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Rand binoculars |
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Clevor
Optics GrassHopper Joined: January/22/2019 Location: Hawaii Status: Offline Points: 2 |
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Posted: January/22/2019 at 14:40 |
I found these binoculars while cleaning out the attic. I did a Google and did not find out much about it. It's a Rand made in Japan, 8x40 wide angle. Must be 50-60 years old. I am not a binoculars enthusiast and I just have two vintage Selsis, which I like a lot, and the image quality of this Rand compares very favorably. Has a really large, tack sharp image even though I am mainly using the left lens. There is quite a bit of fungus on the inner lens and the right diopter ring doesn't focus and just turns round and round and is loose when I pull on it. I got to estimates to refurbish it and it will run $165-185 alone without return shipping. Anybody know if it's worth substantially more than that to make it worth it? I can't figure out how to attach a photo; seems like I can't do it from my computer and I have to upload it somewhere? So on the left side this it what it says on the binoculars: Left: Rand, fully coated lens, triple tested Right: 8x40, extra wide angle, Field 10 degrees, No. 23898 On the front round area: tripod socket, Japan
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WJC
Optics Journeyman Joined: May/28/2014 Location: Twin Falls, ID Status: Offline Points: 328 |
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If you have $500 and two empty suitcases, you, too, can come back from Japan or China as a binocular mogul. Rand could be the name of a person, a retail company, or be an item given away as favors to employees of a non-retail company. Of the hundreds of brands and models coming out of Asia the vast majority come from only a handful of manufactures. All the American binocular “manufacturers” are actually importers. With the exception of a FEW specially requested military instruments like the Army’s short-lived M19, there haven’t been any consumer binoculars made in the States since directly before WWII. Even in the days when Bausch & Lomb was king, many binoculars in their line up came from Zeiss. I never mention this that someone straightens his back and mentions BUSHNELL. Dave’s company NEVER made a single binocular. He got a degree in Foreign Commerce from USC and bought off-the-shelf binoculars from Japan. Selsi was a very low-end binocular. But if you a pleased with the view, consider yourself lucky. You can then concentrate on your hobby and leave the meaningless tests and comparisons to the nitnoids who can’t function without such. But I would be quick to say that our optical hobbies have many aspects to enjoyment and if those folks are gaining enjoyment from their activities ... more power to them. The birds, the stars, the ships, and especially the deer couldn’t care less. I own a number of ... drum roll please ... “ALPHA” binoculars. But not being an opto-snob, I could be quite happy using my late 50s/early 60s Jason Statesman with the same quality level found in the Selsis. Hope this helps. PS Welcome to the forum. |
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vinn
Optics GrassHopper Joined: November/23/2018 Location: wa. state Status: Offline Points: 24 |
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the repair is way too high; can you take photo with a cell phone? vin
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vin
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WJC
Optics Journeyman Joined: May/28/2014 Location: Twin Falls, ID Status: Offline Points: 328 |
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A customer at Captain’s: “What?! Hell, I only paid $40 for them, new!” What I said: “I’m sorry. The amount of work needing to be done to restore these on a quality instrument would be about $200. What I was thinking: “Sir, it’s not my fault you know nothing about binoculars, are a cheapskate, or want me to waste my time on a project you wouldn’t be happy with because it was a piece of sewage when it was new. Binoculars worth repairing do not come bubble wrapped from drug store dump bins.” |
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“Water, water everywhere nor any drop to drink.” — Samuel Taylor Coleridge
“Social media everywhere but not a thought to think.” — me |
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WJC
Optics Journeyman Joined: May/28/2014 Location: Twin Falls, ID Status: Offline Points: 328 |
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And lest the OP would think I was insulting him ... NO WAY. He seemed to be a pragmatic, non-optical snob. But sometimes when ignorance (which CAN be totally fine) meets up with willful ARROGANCE (which is not) bad things can happen. One day, as a would-be mariner came through my floor on the way down to Navigation, he plopped a bino on the counter and as he went out the door to the stairs said: “Whatever it takes ... I’ll clear you to $25. Oh, be still my beating heart! At that time, circa 1995, I charged $120 an hour with a one hour minimum.*
When he came back up, he saw the bino still sitting on the counter, he felt obliged to remind the peon ... me ... that I was cleared to $25. Although I’m certain he wouldn’t want anyone telling him how to run HIS business, when I gave him the whys and wherefores of the situation, he held me responsible for his ignorance. He told me he couldn’t afford to pay that much. It was for a $500+ Fujinon. He then proceeded to get into his spanking new, $60,000 F-350 and drove off. ............ AMEN! Edited by WJC - January/27/2019 at 12:26 |
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“Water, water everywhere nor any drop to drink.” — Samuel Taylor Coleridge
“Social media everywhere but not a thought to think.” — me |
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