On Friday, March 25, 2016 at 1:06:44 AM UTC-4, Chris L Peterson wrote:
On Thu, 24 Mar 2016 21:55:42 -0700 (PDT), RichA
wrote:

I can tell when someone has modified a 1970's Japanese-style focuser.
Why pay so much for a piece of crap like that when you can buy a REAL antique refractor of considerably size?

Because the intent isn't to recreate an antique. It's a fantasy
design, created to appeal to a specific market (which is neither
telescope collectors, scientific instrument collectors, nor amateur
astronomers).

You missed Rich's point. A genuine antique would be art and be more likely to hold its value and to appreciate. Furthermore, it wouldn't be susceptible to falling into an "uncanny valley," the way the fantasy design scope did for me and apparently for Rich.

It's still a great conversation piece, it would look good in a den and it works.