I saw this a couple weeks ago, meant to post it, but got busy and forgot. I'm sure some of you have seen this in Holger's "Binoculars Corner".
"You have money to spend? Did you ever dream of a modern binocular, with properties as good as those old classics, e.g. the famous blc 8x60, described on Fan Tao's fantastic web page? There [is] good news: In principle, it might be possible to build binoculars with similar merits even today, in China. Bad news is: It requires money for investment. Binoculars that are not mainstream do not sell in masses, and no factory would take the risk of designing a binocular that, however good, won't sell. If you don't find any more reasonable way to invest your money, you may contact me at merlitz at gmx.de for details."
The interesting part for me is that I posed a similar query on BF not long ago, but in terms of which already established Chinese-made optics company would step up to the plate and be the first to revive the premium porro.
Wish I had some serious dough to invest, I'd get in on the ground floor of this worthwhile venture. But as it is, I'd have to sell one of my premium porros, and that would seem counter insurgent to the revolution. :-)
However, for those Angel investors out there who had your money in sweat equity rather than stocks and real estate, you might want to think about this long term investment.
Of course, I'd rather see the Segundo Porro Revolución happen in Rochester, NY, but given the state of the US economy, American wages, and US corporation's myopic focus on the next quarter's earnings, I don't see that ever happening again.
Brock
It would appear to be your destiny to lead the crusade, carry the torch reviving the porro to it's once lofty perch. Perhaps they'll honour you by designating them as the BNR.
Brocknroller or bins not roof though I'll admit the former having more flair.
I can see the spread now. The Brocknroller Porro. Subdued elegance of the country squire at a paltry sharecropper's price. No need to owe your soul to the company store when only a pittance of grubstake need be allotted for the utmost in viewing pleasure.
BNR, sold at all your finer retail outlets and strip malls in greater suburbia.