Boy.... what a long strange trip it's been...... I'll make this brief.
Rocket R&D - was a pile of tubing in someone's attic - I ran it for the Buck's in IL, designed a couple of new kits (Brutus and IRIS)... moved back home to WA state in '93 to be near family. Started Binder Design.
Binder Design - was taken from me by a family member/partner who wasn't happy with my performance... sold out from under me in the late 90's. The new owner eventually sold Binder Design to Mike Fisher, who still owns Binder Design, and has done a wonderful job, in my opinion. I fully support Binder Design and Mike and I have had a good relationship through the years.
BSD - in '98, I started BSD (named for Binder Sign and Design, which is my sign business, still in operation.) In 2003, I sold BSD to Mark Saunders - who fell on hard times, and
never finished paying me for the company. I wasn't aware that he'd put the company up for sale and eventually sold it to Scott Ulrey. I never received final payoff for the company, or designs. Can't really sell something that's not fully yours, can you? Well, he did.
OK, I'm a good-natured fellow, and let me tell you - there's NEVER been enough of a customer base in the HPR industry to make any kind of living off BSD - so, again, I remained quiet.
Last year, I decided to poke around the possibility of reviving BSD - since so many had contacted me for kits, etc. I tried to contact Mr. Ulrey and discuss it with him, but he had fallen off the face of the earth. I understand he was injured working with saws....
I put up a facebook page for BSD
https://www.facebook.com/BsdHighPowerRocketry , stating that it was no longer in business - which remains today - mainly as a place that people could contact me with questions, and what not.... I was then contacted by Scott Ulrey - apparently, that lit a fire under his butt. He immediately threatened me with his "attorneys" and said I was trying to steal his rocket company.... I said I'd like to work together with him, and do what i can to help revive BSD. But he could not look past $$$, and just wanted me to buy it from him. Not gonna buy something I already own - and have copyrights too. So again, being a good natured fellow... I just stepped back and waited to see what would happen - which has been nothing, as I expected.
I saw that someone put up the temporary website mentioned in this thread. Keep in mind, I own
www.bsdrocketry.com - the company's orignal web address - and I always have owned it. The new website is an attempt to keep me at bay - it is poorly done, and even has links back to
www.bsdrocketry.com
So here I am, interested in reviving BSD, but not enough to start a fight with anyone - I'm just not that kind of guy. Yep, I should've just kept BSD all those years ago. I also should've made sure I was fully paid for the company - and if not, should've taken it all back, before an illegitimate sale was made. I still fly actively, and try to get to Black Rock once a year. Can any of these other guys say that?
So what do you think? Should I completely start over? Should I attempt to revive BSD, or at least some of the more popular designs? Should I just forget it and fly my own stuff, and enjoy myself? That's been working pretty well for the last couple of years, while NOTHING happens with BSD.....
Scott Binder