Many of the Fujinon ARs, have a little plastic axle cap that says "Made in the USA." Of course, MANY are ASSEMBLED in the USA (Chula Vista, California) in order to garner US government contracts. However, they’re assembled mainly from components MANUFACTURED in Japan. Don’t get me wrong, it’s just that I have been trying to put this to rest for YEARS.
I would be thrilled to be PROVEN wrong! (And yes, I know what their website says.) But opinions aren’t going to do that. And, I don’t care what is written on the side of a box.** I want to see MOLDS, FURNACES, TEST EQUIPMENT, BINOCULAR COLLIMATORS, RUBBER AND LEATHERETTE CUTTING DEVICES, LENS CENTERING MACHINES, GLASS KILNS, etc. In the 90s, according to one of their reps, there were two pocket models ASSEMBLED in Beaverton. But a binocular plant is a HUGE UNDERTAKING. The old Corning Works in New York, alone, took 17 acres.
I can no longer afford to spend $100 to anyone who can prove me wrong. But I will make the offer I have made at other times.
I will give you $50 if you can PROVE that there is a CONSUMER line of binoculars manufactured, not just in Oregon, but anywhere in the United States. That’s a good faith gesture to help make your task easier.
When I offered that before, I was given 3 days’ worth of strong OPINIONS and some photos of women cleaning lenses in a RIFLE SCOPE FACTORY (Leupold), but none of the things mentioned above. If you can do better than the others, I will be happy as a clam that something of a binocular industry has returned to the States, send you $50 to celebrate, let my embarrassment flow, and gleefully apologize to all! I can’t tell you how happy I would be to be wrong on this.
Before I will accept that, however, I will return to their plant with my camera. I’ve been there twice, but wouldn’t mind the drive down. I have much respect for Leupold products; I just want the actual point of MANUFACTURE to be cleared up. ASSEMBLY and MANUFACTURE are two different things, and require vastly different equipment. |=)|
Cheers,
Bill
** I have a photo of a European binocular that came in a BOX that stated "Made in _________________." And, the BOX was! The binocular, however, was made in Japan.