While we're trapsing down memory lane - without, of course, asking directions - I thought some might enjoy early messages from the AOL Lighthouse Collectibles forum - a precusor to the forum you're in now. Author's names omitted to avoid whatever hassles might come from including them...

As you can see, HL on-line life then is pretty close to what it is now in many respects. Folks excited about new pieces, selling pieces, looking for pieces and info about them.



Subj:harbourlights
Date: 96-03-19 10:20:35 EDT
From: XXXXXXX

The only place I was able to get Sandy Hook was on the secondary market for
$125. So far I have been able to get all my collection at retail except Sandy
Hook, SE Block Island, and Portland Head. I do have an extra Montauk and
Ponce De Leon. I also am looking forward to receiving new pieces I have on
order : Fire Island, Scituate, Cape Canaveral, and a couple I can't remember
the names of. I also am looking for Hilton Head as you know, but still have
had no luck. Secondary market is around $150.

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Subj: Harbour Lights For Sale
Date: 96-03-24 11:13:49 EDT
From: xxxxx

Hi All,
I have the following for sale. All are MIB except where noted. Prices include
shipping.
Cape Hatteras #102 number 1110 of 5,500 (no apers) $400
SE Block Island RI #128 number 120 of 5,500 o papers or box) $140
W. Quaddy Head #103 number 900 of 5,500 (no papes or box) $120
Marblehead OH #121 number 3997 of 5,500 MIB $100
Diamond Head HI #140 number 4438 of 5,500 MIB $100
Holland Big Red #142 number 4837 of 5,500 MIB $130

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Subj: FS - HL - retired pieces
Date: 96-03-27 10:14:06 EDT
From: xxxxxxxxxxx

Harbour Lights for sale - Revised

# 101 Admirality (misspelled) $ 85
# 117 Boston Harbor 95.
# 128 S E Block Island 105
# 128 New London Ledge 95
# 142 Holland 95

All 5 for $450.

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Subj: harbour lights
Date: 96-03-30 10:21:01 EDT
From: xxxxxxxxxx

5 new Harbour lights pieces came yesterday. What pieces!!! This collection
keeps on getting better and better

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Subj: Re:New HLs Beautiful !
Date: 96-04-11 23:00:21 EDT
From: xxxxxxxx

Bob,
You're right Canaveral is well done. The rocket and the "smoke" are a nice touch.
You'll enjoy meeting Bill Younger, I met him last month in Ft. Lauderdale. He is very personable and extremely knowledgeable. We talked lighthouses for a while and I learned quite a bit from him. You won't be dissappointed with Sunken Rock.

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Subj: New Harbour Light & Other Info
Date: 96-04-17 23:28:22 EDT
From: xxxxxxxxxx

I did not attend the Secaucus show but have heard the following from reasonably reliable sources.
1. The Lighthouse Keepers series includes Lime Rock, RI; Matinicus Rock Light, MA; Chatham Light, MA; Point Pinos Light, CA; and one other.
2. The new society piece will be Stonington, VT.
3. Instead of a picture with your new mmbership, members will get a set of four miniature lighthouses which I have heard will be Hatteras, West Quoddy, Sandy Hook, and Admiralty Head -the same pieces in the original stamp series.
4. Other Lighthouses possibly showing up at dealers are Cape May, NJ; ? Saugretes light ( probably not spelled right and I have no idea where it is (? Hudson Bay Light).
5. New Christmas Piece (1996) - Colchester Reef, VT.
6. Have also heard that Point Arena is retired. Don't know how many survived
shipping. I hope this info is reasonably accurate.

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Subj: Harbour Lights
Date: 96-04-19 07:53:48 EDT
From: xxxxxxxxx [a well known secondary dealer!]

Hi, all, I'm new to this board. I just caught the fever last week. I've been
in a hunting/buying frenzy ever since. When I finally came up for air last night, I was horrified to learn I had spent nearly $1,000 on these little treasures!

The good news is that I have found Asateague, Diamond Head, Fort Niagara,
Holland Harbor, Key West, Montauk, St. Simons, and Big Bay Point (the 1995
Christmas piece) at issue price. The key seems to be to just make a lot of calls. I located several retired pieces in my own back yard, some come from as far away as the deep South and the Pacific coast. Also picked up Scituate (possibly the most beautiful piece we've seen yet) and Point Arena.

I would sure appreciate it if someone could provide me with a lead on Hilton Head, one of our favorite vacation spots. Also need Sandy Hook (limited edition) and Barnegat. I'm willing to trade just about any piece except Key West.

I have some leads on a few pieces. LMK if I can help.

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Subj: Re:Harbour Lights
Date: 96-04-20 09:08:38 EDT
From: xxxxxx

I know what the collecting fever is like, only I realized it after three
times that much and that didn't count flying to Florida and renting a car to
drive up and down the coast looking for the Southern Bells.

I am also looking for Hilton Head. If I find more than one I'll let you know, please do the same if you find it.

I have two Montauks, one Ponce De Leon, one SE Block Island, one Admirality Head, and one West Quoddy if your interested in either buying or trading.

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Subj: Re:HARBOURLIGHT SHOW
Date: 96-04-21 23:33:57 EDT
From: xxxxxxxxx

Just saw Bill Younger in Belle Mead on saturday and he said that the breakage on Point Arena should average out to be around 30%. Some dealers had as high as 70%, some as low as 20%. He figures 3000/4000 pieces survived.

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Subj: New HL brochure
Date: 96-04-26 19:00:03 EDT
From: xxxxxxxx

Just received the Harbour Lights brochure with the Lady Lightkeepers Series and the New Society piece. Matinicus, ME is especially nice. Lime Rock doesn't look much like a lighthouse though ( no lantern room visible, at least in the photo). The new Society piece Stonington Harbor, CT has to be
one of the nicest ones yet. Also got a call from my dealer today. My Charlotte-Gennessee and Cape May have arrived. Can't wait to pick them up. It will have to wait until Monday as we are off to visit Ponce Inlet, Jupiter and Hillsboro lights this
weekend. I wanted to make it up to Saint Augustine (we are in Miami) but that wouldn't allow me much time at the ones we will visit.

Ponce Inlet has a nice gift shop... wonder which HLs they've got.

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Subj: harbour Lights charter member
Date: 96-04-26 22:18:17 EDT
From: xxxxxxxx

Don't forget, April 30 is the last chance to become a Charter member of the Harbour Lights Collector's Club..We have a few kits available at $30. Call 303-755-6048 10-6pm Mon-Sat MDT or e-mail

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Subj: Spencer-Collins Lights
Date: 96-05-02 18:00:07 EDT
From: xxxxxxxxx [Rick Mau's wife - tee hee]

Hi all.

We (well actually my husband) have been avidly collecting Harbour Lights. Being late to the pursuit, we've been focusing on those that fit a Maine-to-Mexico collection. We've seen several east and gulf coast lights and
can travel on weekends to see many more. That leads to the problem however.
We'll likely not find two popular east coast lights, Cape Hatteras and Portland Head. We're thinking of substituting Spencer-Collins pieces for these impossible to find HL's.

Does anyone have any words of wisdom regarding the Spencer-Collins collection? Are there limited and open editions? Anything else we should know about them?

Thanks for the information,
Linda

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Subj: re:Spencer Collins
Date: 96-05-04 18:40:13 EDT
From: xxxxxxxxxx

Spencer Collins lighthouses are, in my eyes, the best on the market. While HL makes limited editions (of nearly 9000) SC has only 2-3000 in each limited edition. The detail is outstanding! There are small touches to each one that relate to the history of the lighthouse and add a real feeling to each piece. The original Cape Hatteras piece has been discontinued, but she has made a new piece, larger than the original. It will probably make a fine addition to your HL collection. She also makes a very detailed Portland Head. Though
smaller than HL, I don't think you'll be disappointed. Good Luck!

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Subj: "Nubble"
Date: 96-05-05 21:57:38 EDT
From: xxxxxxxxx

Is the "Nubble Light" retired? I was visiting one of my regular stores and one has just popped up out of no where. I picked it up because I don't have it. But, I don't see it in any of the recent ctalogues. Does anyone know when it may have retired? Also, is anyone seeing a big price jump for retired pieces. All of a sudden at one of the local shops, the prices are skyrocketing for retired pieces. I just saw a Ft. Niagra for $100. It was only $60 two weeks ago. I thought HL encouraged shops to keep the pieces at their original prices.

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Subj: Re:"Nubble"
Date: 96-05-05 22:12:59 EDT
From: xxxxxxxx

Not sure when Neddick retired - went to a store event today and got Sunken Rock. Got chance to talk to Bill Younger at some length. Won't be long before many more retire. He indicated many of the new lights are already over half sold out i.e. Canaveral - Alcatraz. Popularity is exploding. He also gave some insight on the Point Arena situation. Estimates are ranging from 3,000 to 3,500 have survived. hmmmm if you see any - it may be an extremely good
investment.

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Subj: Re:"Nubble"
Date: 96-05-06 19:25:23 EDT
From: xxxxxxxx

Cape Neddick #141 was retired in March of 1995. As for the high prices, I don't think HL can do more than suggest that the
dealers sell at issue price. I recently visited a store in Melbourne, FL and was surprised to see a Montauk at $200, a Key West at $160 and a Nauset at $150. There are still places out there selling at issue price. It just depends whether or not you want to run up a large long distance bill or not.

I for one paid $150 each for Portland, Hilton Head and Southeast Block Island. I just couldn't find them anywhere else.
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Subj: Looking for Tybee, St.Simons
Date: 96-05-13 18:25:36 EDT
From: xxxxx

Anybody have leads on dealers who still have these pieces at issue price? I would appreciate any information! Thanks!
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Rgds,
__
/im

Great reading, Tim - but it was BEFORE my time by several months.

I imagine a lot of newbies are drooling over those 'secondary prices' and still-at-retail finds.

Drooling.

I love to reminisce about things I've never experienced. Granted, it takes a little longer that way.


-Art(With appologies to Steven Wright)

I wouldn't go so far as to say Spencer Collin's are the "best on the market" but they are just as good as if not better (in some cases) than HL's...I collect both, and while HL's structures may be a bit more accurate, Cheryl's pieces stand up to repeated viewings and are a bit more fun to "play" with...there's much more to see on her pieces, the native flora and fauna and other little touches...HL seems content to satisfy its collectors with perfecting fences and lantern room railings...if you want some examples, check out Cheryl's Diamond Head, Heceta Head, and Sandy Hook, they blow HL away...