Originally Posted by
Geezer
That article is spot on, including on the 80s fad/con about “wide angle” “TV” scopes that had no wider FOV than ordinary ones.
Which is good, as Rod L and the truth had a rather interesting relationship sometimes.
You are basically right. A small number of factories, making for a large number of brands.
Same later occurred when S Korea, then the Philippines, succeeded Japan from the late 80s as the capitals of medium-quality low-price optics. Same thing in China today.
Hakko made the better Japanese airgun scopes, including for Optima and Beeman.
Tasco hit it big in the 50s during the space age selling good value telescopes to the rapidly growing amateur astronomer market. As said above, Tasco is a brand, and has never actually made a single optical device.
I have a bunch of 70s/80s Japanese scopes of a number of brands (N-S, ASI, Tasco, Original, Hunter, Bushmaster, Optima, Beeman, Bushnell, Hubertus, Vistascope, probably others). Although they have different mags, lens sizes, styling and finishes, I can’t see huge differences in lens quality or build standards.