Anchor Bay To Undergo Major Changes

October 23, 1998 - The Anchor Bay Great Ships of the World collectible line, introduced in 1997 by B.C. Younger & Associates, is changing.

When the first six pieces were originally announced, the first 4,000 of each piece issued was to be a "special edition" with a serial numbered brass plaque and miniature crew. Once the first 4,000 of each piece was sold to dealers, a "regular edition" would continue without the serial number and crew.

Six Anchor Bay ships were introduced in 1997 and three more will make their appearance before the end of 1998. 

Younger & Associates announced in a recent letter to dealers their decision to retire part of the line based on feedback from dealers and collectors.

"Bringing Anchor Bay to market was challenging in many ways," said Kim Andrews, COO of B.C. Younger & Associates. "The ships broke new ground in casting techniques, and combining different materials. Each ship was a major investment in time, money and technique. The Anchor Bay line has generated very positive responses from collectors based on comments on the registration cards and mail we've received."

"Most collectors recognize that the higher cost of individual Anchor Bay items, compared with Harbour Lights lighthouses, is due to the new materials, techniques, and the special glass display cases and wood bases. With a greater investment in each Anchor Bay ship, collectors wanted the line to be limited and they wanted each item to be a historically-correct replica of an actual ship or boat."

"We are very appreciative of our Anchor Bay collectors who have been patient as we struggled through the production and delivery challenges that most new lines experience at introduction. And we thank them for their suggestions. "

The one exception to the retirement will be the Lightship Chesapeake. The first introduction of the "Special (Limited) Edition" of 4,000 sold out quickly and as of October 16, approximately 2,800 of the "Regular Edition" Chesapeake had been shipped to dealers. This one item will continue as a regular edition.

The Tugboat Toledo and the Skipjack were retired on September 15, both as Regular and as Special Editions. Orders received from dealers as of that date are being filled as Special Editions only.

Regular Editions of the remaining three issues of 1997: the Lightship Huron, Motor Yacht Kim, and Sardine Lori are retired effective immediately, according to Kim Andrews. "We will continue to ship the Special Editions of these pieces until the 4,000 limit is reached."

Anchor Bay will not produce Regular Editions of the three ships announced for 1998, only the 4,000 Special Editions of each. All three are expected to ship to dealers starting in November.

Younger & Associates told dealers "We expect to table the plans for Regular Editions indefinitely, and concentrate on the creation of incredibly detailed Special (limited) Editions. Only the Chesapeake Regular Edition will remain in the line from among the introductions of 1997 and 1998."

"Our decision to retire Skipjack was a result of ongoing production difficulties involving the unfurled sail. We chose to retire the Tugboat Toledo due to its diminutive size as compared to the balance of the Anchor Bay line," COO Andrews said.

Purse Seiner	Lightship Portsmouth	Lightship Columbia

Because the cost of the display base and glass and mirror case adds significantly to the overall cost of each piece, some collectors have requested that the pieces be made available without the cases.  "Anchor Bay ships are very fragile. Handling them or displaying them on open shelves would only invite damage," Kim Andrews said. "We are looking at each future piece and asking ourselves if this item could be developed for display without a glass case. We are working in that direction, but it is the fine details that make the Anchor Bay ships stand out from other lines in the marketplace."