I am a new collector (60 days). I have contacted four local dealers and I am way down on their list for the Hillsboro Inlet. Does anyone know where I may be able to find one? Please let me know because all I read is how great it is.
With the help of many fine members, I am the proud owner of a Hillsboro Inlet. It really does look great. Thanks

[This message has been edited by larryd (edited 06-28-99).]

Larry,

You still might be able to get Hillsboro Inlet from Kathies Import Chalet in Englewood, CO at 303-761-1740. I ordered one, but they had 2 coming in

Daniel W. Honzik

Email me sometime before July 1st and when I am on the road I will keep my eye out and let you know.
Derith

LarryD,

Just a few days ago, Sunday to be exact. I saw a hillsboro for sale at Nita's Hallmark in Durham N.C.phone number is 919-489-3049

Word from Maureen of Harbour Lights in last night's chat was that 'almost all' of the balance of Hillsboro (about 4,000) began shipping this week.

Now's the time to confirm your name on the list at some dealers.

For Larryd - welcome to the Wacko world of forums (fora). Each dealer knows how many Hillsboro they will be receiving. They should tell you that you WILL or WILL NOT get one based on the position on the list. (However, this does not mean the 'help' in the store knows -- you may need to go higher in the store)

John,
Getting to know the Manager, or one in charge of the HL line at your dealer, whether in your town, state, or another state..can make all the difference in getting what you want.
So many of the personnel could care less about what is sold. Finding someone you can trust to have your best interest at heart is so important. If they realize that you will be purchasing many HLs and are a valued customer can really help a collector.
Derith

Contact Brass Town in Holland, MI. 616-394-0034. As of the rep event on June 5, they still had openings on their waiting list. Don't know where it stands now.

Kathy

For those of you with an interest in the errors and variations of Harbour Lights, and particularly for that really peculiar subset, like myself, who even have interest in the errors in the associated paperwork I received the corrected version of the Hillsboro certificate today from HL. If you missed St. John's earlier comment on the subject the error changed "...anchored by six huge iron piles..." to "...anchored by eight huge iron piles...". An unexpected surprise in the envelope along with the certificate was a corrected version of the Hillsboro postcard. The postcard correction referenced the same basic wording change. I was very excited. My wife said to emphasis the word peculiar earlier in this note.

The best way I have always foundto find a piece is to call the HL 800 #
1-800-365-1219. I found my Hillsboro through them only a week and a half ago. They can tell you which dealers are expected to get a piece, and how many they had the last time the dealer called in. I have gotten alot of my pieces that way, and they do not deal in secondary market, so you know you are getting the piece at retail.

My dealer just got one in for me and I was third on his list. Don't know if he'll be getting anymore, but I'll check next time I'm there. It is a great piece!

Several posts have listed dealers with items that others stated they were specifically looking for.

This is not the best way to let someone know where to find an item. Basically, there are probably many readers looking for the same piece and unless the original poster is the first to hear of the 'where to find it' post, it's likely to go to another reader.

Noelle (welcome!) has suggested calling Harbour Lights and that is good.

I'd like to put in a pitch for the Retired@Retail service at www.HarbourLights.com.

The difference is that R@R is collector driven; collectors report which items dealers have. We've got a core group of collectors who travel and check stores. Harbour Lights encourages dealers to let them know which items they have; it's up to the dealers to decide to do that and in fact to do it.

Both sources are great. Give R@R a try and if they don't have what you are looking for, call Harbour Lights.

Since the balance of Harbour Lights has now been shipped, dealers may not be reporting this to Harbour Lights because they don't see it as a 'hard-to-find' piece.

Anyone looking for a Hillsboro, I have been contacted by a couple of dealers here in town that I had tried to reserve a piece with earlier this year. I have one already so if you are interested, email me and I will give you their #.

Thanks, John. Good advice.

Kathy

Saint John,

May have discovered a shipping problem or painted metal problem on Hillsboro piece. In the white center section at the bottom of the inside of the tower, cracks appear in various areas both horizontally where the metal bracing wraps around the center post and vertically where the entrance house attaches to the central round post. If the color were black or brown, like Sanibel or the top of Hillsboro, this fact would go un-noticed. Check 5 pieces at the dealers and all had the same cracking in the paint.

Has anyone else come accross this?

Moby of Tidewater Virginia

May be caused by the weight of the tower shipped in a side laying position. May be caused by expansion and contraction of metal as temperature changes.

Moby,

Checked mine right away. No cracks or blemishes at the areas mentioned.

I have a lead on anyone looking to purchase Hillsboro Inlet. I spotted two, one on display and one in box at the HL display at Apex in the Swansea Mall in Swansea, MA.
Good Luck

Turbo

My reserved Hillsboro finally arrived at my dealer yesterday, #4048. An hour later I stumbled upon #411 where it had been sitting unnoticed for weeks at a mall Hallmark store. I bought that one, too.

I'm still patiently waiting for my Hillsboro. I'm sure its worth the wait. Larry, I've seen several Hillsboro auctions on ebay which may be a good source if you can't find a dealer with one...the last one there went for $130 which isn't too much more than the usual retail price
John

Moby, checked ours. No cracking that I can see.

Kathy

No cracks or blemishes on my Hillsboro#290

Hi all,

Saw several Hillsboro Inlet HL pieces in my mini SC trip this weekend. More info, email me.
Derith

____________________________________________
at the bottom of the inside of the tower, cracks appear
____________________________________________

Checked mine yesterday, and it looks fine.
Bill

WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE HAD A PRODUCTION OR SHIPPING PROBLEM ON THIS ORDER SINCE NO ONE ELSE HAS EXPERIENCED THE SAME. IF IT SHOWS UP ANYWHERE ELSE, PLEASE COMMENT HERE. THANKS

MOBY

By the way, it is a beautiful piece. Porch rails are very impressive.

I understand from my dealer that these cracks in the paint only are not too be considered a flaw. Anyone want to comment. Are we just a gushy group or people or do we speak our minds, politely and courteously, on issues?

I await responses.

Moby of Tidewater Virginia

Stranded ona Deep Creek mud flat on a ebbing tide

If anyone is still looking for Hillsboro, there are some available at The Entertainer in Jacksonville, FL. Got a call today from them saying they'd unexpectedly just received a few more after having sold out of their initial allocation. Get 'em while you can!!

Well, Gushy, Gushy!!

I would imagine, if others had found the problem on their Hillsboro, they would have responded and in full force. I only see a few responses and they all said their Hillsboro's didn't show cracks. I have seen over 10 Hillsboro's in different stores, in 6 different states and have seen no cracks. I called my dealer, who inspects each piece very carefully before shipping to her customers (over 10 so far) and she said they hadn't seen any cracks and that she would inspect the rest of the Hillboro's they have coming upon their arrival and let me know about them. By the way, mine doesn't have any cracks either. Maybe it was the way that particular shipment was handled during shipping, such as a sudden jolt. Very few Hillsboro's are on the shelves in stores. We are going to a bunch of stores on an upcoming lighthousing trip and will make sure to inspect them very closely and of course report their location to Retired@Retail. I have seen (chipped paint) what you are talking about on the New London Ledge OE. The lift arm is constantly in danger of getting bent and I have seen it happen more than once at signings when someone stuck the lighthouse back in the box incorrectly. The pewter is flexible and will bend, but the paint is not flexible and as a result chips at the point of the flex.

Paul L Brady

Picked up my Hillsboro today and checked it for cracks in the paint but could'nt see any. But what a great piece very tall, this is a top shelf center piece for the display case.

cyberkeeper

Thanks Paul. Please keep me posted. I have registered my piece but noted the cracks on the registration.

Moby

My Hillsboro has finally arrived! While it lacks the intricate beauty and detail of some pieces (like Hudson-Athens) it is a very impressive...and awesome...piece. It has a new home on the top shelf of my second curio. I typically use the top shelf for the larger pieces to show them off more. The top shelf of the first curio has the Southern Belle plus Cape Hatteras....need a lot of height room for Hatteras, Tybee and Ponce De Leon...as well as Hillsboro and Alcatraz.

Doc John

I don't have Hillsboro, but I have seen 2 at 2 different dealers. Both have cracks in the central tower just above the area where the first joint is (where the metal framework meets the central tower.) They are horizontal cracks. I cannot tell if they are just in the paint or not. I could check the numbers if you are interested-maybe there was a series that has the cracks. Both dealers are in the San Francisco area.

- in the central tower just above the area where the first joint is (where the metal framework meets the central tower.) -

What you may be seeing is what looks like a separate center housing, where it comes together with the framework. I wouldn't call it a crack, but maybe a seam that is uniform all around the joint of the two pieces, tower and skeletal supports. I believe the entrance house is also a separate piece and could fit together with a seam also but I again wouldn't call it a crack in the paint but just the way HL had to put the tower structure.

I just returned from a lighthousing trip and saw 5 Hillsboro's in 4 stores and none had cracks on them.

When I get my digital camera back from the shop (it either broke or I broke it at Rosemont) I will post some images of the area in question.

WackoPaul '
Keep the Flame

Dove Point & Paul,

A crack is a crack whether it is straight or eratic. Some are straight and some are not. They are black slits, for use of a better word, on white pieces. Call them what you wish.

If it is a shipping problem, then those of us with them will problably have to live with them as they are being denied as a problem.

If it is expansion and contraction of metals, then all will get their slits with time.

TIME WILL TELL!

Moby

A crack in the paint is not the same at all, as a seam between to parts fitted together.



Posted on 7/9/99

My point was and still is, it isn't a crack in the paint. I stated before that I have seen cracked paint on other lighthouses and this isn't cracked paint. The tower is made up of a lot of different pieces and I suspect that during construction some fit together better than others and some are assembled by a person who is more or less skilled than others doing the same job.

WackoPaul '
Keep the Flame

WackoPaul,

If a section of a piece is painted and then assmbled, you have a shaddow effect where the two pieces meet.

If it is assembled, then painted and the pieces then separate, you have a crack.

My LE has both straight and also crocked cracks. These were painted and then separated.

Engbrady

Would love to send a picture, but do not have a scanner.

Moby

I bought my Hillsboro Lighthouse yesterday. My Hillsboro does have this "crack/separation" on its center tower. It does not appear to be a "crack" to me, it is more like the paint has separated from the column. What I mean is that the paint did not take to this area of the lighthouse, maybe the lighthouse was not primed properly in this area. Is there anything I can do about this problem, or do I just leave it alone and say it adds "character" to this piece. Overall I am very happy with this piece, it is a Beauty.

Keep The Light Burning


The Flame

The Flame,

Don't get me wrong. I love Hillsboro. I just want her perfect, especially when she costs $120. Is that asking too much?

Moby

Moby,

Not at all. I want Hillsboro to be perfect too. It truly is a wonderful piece. It is the largest piece I own presently, the detail is fantastic. Hopefully somebody will post a picture of the "crack" on the column so everybody can see it. This way we will exactly know were the problem is.

Keep The Light Burning


The Flame

Checked my Hillsboro - no cracks or blemishes of any kind.

The tree is great. I'm amazed at how tall the tower is when compared to others sitting on my shelf.