The trill in collecting Harbour Lights use to be:

Going to different dealers, checking out their inventory to see if they have the ones you needed for your collection or any that could be use for trading.

Going to your local dealer and seeing the new releases.

Going to at least three or four signings a year to find out what tidbits you could get out of Bill on the next lighthouse.

Going to a regional that was in the area and had fantastic give away.

Having room in the curio cabinet for other lighthouses and need to go to your dealer to buy another one to fill the void.

Seeing the old retired ones for the first time.

Reading a Rutherford book the first time and learning about collectables.

(any more?)

How about:

Trying to convince a dealer to let you into their stockroom to record a list of their retired pieces that could be shared with "Retired at Retail".

Straining your neck trying to read flag#'s that were not facing you in the display case.

How about mailing that first big money order for hundreds of dollars to a complete stranger on the other side of the country not knowing if you would ever get what you paid for.

Carrying a list of dealers by state in your car just in case you may be in their area some day.

Finding a very valuable HL at retail at a dealer who found it in the back of the stockroom and just put it on the shelf. Remember keeping the poker face until you cleared the store and then yelled, "YEEEEESSSSS!!!!!"

Bob

How about:

Going to an event and seeing your new found friends (and old ones too) from all over the country and having a great time together. Priceless!

Daniel, why "used to be"?

I wish we had the dealers to go to over here.

And I find this collection thrilling still!

Sad thing is, we have to learn to live without reunions etc. But we are still happy about making new friends and sharing all things lighthouse!

QUOTE]Daniel, why "used to be"?

I wish we had the dealers to go to over here. [/QUOTE]

I bought lighthouses from four dealers.

Two of the dealers that I use to deal with quit handling Harbour Lights.
One dealer went out of business.
The first dealer that I dealt with is still there but most of the people I knew no longer work there.

You heard sounds when collecting Harbour Lights?

The biggest thrill used to be:

1. All of the reasons stated above.

2. Convincing my wife that I needed another curio and her agreeing to it.

JJ said...
I'm one of those people!! Getting to meet some great people that we talk to on the Forums in person was the most important for me. DEFINITELY PRICELESS!!