If anyone has any displaying ideas for a newbee let me know. I need to get a curio cabinet (because my current sofa table is getting crowded and with the kids running around--the possibilities scare me) but I keep seeing special pieces which I have to have and therefore no bucks for the cabinet. I have read the forums regarding light fading, sun, etc, but any new ideas (other than stop getting lighthouses for a while??) Any help appriciated.

Sidd,
Try reading these threads for a few ideas

Glass shelf sizes:
http://www.lighthousekeepers.com/forums/Forum3/HTML/000047.html

Paul's new cabinet:
http://www.lighthousekeepers.com/forums/Forum1/HTML/000146.html

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-RodW
[This message has been edited by Rod Watson (edited 03-13-99).]

Sidd,

Buy the biggest curio you can afford, and make space for it! You'll quickly run out of room anyway with this hobby!

Enjoy!

-Art

Art,
I think you're right. In fact my husband and
I went out to look for them--and reality must have set in because we bought a big beautiful
oak one. I have no idea where it is fitting in the house but the lights will be safe.
And as far as room, you're probably right considering we found a lot of gem "retirees" at an out of state store via the net.
Sidd

Uh-oh - another wacko-in-the-making!

My advice is to buy a good quality curio with thick glass shelves. Try to purchase one with a halogen light so that you will have plenty of light to light up your displayed HLs.

Shop around and compare prices and the quality you will get for your buying dollar. Remember the investment you have in your collection and what would happen to your investment if the top glass shelf broke under the weight of part of your collection.

I currently have two curios made by "Jasper". I'm very satisfied with the quality of the workmanship, the thickness of the shelves, and their system of lighting the display area.

Don't be tempted to purchase a cheaper cabinet just to save a few bucks. It could cost you more in the long run.

LamarB,
what's your definition of a wack-o so I know if I qualify. I started in January-have 18 pieces (2 society pieces, 7 retired pieces and 2 signature series). I also have 4 pieces coming from dealers (1 event piece, and 4 retirees from 96). Do I Qualify or am I overqualified. ??
sid

"Do I Qualify or am I overqualified?" sidd

You can never be overqualified!

I shot pictures of 24 lighthouses and picked up 28 Harbour Lights lighthouses on an 11 day trip through MI, the UP, to Split Rock and back through WI. Everybody that knows me, knows that I am not really wacko, I just play one on TV.

WackoPaul
oops!
Engbrady

IMHO most non-wackos buy a piece of furniture for a specific place in their house, especially big furniture.

It seems that the safety and enjoyable display of your HL's is paramount. You're gettin' there Sid. Welcome to the club!

Since we're revisiting the shelf thickness thing, here's something to weigh while choosing a curio:

If you buy a curio thinking you'll save a few bucks and upgrade the shelving later yourself, you're probably making a mistake. I recently priced new structural glazing for my curio. Shelves 1/2" thick x 38" x 12" with beaded edges were $70.00 per shelf; in 3/8" thick glass they were "only" $55.00 per shelf!

I bought the curios that I did not to save money, but because I really liked the style and workmanship otherwise. But at $350.00 to upgrade the shelving in each cabinet, I ended up paying a hefty premium for them.

Caveat emptor,

-Art

Have no fear. You guys are great teachers. Before going out to look at curio cabinets, I read all the forums and threads everyone so kindly contributed. Not only did I buy a beautiful oak style to fit my liking but the 4 shelves all are 3/8" and supported with 8 brackets per shelf all around. Now if I can just decide where I should put it???????? I guess on Wednesday the delivery men will decide if I don't
Anyway thank you again for all the help and if your in sun, think of me in Pennsylvania 15" of snow and still falling.

while daydreaming the other day leaning on my shovel in a grave I noticed the freshly painted gold-toned vault next to me. A thought came to mind, stand it on end in a corner of the house, put in some nice marble shelves, a little drapery, carriage lights or lanterns, etc. etc.

Oh my.. I think I have stepped over the cliff. I have progressed from Whacko to Sicko. The only cure, go to the dealer and buy another HL.

Hey 'digger,

If you paint the outside off-white, it'll look just like Coquille River Lighthouse!

My collection quickly outgrew my curio cabinet and I needed an affordable way to safely display my pieces. I went to a plastics shop and had them build a plastic box, to my dimensions with a mirrored back, which perfectly fits on top of the cabinets on my computer desk. Cost? About $125. I now have two of them, and they hold about 17 lighthouses each. More than I could get into my curio cabinet. I am eyeing other avalilabe space for these custom display cases. They are very affordable and they fit in whatever available space you have. While curio cabinets are nice, those of us with limited floor space need to find creative display ideas.

Here's a picture courtesy of Richard...


www.lighthousekeepers.com/images/rihetzler_display.jpg


[This message has been edited by JChidester (edited 03-19-99).]

Thar ya go Art.

What an idea. There could be a market. The biggest problem would be finding hinges strong enough to support the lid (I mean door)!

One way I found to display more HLs in my curio cabinets was to add a half shelf at the back of each shelf. You can elevate this shelf 2-5". I put tall lighthouses on the elevated shelves and shorter ones in front. Now I can put more HLs in the cabinet and still clearly see the ones in the back. Before doing this make sure the additional weight won't lead to a catastophic failure of the suporting shelf. For each half shelf, I added a set of supports as if adding a full shelf. Then I put a 1/4" square dowel on the supports on each side of the cabinet. The glass shelf sits on these dowels. I put a small brass nail in each dowel in front of the shelf to make sure that the half shelf does not slide forward and either damage an HL or worse, fall off the dowels.

The supports are the same as the ones that came with the cabinet to hold glass shelves. I used vise grips to bend the tips of the supports up slightly. This holds the dowels in place.

AB in warm, sunny Ala-Bama


After a few days I noticed that the wooden dowels are saging a little. I replaced them with square hollow metal rods that I got at Lowe's. These babies don't sag! They are the same size as the wooden dowels so I didn't have to make any other modifications. I have also found that the half shelves should not all be the same height. The ones at the top of the cabinet should be higher than the ones at the bottom with graduations in between. Before adding any, work out yhe best height based on the viewing angle.

[This message has been edited by AlanBeckman (edited 03-20-99).]

Without adding shelves and supports, you could add plexiglas "Step" units that are available in various 'footprint' sizes and various heights that would enable some of the back of the cabinet items to be seen, but probably wouldn't allow you to fit more items in each cabinet.

With three full curios holding about half of the HL's I have, I think next time, I'll have built in cabinets with glass fronts made.

Anybody here display items at their work location? (other than my work-at-home office).

When you run out of floor space as we have,(until we close a spare window) try wall mounted curios.

We have two wall curios that house our smaller pieces. The only draw back is they do not have lights. We adjusted our track lighting as a temporary fix.