When did Swarovski become an "alpha" brand...? (1 Viewer)

John A Roberts said:

In the usual way - while I was looking for something else on the ‘net - I came upon the following . . .

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John, I had just read your original post in the Zeiss sub-forum, and was about to put a link to it in this thread - only to find that you had done it for me. Many thanks!
Michael

Robert Wallace said:

"
From all the threads two areas of general agreement are emerging:-
1)Swarovski Optiks have been producing top quality optics for decades
2)Swarovski only became popular or regarded as "Alpha" after the launch of the ELs

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Hi,

Swaro has certainly been producing top quality optics for decades, after all the Habicht line of Porro bins dates from the 50s at least.

But even if one arguments that they were not very well known in the birding community back then, they certainly secured their place as an alpha brand with the release of the AT80 spotting scope and the first good zoom eyepiece in the 90s.

Joachim

Swarovski began to get noticed in the USA with their non-phase coated 7x30 SLC and 8x30SLC binoculars. They were using obscure dealers. Steve Moore (mooreorless) has an original advertising sheet from a small company in Scranton, Pa which sold binoculars as a side line. Mack Machine Works, or something like that. It was printed in the 1980s or early 90s I think.

Bob