Taking Bets on the Near Future.....

If I understand things clearly (always a risky proposition) the state of mainstream telescope supply and manufacturing is in a parlous state.

The world's largest telescope manufacturer is Synta: Synta owns Celestron: Synta has for a long time been Orion's major supplier.

So, now you can buy a Synta SCT from Skywatcher USA (Synta), Celestron (Synta) or Orion (Synta). The different badges will fool some but not all buyers.
You can also do similarly with accessories, and of course you can do similarly with collapsible dobs and ED refractors etc. The Model T Ford: any color you want as long as it's black.

It seems odd that Synta should essentially be competing against itself, at least on paper. My guess is that this state of affairs cannot last: this might, for example, be a spur to the re-vivification of Meade, something most of us would like to see (I hope)

Let it be said that I don't have any problems with the quality of Synta products; we are spoiled as never before for good-quality inexpensive equipment. But when suppliers become retailers I think things get interesting, to say the least.

My suspicion is that this dynasty has grown so large that it has to implode somewhat, and this will be to the benefit of consumers - I am an optimist I suppose - and that we'll be even more spoiled for choices in the future. None of us likes a monopoly (unless we own it) and neither do retailers for obvious reasons.

Exciting times ahead?

(If it's OK with the powers-that-be I'm going to post this question on The Other Forum Group. It will be interesting to compare responses...)

>>>>>It seems odd that Synta should essentially be competing against itself, at least on paper.

I don't see them as competing against themselves so much as cutting out a lot of problems (of dealing with the end users).

For years, we have had "twinning" in automotives. The Chrysler/Dodge/Plymouths all offering essentially identical platforms, with different color paint, and maybe slightly differently packaged accessories. And in lots of other products.

We have also heard about how companies slap their logo on somebody else's product. Where, for instance, is the "Radio Shack" factory. I doubt you will see many in the world with that sign out front. Same is said in automotive industry--How many American GM cars are actually Korean imports?

I think we have all heard stories about how Pillsbury flour mills changes the bags on the production line when they produce flour for other companies.

Furthermore, how many "components" manufatured by one company are sold in a final product by somebody else? Who makes the chip in your digital camera?

I see Synta doing the same thing. It is easier to sell the product in the thousands to end assemblers than to individual consumers. Synta just seems to have taken both routes--supplier as well as retail seller.

By the way--this does not mean, in my mind, that all these products are the same. They may be.....But there may also be an inspector sitting there from the company grading the products as they come off the line. A one tenth wave mirror goes to the XYZ company, with a one sixth wave goes to ABC.

I think this is all the way manufacturing goes nowadays--and probably for some time. And, as you said, the results are not too bad for all of us at the general consumer level. As long as there are the true high quality boutique models available for us also if we have the bucks, why quibble?

Alex