cf-banner.jpg
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Do you save the Styrofoam #22550 08/14/06 09:10 PM
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 7,152
Lighthouse Loon Offline OP
Super Wacko
OP Offline
Super Wacko
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 7,152
I've added several lighthouses to my collection recently and I'm not sure where I'm going to store the boxes.

I was wondering what other HL collectors do. Do you store the boxes intact with the styrofoam? Or do you disgard the styrofoam and collaps the boxes? Or something else?

Thanks in advance !!!

-----------------------
Lighthouse Loon


Stan M
New Jersey Lighthouse Lovers
------------------------------------
Harry Wishlist: Tinicum Rear Range, Miah Maull Shoal, Finns Point, Bergen Point, Cross Ledge, Old Ambrose Lightstation, Romer Shoal, Barnegat Lightship, Liberty Lightship.
Re: Do you save the Styrofoam #22551 08/14/06 09:32 PM
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,415
5lights Offline
Super Wacko
Offline
Super Wacko
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,415
I luckily have room in my house to store the boxes intact with styrofoam. smile


Debbie
Re: Do you save the Styrofoam #22552 08/14/06 09:43 PM
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,221
ericlighthouse Offline
Super Wacko
Offline
Super Wacko
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,221
Keep them intact with the styrofoam. However, my collection is a lot smaller than some of the people on this forum. smile


Eric, Florida Keys Reef Lights Foundation; Godfather of Jones Point River Lighthouse; member and District Commissioner of Florida Lighthouse Association et el
Re: Do you save the Styrofoam #22553 08/14/06 10:03 PM
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 6,227
flacoastie Offline
Saint
Offline
Saint
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 6,227
I keep the boxes folded up in rubbermaid containers in the garage. I nopw have 5 containers holding over 300 boxes. I do not keep the styrofoam or peanuts because I don't plan on selling any pieces. If I did, and offered my Coquille for sale(without the original peanuts) or my Erie Land Light(without the original styrofoam), I could get the same price either way and don't have to put up with the problems of the styrofoam. It is totally up to the collector as far as I'm concerned whether to save the styrofoam or not.


Rich
Re: Do you save the Styrofoam #22554 08/14/06 10:11 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,904
beachcomber Offline
Member
Offline
Member
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,904
Totally agree with Rich. I saved the peanuts and styrofoam for years but finally had to discard them. The boxes are folded up - take up a heck of a lot less room than with the foam.


beachcomber
Re: Do you save the Styrofoam #22555 08/14/06 10:38 PM
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,415
5lights Offline
Super Wacko
Offline
Super Wacko
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,415
I'm glad to hear that you can collapse the boxes. I don't plan on selling my lights, but thought that boxes and styrofoam should be kept for value(thinking of inheritance). That will give me more room!!!! smile


Debbie
Re: Do you save the Styrofoam #22556 08/14/06 10:57 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,904
beachcomber Offline
Member
Offline
Member
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,904
You bet! I reclaimed a whole big closet when I folded my boxes up. And my collection wasn't all that big at the time!


beachcomber
Re: Do you save the Styrofoam #22557 08/15/06 12:12 AM
Joined: Dec 1969
Posts: 3,759
DANIEL Offline
Saint
Offline
Saint
Joined: Dec 1969
Posts: 3,759
I have all my boxes and all styrofoam inserts. I might have cleared out 1/4th of the peanuts, but I have all the rest.
I recommend keeping the boxes. Even if you throw away the styrofoam and peanuts, if you decide to move or sell you can always buy packing, but not original boxes. HL sells boxes but not original ones and if you did buy then it could get pricey. Also packing is expensive also, And with the price of oil going up so will the price of styrofoam(a petroleum product). I personally feel the styrofoam will eventually be replaced with paper products.

If you do get rid of the boxes I recommend selling them. I could always use some of the old blue types.


DANIEL
Re: Do you save the Styrofoam #22558 08/15/06 12:51 AM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,904
beachcomber Offline
Member
Offline
Member
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,904
Oh, yes, I hope no one is throwing their boxes out! Just the thought of it....


beachcomber
Re: Do you save the Styrofoam #22559 08/15/06 06:10 AM
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,221
ericlighthouse Offline
Super Wacko
Offline
Super Wacko
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,221
One of the reasons I keep the styrofoam,is in case we move. This may be our last house, but have a feeling we will move at least one more time.


Eric, Florida Keys Reef Lights Foundation; Godfather of Jones Point River Lighthouse; member and District Commissioner of Florida Lighthouse Association et el
Re: Do you save the Styrofoam #22560 08/15/06 11:17 AM
Joined: Dec 1969
Posts: 12,331
Bob M Offline
Saint
Offline
Saint
Joined: Dec 1969
Posts: 12,331
Yes, I do save the styrofoam inserts. Two-thirds of my HL's are in storage in my home and I sincerely feel they are much better protected in their styrofoam mold then they would be without it. There are so many intricate details on the newer HL's that are much better protected then if they were bubble-wrapped and packed in peanuts.

I buy and sell many of these pieces and having the styrofoam mold is a must for safer shipping.

smile Bob smile

Re: Do you save the Styrofoam #22561 08/15/06 03:30 PM
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 862
kikigl Offline
Member
Offline
Member
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 862
I have kept it all until now. I live in a condo and it's taken over one of my closets. I am now in the process of just keeping the folded boxes and getting rid of the rest.


Kay
Re: Do you save the Styrofoam #22562 08/15/06 09:14 PM
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,125
Bill and Judy Offline
Super Wacko
Offline
Super Wacko
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,125
There is no way we have room for the styrofoam but we have the boxes. They sure take up a lot of room too but we would never part with them. I dread the day we move. Hopefully it won't be for many years!
Judy

Re: Do you save the Styrofoam #22563 08/15/06 09:41 PM
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,102
Bob Ott Offline
Cruise Director
Offline
Cruise Director
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,102
I have saved every box, peanut, and styrofoam packing. Yes, it takes a lot of room. It's probably good that my basement is unfinished.

Come to think of it, I don't even have room for many more lighthouses. Oh well ......

bobo

Re: Do you save the Styrofoam #22564 08/15/06 09:45 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,904
beachcomber Offline
Member
Offline
Member
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,904
It's great that so many of you keep the foam; I think it's preferable to do so - wish I could but I live in a very small house where closet space is at a premium. frown


beachcomber
Re: Do you save the Styrofoam #22565 08/15/06 11:50 PM
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 7,152
Lighthouse Loon Offline OP
Super Wacko
OP Offline
Super Wacko
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 7,152
Its great to hear what everyone does with there boxes. Right now I have a wall of HL boxes that is growing higher and higher in one of the rooms in our house. I don't have the space to store them with the styrofoam. I'm leaning towards disgarding the styrofoam. I plan on keeping all my lighthouses and don't want to ever move, so I think that's the way to go. Thanks for everyones input. smile


Stan M
New Jersey Lighthouse Lovers
------------------------------------
Harry Wishlist: Tinicum Rear Range, Miah Maull Shoal, Finns Point, Bergen Point, Cross Ledge, Old Ambrose Lightstation, Romer Shoal, Barnegat Lightship, Liberty Lightship.
Re: Do you save the Styrofoam #22566 08/15/06 11:57 PM
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 219
Brindfan Offline
Wacko
Offline
Wacko
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 219
Yes I keep the foam, but I only have six HL lights and three AB ships.

Re: Do you save the Styrofoam #22567 08/16/06 12:22 AM
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 966
Cyndi Offline
Super Wacko
Offline
Super Wacko
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 966
I have keep all of my boxes and foam. I keep them in big rubbermaid tubs in my attic. We have property in the country and will be moving in a few years, so it is worth it to me to keep the boxes and foam.


Cyndi
Re: Do you save the Styrofoam #22568 08/16/06 07:30 AM
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,298
seagirt Offline
Cruise Director
Offline
Cruise Director
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,298
I keep my 10 or so boxes (all HL products) with styrofoam in my closet. It's kind of a pain, because I have mountains of other useless stuff in there. But I'm a completist - I can't lose what I see to be an essential part of my HL.

As Bob said, the newer pieces are too intricate to dump them. With things like the delicate tree on the ELL (HOPEFULLY you take the flagpole out if you pack it!), do you really want to leave these extremities out to the elements? It'd be like...I don't know, but it'd hurt.

For some of the older pieces, it might be okay to toss the inserts. But with the recent, more intricate ones, if the piece has any especially delicate or extreming(?) areas, I feel it's a better idea to hang on to everything.

You never know when you just HAPPEN to have to move to that 10000 s.f. beach house, and then, not only will you not be able to store them all anyway, half of the HLs will break in transit. laugh

-Mr. Has-No-HLs-Really-But-Has-To-Give-Input Anyway. laugh

Re: Do you save the Styrofoam #22569 08/16/06 10:22 AM
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 7,152
Lighthouse Loon Offline OP
Super Wacko
OP Offline
Super Wacko
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 7,152
I guess if you have maybe a couple dozen or less you can find room to save the boxes with the styrofoam, but I think once you hit 50+ you've got to bite the bullet and toss the styrofoam away. frown


Stan M
New Jersey Lighthouse Lovers
------------------------------------
Harry Wishlist: Tinicum Rear Range, Miah Maull Shoal, Finns Point, Bergen Point, Cross Ledge, Old Ambrose Lightstation, Romer Shoal, Barnegat Lightship, Liberty Lightship.
Re: Do you save the Styrofoam #22570 08/17/06 12:04 PM
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 581
Bob48 Offline
Super Wacko
Offline
Super Wacko
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 581
Both the boxes and the foam serve as an extra layer of insulation in my attic. But, we don't have a lot of critters to deal with up here in Colorado.


Bob, just plain Bob
Re: Do you save the Styrofoam #22571 08/26/06 04:33 AM
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 39
S
Scott F. Offline
Junior Member
Offline
Junior Member
S
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 39
I have 1,083 HL lighthouses plus at least one of each Anchor Bay plus all the ornaments, 51 Little Lights of Mine, all the Skybound Balloons, and anything else Harbour Lights has put out. I have saved every box and all the styrofoam inserts and peanuts. I would never think of throwing the styrofoam away and would never buy a lighthouse that came without a styrofoam insert, if one had come with it originally. I have even sent lighthouses back that came without the styrofoam insert when seller hadn't divulged the styrofoam had been replaced with peanuts. I watched one particular seller that offered the same lighthouses in the same condition as other sellers for months on ebay and sold none of his because he stated that he had discarded the styrofoam and would include peanuts instead. I feel the styrofoam is as important as a certificate of authenticity that could be gotten any time from Harbour Lights. I say could because I have tried to contact the new company both by email and telephone and have gotten no response from either method. At least the styrofoam serves a purpose, and I believe a very necessary purpose. Now do you want me to tell you how I really feel?

Scott

Re: Do you save the Styrofoam #22572 08/26/06 09:42 AM
Joined: Dec 1969
Posts: 12,331
Bob M Offline
Saint
Offline
Saint
Joined: Dec 1969
Posts: 12,331
Quote:
Now do you want me to tell you how I really feel?

Scott
Wow! It sounds like you have quite an extensive collection, Scott. I think I'm approaching the 400 HL mark but nothing near the size of yours.

Like you, I feel the styrofoam inserts are important. I never throw them away.

smile Bob smile

Re: Do you save the Styrofoam #22573 08/26/06 11:05 AM
Joined: Dec 1969
Posts: 3,759
DANIEL Offline
Saint
Offline
Saint
Joined: Dec 1969
Posts: 3,759
Yes Scott is one of the big rollers on Ebay for the early Harbour Lights, and it is the SCOTTS of the collecting world that create the perimeters of collecting, not you and me.
As I have said in the past, a collectable should be complete with all original packing if you want to get your max return.

In some collecting fields to maintain maximum value the package is not to be opened like toys that are sealed in cellophane. But us HL collectors have been aloud to display our collectables and then sell them for the premium return according to the going value at that time, if we kept the original box, packing material and paperwork. Some collectors will not even collect a “Canadian Made” if it does not have the Canadian sticker under it.

The collecting field has not been that demanding concerning the requirements for “Certificate of Authenticity” or the “name tag”. Probably because Harbour Lights always offered replacements for these. However in the future this may change. The new Certificate are not exactly the same as the old ones, and in the future it is possible that HL may will no longer provide that service.

Buy the way, some L.E.s came with peanuts then switched to Syrofoam. If anyone is interested I probally could come up with a list. If not I will pass.


DANIEL
Re: Do you save the Styrofoam #22574 08/26/06 11:32 AM
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 176
SDudley Offline
Wacko
Offline
Wacko
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 176
I agree with Scott I will not buy a lighthouse that is not complete, this includes the Styrofoam insert. If one is being offered without it I will wait until I can find another. I am willing to take the time and pay top dollar for a complete piece.

Re: Do you save the Styrofoam #22575 08/26/06 01:21 PM
Joined: Dec 1969
Posts: 8,949
WackoPaul Offline
Saint
Offline
Saint
Joined: Dec 1969
Posts: 8,949
I could argue the packing is valuable theory but I won't (got the t-shirt), I tossed out our styrofoam a while back and I still have a great collection, which is all on display...

What I do want to address is be careful where you store it. Styrofoam can't take heat and some attics get extremely hot..

Scott if you have a full set of the Guardians you are the only other person other than myself that I know that has a set..

BTW Skybound Balloons were produced and still are produced by Younger and Associates, they weren't sold with Harbour Lights to Don Devine..


Onward to The Land of the Midnight Sun!
Re: Do you save the Styrofoam #22576 08/26/06 07:21 PM
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,125
Bill and Judy Offline
Super Wacko
Offline
Super Wacko
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,125
I guess now I'll consider you styrofoam savers as the real H.L. purists! The only ones that have the styrofoam are the Christmas lights that only come out once a year. The others are displayed and their boxes are folded in the basement. I'm like Paul and worry about fires with too much stuff in the attic.
Judy

Re: Do you save the Styrofoam #22577 08/26/06 07:30 PM
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 862
kikigl Offline
Member
Offline
Member
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 862
I think it's great to save the styrofoam, if you have a place to store it. Living in a condo, I don't.


Kay
Re: Do you save the Styrofoam #22578 08/26/06 10:06 PM
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 6,227
flacoastie Offline
Saint
Offline
Saint
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 6,227
I think the whole styrofoam discussion boils down to this and that is there is no right or wrong and only personal opinions or reasons:

If you think you may, or plan on selling sometime in the future, then by all means save the styrofoam. If you have the room, or want to pay for storage, then by all means also save the styrofoam.

If you know for sure that you won't be selling, or have no plans on selling, then saving the styrofoam is optional. If you don't have the room, and don't want to pay for storage, then there is no reason to save the styrofoam.

I fall into the 2nd catagory and do not save the styrofoam. I intend on paying back my kids for their teenage years by letting them figure out what to do with my collection and how to package it up should they decide to sell it. Who says that payback isn't sweet?


Rich
Re: Do you save the Styrofoam #22579 08/27/06 03:19 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,904
beachcomber Offline
Member
Offline
Member
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,904
Whoa! For very good reasons, I always get Rich's input when I have to make decisions about my lighthouses. This is certainly one of them! Rich, if I were not already discarding the styrofoam, that sure would convince me to do so! How sweet it is!


beachcomber
Re: Do you save the Styrofoam #22580 08/28/06 12:49 AM
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 69
Gayle Offline
Member
Offline
Member
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 69
I don't save the styrofoam and like Rich and many others have my boxes flattened in storage containers. I also don't plan to sell any of my pieces in the near future.

Re: Do you save the Styrofoam #22581 08/28/06 09:08 AM
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,754
Lighthouse Duo Offline
Super Wacko
Offline
Super Wacko
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,754
I do not have room to keep the styrofoam, as well as the boxes. I also collapse the boxes and keep them in air tight containers togehter with the paperwork etc.
And I would buy HL even without the styrofaom.
I always thought collecting should be fun and I personally would loose the fun, if I had a storage problem all the time!
But that is me ... others are different!


Margret
Lighthouse Duo
Live Love Laugh ...
Re: Do you save the Styrofoam #22582 08/28/06 10:10 AM
Joined: Dec 1969
Posts: 3,759
DANIEL Offline
Saint
Offline
Saint
Joined: Dec 1969
Posts: 3,759
I understand the room problem and Rich makes a lot of sense.
But, at the least keep the box and Styrofoam for all low issue Harbour Lights
Like:
All gold pieces, all reunion pieces, the white-hull Mac, rotated top Grays Harbor, the ELL, and Baileys Harbor.
Also, I would keep the box and Styrofoam for the high demand L.E.’s like Big Bay and all Fresnel lens.

Your Kids will thank me.


DANIEL
Re: Do you save the Styrofoam #22583 08/28/06 10:45 PM
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 221
silverfox51 Offline
Wacko
Offline
Wacko
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 221
I do keep the styrofoam innards but, I have the room to store them too. At least for the time being I will continue as long as I have the room. One problem though frown , I pack the boxes in larger cartons and then store the larger cartons. I haven't kept track of which lighhouse boxes are in which cartons confused . Going to have to go through them someday and mark the cartons and list the contents just in case somebody needs to find a box. :rolleyes:

Re: Do you save the Styrofoam #22584 08/30/06 11:40 AM
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 7,152
Lighthouse Loon Offline OP
Super Wacko
OP Offline
Super Wacko
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 7,152
I'm thinking I might remove the styrofoam and foldup the boxes. Store the boxes in a rubbermaid/plastic container. Mark the styrofoam with the HL # and put them in large garbage bags and put them in the garage(somewhere). This way if I need the space in the garage, I have the styrofoam ready for the garbage frown .


Stan M
New Jersey Lighthouse Lovers
------------------------------------
Harry Wishlist: Tinicum Rear Range, Miah Maull Shoal, Finns Point, Bergen Point, Cross Ledge, Old Ambrose Lightstation, Romer Shoal, Barnegat Lightship, Liberty Lightship.
Re: Do you save the Styrofoam #22585 08/30/06 06:45 PM
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,964
sandy Offline
Cruise Director
Offline
Cruise Director
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,964
Used to separate the styrofoam from the box, collapse the box and put in HL numerical sequence in boxes, label the styrofoam, tape the two sides together, and place it in one of the clear trash bags kept in an attic. Got so's I couldn't move around in the attic without bumping into a box or bag so the bags were taken to the landfill and disposed of there.

Have close to a hundred early issues in the basement all boxed (no HL boxes) and wrapped (bubblewrap) for sale. If the box and the styrofoam is important to you, someone's out there waiting for you to buy what they have. If neither is important, someone's out there waiting for you to buy what they have, too.

Sandy


Moderated by  JJ 

Forum Statistics
Forums39
Topics16,978
Posts184,640
Members2,579
Most Online10,155
Jan 14th, 2020
Who's Online Now
0 registered members (), 1,012 guests, and 3 spiders.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newest Members
SafeHarbor, Toots, Bluffhill, phtate, TexLight2022
2579 Registered Users
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.2