@MarcosD thanx for constructive contribution!
I'd say that not all is invented means it's implemented.
You have actual pictures of produced products of different decades. If you know how the machine works you could say us what technology was used.
You say about the precision of tools, but it's obvious how the engraving looks on old AB bodies and new. The last date for Iwata I've shown is 2015 year of production (V2). Precision between of both brands differs a lot. Also polishing of the bodies is different. Modern Iwatas look perfect, but Olympos is not. Again, it's technologies used then and used now.
@J000seph states the bodies quality is the same so the technology for treatment them was the same. I've shown actual bodies of two different ABs of one model showing different quality of lettering. We could assume the engraving was manually done.
We have documented production date code from 2003 till 2014 so it's not possible to judge about production date for all produced ABs before 2003 until we have that code.
I've bought my first Iwatas from the US. They all come with paper work showing "Iwata-Medea". Now "Anest-Iwta" is engraved on the AB bodies. People who buy new Iwata in the US now could say if ABs come with the paper work still with "Iwata-Medea" or not. If so then it means that the company is only US importer of the tools and Anest-Iwata is owner of the trademark. BTW all my Iwata spray guns show Anest-Iwata on bodies and paper instructions etc. and all of them were produced before the date the engraving "Anest-Iwata" appeared on AB bodies.
But either owners, producesrs, sellers, deallers or whatever they are not refers much to the thread which is discussed in "new - old".
@MarcosD you may be right or may be wrong in your conclusion and we can only guess based on the facts we have till the representatives would clear the things up, which I doubt will ever happen.
@J000seph you're right Olympos started it all!
They had the biggest AB range ever produced and will be produced I guess. Their design is used these days and microns came from them.