can afford to use the Internet - if you're not on the Net nowadays, you're out of the loop.

One key for manufacturers has always been the distribution network. LH Depot has built what is probably the strongest distribution mechanism of any dealer and no doubt is Harbour Lights largest distributor. Doesn't bother me if they get a perk like this once in a while. Its not gonna hurt local dealers - with whom I encourage you to form a relationship. Most collectors know if LH Depot no longer has it, then its time to start looking.

Though its kinda expensive I like the idea of a fogsignal line. Maybe this is a precursor. I ordered one. Thanks to Ron for the notice.
__
/im

Thanks for the heads up Ron. Nana mentioned it last night at our scrapebook meeting. Its now on order.

Is that a book about all the scrapes you Tampa Bay hooligans have gotten into??? (tic)

Dave

I agree with Tim. I'm sure Lighthouse Depot sells more H.L.'s than anyone else. Maybe this is H.L.'s way of saying thanks. Ordered mine today. The guy on the phone said they we're goin fast.

Mike

Ordered mine yesterday. Can't wait till December. I convinced my wife to give it to me for Christmas.

Thanks for the tip Ron! I ordered mine tonight!

I want to thank you, too.
I ordered mine first thing this morning.
I recently joined the Forum and it has opened up a whole new "inside" world for me.

Thanks for the tip Ron. We ordered ours too. I didn't know anything about it until I read your post. I love the Forums and learn a lot from them.

Hi Ron,

Thanks for the info! It pays to log onto the Forums. I ordered mine yesterday from work.

Donna