Archives of an email list on the history of binoculars. http://home.europa.com/~telscope/listp300.txt home page: http://home.europa.com/~telscope/binotele.htm 301-350 Binocular List #301: 23 June 2004 ========================================= Subject: New papers From: Peter Abrahams Bill Reid has a new paper on Barr & Stroud, and a letter expanding on an earlier article, in the new Bulletin of the Scientific Instrument Society: Reid, William. Barr & Stroud 'Nitrogen-filled Binoculars': the facts. Bulletin of the Scientific Instrument Society No. 81 (2004) 34-36. (the inlet into the prism housing is for use with a dessicator, not for nitrogen purging) A letter on pp18-19 expands briefly on his: Binoculars in the Air. Bulletin of the Scientific Instrument Society #70 (2001) 19-27. Among other details, there are more hints on the rejection by the British of 6 x 30's by B & L and Crown, about 80 years ago. The exact reasons for this rejection are buried in British archives, but would be quite interesting to learn. ================================================================= Subject: Collimation From: "William Cook" Steve Wrote: >>>When I did find collimation errors, I would pull the hinge, and replace one side with another until the error was down to a degree (or two). Finding perfection (< 1 degree off) was pretty much illusive, so there really is some point of no return with this glass. But, I am sure that some of the OM's out there might have special tricks and techniques to rectify the impossible.<<< Trick # 1: OMs in the fleet revered to Steiner's as disposable binoculars. And, of course, that is the mentality that closed the school in 1999 and did away with the OM rate in 2000. Trick #2: know that when the BOOK says 2 minutes of step and 4 minutes of spread, it did not DEGREES! Although the hides of OMs who tried to collimate to DEGREES instead of minutes did make dandy lamp shades . . . especially those with interesting tatoos. Trick #3: Realize that anything is easier to do in a production setting, where you are producing hundreds of identical prism clusters at the same time. The problems with the MK 22 can be overcome effectively. BUT, only by those who a) do not have a life, or B) who consider their time worth much less than minimum wage, or c) who think a collimator is a cross between a collie and an alligator. Just a thought. Bill Cook, OMC USNR-Ret. =========================================================== Subject: Nikon marks From: nekogahora Hello listers Nikon dropped the Nippon Kogaku markings from their Nikon F cameras around 1967. They seemed to have dropped the marking from their binoculars and marked just Nikon at about the same period. Hayao > I have just bought two Japanese binoculars issued by the Swedish navy. ============================================================ Subject: M-22 From: "Osborn Optical" The M-22's were made in several large production runs. Many of the early units (as far back as the Seeadler-Opik models) were made in the glued version. While it is minutely cheaper to manufacture and a more secure seal with this version, it also made it very difficult for the factory to make any production line corrections or minor warranty repairs. We developed a number of special tools and procedures to work on both versions, but as has been mentioned, even with these advantages, some of the glued version can be very difficult, if not uneconomical to repair. As far as the nitrogen leakage goes, Steve is quite right, the gas will stay inside for a while, but the focusing action and thermal cycles do let the gas escape. The biggest effect of the N2 is that it initially purges the air and moisture out of the instrument and gives it a head start against hostile environmental conditions. It is a fully o-ringed binocular, and as such tends to stay fairly water and dirt resistant under normal conditions. Collimation does tend to stay in place unless a prism shifts. We still work on a fair number of them each year of both commercial and military models. Regards, Earl Osborn Optical Systems Glendale, AZ U.S.A. ========================================================== ===================================================================== Binocular List #302: 27 June 2004 ================================================================= Just a short list this time; but I am leaving on a family holiday from 28 June to 6 July. When I return, I will be happy to send out more frequent lists. We just need more input. --Peter ================================================================ From: "Sven-Olof" Subject: NIKON binoc Hallo - Calling from Sweden. Again we will say how pleased we are with the list. Here some clues on earlier questions. regards, BjÃrn Nyman, Sweden ----- With references to binocular list no 101 April 24, 2000. Subject Mirakel: My object of a Mirakel binocular, has the name on the right hand housing and on the left hand housing is Marwix, Berlin.Not any serial number. The dimensions is 96 mm broad and length is 64 mm. Weight is 158 grams. On the brass washer at the top center of the hing, the magnification is given 5X and cross the script is 65, wich means the focal length of object glasses and diameter 15,5 mm. Sold by a Swedish optican AB CL Fritze, established 1837. The label is a goldprint, with a crown on the top of the lead of the leather box. ------- With references to binocular list no 300. Nikon military issued for Sweden Friend Robert Forslund question about Japanese binoculars. Maybe I can give some further informations or light over the case. In our collection we have some similar. One "Nippon Kogaku" binocular 7x50 7,3â–« field of wiew, serial number 804795, Right top cover with triple crowns and Nippon Kogaku Tokyo. JB-7. On the left top cover 7x50, 7,3â–« Coated Swedish military typenumber M 3011-191001. No. 346/67. The last two figures may mean year 1967. The top covers are fastened with five screws. No rubber protection. One another similar with serialnumber 805343 JB-7. Swedish military typenumber on a glued signplate M3011-191030. No rubber armouring. (I have a picture of a binocular of the same type nr 804607. No rubber armouring. ) The last one mark "Nikon" on the left top plate 7x50 7,3â–«. Right top cover triple crown glued on a sign plate M3011-191032-2. Serial number 865215. Totally rubber armoured. The top covers are fastened with five screws. In the collection we also have two older 7x50, japanese binoculars issued for military use. They are traditionally build as a "Zeiss Binoctar". Made by Micron. Number 741098 and 742382. Swedish marking ÖVG. Means Ãrlogsvarvet GÃteborg. (navy shipyard Gothenbourg) The name was taken away 1964, and changed to "Örlogsbas väst" = Marine base west. --------------- Thank you for the details on Swedish binoculars. Email does strange things to the Swedish alphabet, I don't seem to be able to fix that. --Peter1 =================================================================== Subject: Bushnell Binoculars From: Nicholas Grossman In the current issue of 'TIME' magazine, dated June 28, 2004, page 74 there is a news item - not an ad - describing Bushnell's binocular and digital recording instrument. It is listed among the recent technical advances. -- Regards, Nick Grossman. ================================================================= CZJ Catalogue online (From the Deutsche Optik bulletin board) Posted by Holger Merlitz on 06/21/04 I have scanned one CZJ Catalogue of about 1985, a copy of which Gary Hawkins had kindly sent to me. The scans can be found here: http://www.geocities.com/holger_merlitz/czj_85/czj_85.html I would like to encourage more readers of this forum to do the same: If you have got one interesting historical document, put it online and share it with us! If you haven't got the technical facilities, you may consider to take a hardcopy and send it to me and I will scan it and put it online (but I will have limited space on my disk, of course). Maybe, over the years we will be able to set up a database of otherwise hard to find historical documents. With best regards, Holger ------ Here is Holger's home page, with a list of all his reviews: http://de.geocities.com/holger_merlitz/ Kronos BPWC2 6x30 binocular review Review: NVA DF 7x40 vs. BPO 7x30 vs. Kronos BPWC 8x40 Review: Nobilem 8x50 B/GA vs. Jenoptem 7x50W vs. NVA DF 7x40 Review: NVA EDF 7x40 vs. BPO 7x30 vs. Hensoldt DF 8x30 Review: Fujinon 10x50 FMTR-SX vs. Docter Nobilem 10x50 B/GA vs. Zeiss Jenoptem 10x50W Application profiles for hand-held binoculars Review: Docter 10x42 B/CF vs. TS 10x42 vs. Zeiss Dialyt 10x40 B Review: Zeiss Dienstglas 8x30 vs. Hensoldt DF 8x30 vs. Steiner Fero-D 12 8x30 Review: IOR-SA 7x40 vs. Zeiss Jena EDF 7x40 vs. PZO 7x45 How to identify faked Zeiss Jenoptems, with materials by Claudio Manetti Review: 10x50 Swift Kestrel vs. Zeiss Jenoptem vs. Hensoldt Diagon Review: Nikon 8x32 SE vs. Fujinon 8x30 FMTR-SX vs. Hensoldt 8x30 Fero-D 16 NEW: Carl Zeiss Jena catalogue of 1985 ------ ......and there is a link to these interesting diagrams from Zeiss: Die optischen Baugruppen des EDF 7x40 http://home.arcor.de/thuernagel/edf-baugruppen.htm ================================================================= Zeiss introduced a new line of Victory models, with an element of fluorite or fluorite glass. 7x42 T FL, 60 degree FOV 8x42 T FL, 61 degree FOV 10x42 T FL, 63 degree FOV Eye relief 16mm Shortest focussing distance 2.0m I've only found detailed information at the Zeiss, Denmark, page: http://www.zeiss.dk/frame.asp?home_id=2&page_id=&substring= http://www.zeiss.dk/common/frames.asp?home_id=2&page_id=88 ================================================================= ================================================================== Binocular List #303: 19 July 2004 ======================================================= It has been very quiet lately, which is ok, though we welcome contributions. The Deutsche Optik forum has been on an even keel lately, after some unmoderated moments when too much was said; and there are other forums for active exchange of email on old binoculars. But I'll send out more frequent lists with a bit more email. There are some very well informed persons who receive this list & will answer questions if prompted. ------------------------------ Subject: Images posted to web .....some pictures of the Canadian REL binocular with the carousel filter, posted at this URL: http://img44.photobucket.com/albums/v136/sillymike/Bino/ Michel Trahan List member Gary Hawkins has some very nicely photographed images of unusual binoculars: http://www.pbase.com/g_hawkins/binocular_pictures ......including a Leitz 'Apollo-glas'. Is this a model used on the Apollo missions? "For Wally Schirra's Apollo 7 mission of Oct. 1968, a Leitz 10x40 spotting scope was used for visual observation, as well as in the Apollo 9 mission of March 1969. In May & June of 1973, Skylab 2 was equipped with a Leitz Trinovid 10x40 binocular, modified for use in space, and with Hasselblad & Nikon cameras. The same equipment was carried in Skylab 3, July-Sept. 1973; Skylab 4, Nov. 1973 - Feb. 1974; and the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project of July 1975." --from a paper I wrote on telescopes in space. --Peter ============================================================== Subject: Night fighters of WWII......any with binoculars? From: Peter Abrahams I have been reading: J.E. Johnson. Full Circle: The tactics of air fighting 1914-1964. N.Y.: Ballantine, 1964. Johnson was a British military pilot. The first chapters include many excellent stories about WWI aircraft, fighting strategy, and the formal courtesies the pilots gave their enemy counterparts. As WWII began, military aircraft were mainly limited to daytime use, and the development of nighttime capability was crucial to the war effort. Most of this effort was directed towards equipping airplanes with radar. Fighter aircraft for use at night included the U.S. P-61 Black Widow night fighter, with a specialized 6x42 binocular, recently discussed on the list by Fan Tao. Other forces developed night fighters, and the question is, whether any of these were equipped with binoculars. Britain, Germany, Japan, Russia, and the U.S. used night fighters. Perhaps a listing of known night fighters would be a good way to start a search for specialized binoculars they might have had as equipment. There are many aircraft that were designated 'night fighter'. The main point was made in one site: in the "desperate need for anything that would fly at night", many unsuitable adaptations were made. Some of the below is taken from web sites, which inevitably include some errors. I personally welcome corrections but don't want to turn this list into an aircraft list, so barring any objections I'll only distribute email about binoculars. There is a very good essay on night fighters of Finland during WWII: http://www.sci.fi/~fta/nightftr.htm They used Brewster, & Messerschmitt 109 G-6, airplanes in defense against Russian bombers. (An unusual strategy was to have Finnish bombers join the Soviet bomber formations as they returned home over the Gulf of Finland, and then bomb the Soviet air bases while the Russian bombers were landing.) ---------------------------- Britain: Johnson, p178. British aircraft adapted for use in night fighting included the Blenheim, the Beaufighter, the Defiant, and the Hurricane. Some of these "were transferred to night fighting not because the aeroplane was suitable, but because it could not exist by day." 1944, Mosquito night-fighters equipped with radar. http://www.raf.mod.uk/history/line1944.html Defiant, Beaufighter, Mosquito, and American A-20, aircraft flown by the RAF. USAAF units acquired and operated the British Beaufighter, and later the Mosquito, successfully in the European theater. http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/history/wwii/nf.htm The British took the U.S. attack bomber Douglas A-20 Boston attack bomber, & adapted it to the Havoc, a night fighter, with radar; equipped with a searchlight, known as the Turbinlite Canada sent RCAF night fighter pilots to Britain; as did New Zealand. ---------- Germany: Johnson, p212. 1940, Dusseldorf, experimental unit of Messerschmitt 110 airplanes, developed a night fighter model. Junkers 88 specialized as a night fighter. Germany: HE-219 Owl; Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Junkers Ju 88C-6c; Junkers Ju 88G-1; Junkers Ju 88G-7b ------------ Japan: Nakajima C6N1-S Night Fighter Saiun(MyRT) Ki-45 Toryu (U.S. name: Nick) night fighter J1N1-S Gekko (Moonlight). later version, J1N1-Sa Night Fighter Gekko. (U.S. name: Irving) Japanese Navy, WWII, IJN Night Fighter Aircraft S1A1, manufactured by Aichi, official name: Navy Experimental 18-Shi Hei (C); Type Night Fighter Denko ------------- Russia: Johnson, p241. Russia began a night fighter force by equipping day fighters with flares and searchlights. -------------- U.S.: In addition to the P-61, the first US aircraft designed & built as a night fighter: The Marines used specially equipped F6F Hellcats as night fighters. The USAAF also used the British Beaufighter & Mosquito in Europe In the Pacific, the USAAF used the P-70 version of the Douglas A-20, and the P-38, until the P-61 was available. The Havoc, the night version of the Douglas Boston attack bomber; equipped with radar, known as the P-70. F4U2 Corsair, converted from the F4U1 by adding radar. Night fighter versions of the Grumman Wildcat & the Grumman Tigercat. Grumman F6F Hellcat, night fighter version F6F-5N, very successful ============================================================================= ============================================================================= Binocular List #304: 26 July 2004 ========================================================= Subject: blc 20x80 I heard from Kevin Kuhne, who sent images of a previously unknown Zeiss model. It is marked blc 20x80; in a heavy Porro II body. Coated optics, wide angle, performance breathtaking, of a type not seen before. Kevin asks if anyone has seen or heard of these before. Images: http://home.europa.com/~telscope/temp/Zeiss.blc.20x80.b.jpg http://home.europa.com/~telscope/temp/Zeiss.blc.20x80.d.jpg ========================================================== Subject: Binocular site.... 'A new small site with my small collections. The site is not yet finnished but there is plenty of pictures of items and there is also little text written and I am continuesly writing more .......... www.technika.nu Please comment back what you think.' --------------------- These are very nicely photographed. Some interesting notes: 'Zeiss 7x50B......Those are currently used both in the army and the navy.' 'Nietche 08', a Galilean 08.....possibly Nitsche & Guenther, Rathenow, code 'gxh', found on gunsights? Inscription on this Goerz 6x30; 'WBA Mit Skala M9' http://www.technika.nu/modules/tinycontent1/index.php?id=43 ========================================================== Subject: On the web From the Deutsche Optik bulletin board: British Intelligence report on Leitz factory - 1946 Posted by terry small on 07/17/04 http://www.angelfire.com/biz/Leica/page26.html A very interesting glimpse into the world of Ernst Leitz and his employees through the eyes of a joint US/British intelligence team who visited the factory at Wetzlar in 1946. BRITISH INTELLIGENCE OBJECTIVES SUB-COMMITTEE B.I.O.S. FINAL REPORT No.1436 THE "LEICA" CAMERA ======= There's a lot of people reading the forums on Simon's site: http://www.oemspace.co.uk/bios/index.htm ......but not a lot of hard answers. Similar situation here & at the DO site. Hopefully more communication will bring more answers. --Peter ======================================================= Subject: Observations From: My family and I just returned from a trip to Yellowstone and Teton Parks and I made some informal binocular related observations. I was struck by the number of people with full sized Porro glasses. Most were the usual Bushnell-but also Pentax and equivilent quality optics. In fact, the small inexpensive 8 and 10x25 roofs seemed mostly carried by the kids!! On the other hand-high end optics other than occasional older Nikons were rarely seen. (This in obvious distinction to my visits to sites frequented by birders and serious, albeit amateur, naturalists who favored Zeiss classics, some Leicas and many Swarovskis.) The in Park stores sold Bushnell, Pentax and some Simmonds. My crew carried a mixed bag whose field performance was intersting. The Olympus Magellen 8x42 roof, phase coated, waterproof-picked up on the 'Bay as a factory reconditioned glass for about $100 was outstanding! Bright, no distortion, good field, edge to edge clarity, easy to handle and compact. A first class field glass that you don't have to worry about. At least 90+% as good as my Leica at 1/8 the cost. A Minox 10x25 reverse Porro was disappointing-not very bright even in full sun, good edge to edge but not overall sharp with fair color rendition-about what one would expect from a middling Asian effort (which is exactly what I think it is despite it's immediate German origins.) My old Russian Foton 7x35 came thru again-very light weight, bright, excellent color and phenomenal central sharpness and clarity but trails off a bit at the margins. Mechanics OK-must keep fiddling with the focus despite the good depth of field. Near focus not nearly as good as the Olympus. Not waterproof. Next, a fun little piece-a chinese Turmon copy-NC Star-10x25 picked up at a gun show for $10!! Narrow field, a bit dark, centrally sharp but trails off quickly. Mechanics surprisingly good-but always with you, unobtrusively-best for quick glances- Once you figure out how to hold it properly given the 0 eye relief!! Lastly, tied for first place was a Canon 10x30 image stabilized glass-also a factory reconditioned offering. Despite its geometry it is amazingly bright, sharp edge to edge with terrific cental sharpness-perfect color rendition. The IS system has its limits-not much help on the boats or rafts-but great when trying to see details at range. The 10x is very helpfull at the ranges encountered here out West. At Jackson Hole spotted 9 Moose in 30 min with this glass. Very good close focus as well. My wife preferred the Olympus because of the screw in eyecups and great eye relief as she wears glasses. I preferred the Canon-only drawback was the added weight and my concerns about possible fragility-perhaps unfounded. As I said, nothing technical or profound-but some every day binoc observations. Arnie ====================================================================== ======================================================================== Binocular List #305: 03 August 2004 ==================================================================== Subject: Hector de Grousilliers From: Peter Abrahams In 1892, Ernst Abbe was contacted by Hector de Grousilliers, an engineer in Berlin, who had working drawings of a new range finder for artillery observers, using enhanced depth perception to estimate distance. H. von Helmholz and August Kundt had told de Grousilliers that this was not a practical idea, but Kundt referred him to Abbe. Helmholz had earlier proposed a non-magnifying telestereoscope, using mirrors. Abbe and de Grousilliers worked in autumn of 1892, and together developed the Relief-Fernrohre, in the 'scissor' configuration; and the Stangen-Fernrohre, in the solid tube configuration. Abbe's patent application of July 1893 was rejected because of Porro's earlier work, but a patent of 9 August 1894 was granted for an optical instrument with increased separation between objectives. Military sales were expedited by de Grousillier's association with German military personnel. Hector de Grousilliers seems to have been a very influential person; but there is little or nothing about him in the references. This comes from page 278 of a thesis on Zeiss, that has few details on binoculars. Feffer cites correspondence of Abbe on this associetion. Feffer, Stuart M. Microscopes to Muitions: Ernst Abbe, Carl Zeiss and the transformation of technical optics 1850-1914. PhD Dissertation, 1994, University of California, Berkeley. 341pp. ===================================================================== Subject: 20x80 From: Steve Rohan The photograph that Kevin sent you is, in my opinion, of a postwar Kowa 20x80. One just like this pictured binocular was listed on Ebay about a year ago. There was a 20x80 German WW II binocular, but that one was based on the 45 degree 10x80 Busch design. Steve Rohan http://home.europa.com/~telscope/temp/Zeiss.blc.20x80.b.jpg http://home.europa.com/~telscope/temp/Zeiss.blc.20x80.d.jpg ==================================================================== Subject: List archives This list has archives on my web site, link below. I have updated them to #300, and added Word doc versions of all six files. You can find them on the site at the following text: The 'archives' of an e-mail list on the history & use of binoculars .... #1-49..Word doc,..Plain text. .... #50-100..Word doc,..Plain text .... #101-150..Word doc,..Plain text .... #151-200..Word doc,..Plain text .... #201-250..Word doc,..Plain text .... #251-300..Word doc,..Plain text --Peter ================================================================== Subject: What's worse than too few emails? I sometimes send messages to encourage participation in this list, and sometimes get apologetic replies from busy persons. I really have no problem with 'low traffic', the list is here when needed, and the archives continue to grow. I also follow the forum on Deutsche Optik and on Simon's 'Binoculars of the Military' site. What would be much worse than too few emails, is revealed in a message to one of the 'yahoo groups' on binoculars.....there must be 6 or 8, plus several more binocular forums on the 'Cloudy Nights' web site, plus several more on 'Astromart'. These groups discuss the use of binoculars, mostly for astronomy, and birdwatching etc. Here are the figures for just one of these binocular forums: "Cloudy Nights ...Average number of posts daily to binocular forum = 14.5... average of about 450 posts per month over the life of the forum and activity was a lot lower back in the beginning. Total threads in Binocular Forum = 623. Total posts in Binocular Forum = 6622." The group 'binocularastronomy' at yahoo had 596 messages in March.....'only' 126 in July. --Peter ===================================================================== Subject: New Review http://www.geocities.com/holger_merlitz/kern8x30.html Holger Merlitz, Review: 8x30 Kern Aarau vs. Hensoldt Fero-D 16 vs. IOR B/GA ===================================================================== ====================================================================== Binocular List #306: 19 August 2004 ======================================================================== Subject: Various news It has been two weeks since the last email, because I have been too busy to keep up with the list lately. The Koblenz meeting of the Binocular History Society is in two weeks, and will have about 100 attendees. Hans Seeger is assembling a really excellent program, and I will keep the list informed about events. Since Germany is the principal destination for those interested in early optical instruments, I have been planning to make the most of this distant journey. I will travel from Koblenz to Dresden, for a meeting of the Scientific Instrument Commission; and then to Jena for some work in the archives of Carl Zeiss, focusing on their large observatory telescopes. Preparation for all this has kept me occupied. I look forward to meeting some members of this list in Koblenz, Peter ======================================================================== Subject: Zeiss production From: An interesting insight into Zeiss Jena production: Thomas C. Reed in his book "At the Abyss An Insiders History of the Cold War" Ballantine Books/Presidio Press 2004 p.225 cites the example of Zeiss Jena discussing communist economics. After the unification Zeiss/West looked into acquiring Zeiss Jena. It found that for every 30 Marks of raw materials, parts, and labor going in 8 DM of marketable goods came out!!! 70% of input value was being subtracted before a product came out! Thus, many of the stories which circulated at the time about the ungrateful West Zeiss, the derivative company in a sense, turning on its parent must be looked at through the spyglass of economic reality. A CZJ product would have had to be sold at almost 4x its old sale price to break even!! Comments from our European members who may have some immediate knowledge of these facts would be of interest. Arnie ======================================================================== Subject: Kowa, Fuji From: gordiray******et Kowa really gets neglected. In a Sky and Telescope early this year, their 20 x 120 and 40 x 150mm were ascribed to Isfahan Optical, in Iran, by some Iranian early moon phase observers. Isfahan's website has no such offering. Or the Deutsche Optik "Israeli" 20 x 120 Kowas. Recall Golda Meir looking through one in a l967 newspaper photo. Buy my Fuiji Meibo 15 x 80, with mount, green, coated, ca. l980, for $2,400. I may have sold it when new. Little used. Collimated, guaranteed. --Gordon Rayner ========================================================================[ Subject: From the Deutsche Optik board German Navy Optics Posted by Martin on 08/03/04 (Current German Navy issue)...... Zeiss 7x50 , Zeiss 15x60...all in black rubber armor...realy marked with Bundesmarine..... The Bundesmarine got the finest optics from Zeiss...they have brand new binos and this since months only...but its only for day sight watch...no tactical watch of course...here they use Goodyear radar systems as well as others... Rgds OLt.z.Z Martin B. Nife Posted by Robert Forslund on 07/30/04 Nife produced binoculars from 1939 until about 1963. Read the chapter on Swedish military binoculars in the 2nd edition of Dr. Hans Seeger, Mil. binoculars... Or send me an email under forslund******ine.de and I will forward you an essay about Nife in Swedish. OLA (Observationskikare Luftartilleri). OLA I produced 1939 in 303 pieces, OLA II produced 1944, 767 pieces. Makes a total of 1070 made. =================================================================== Subject: A page on I. Porro, from the Zeiss web site Paolo Ignazio Pietro Porro Ingenieur, Optiker und Geodät (25.11.1801–8.10.1875) http://www.zeiss.de/C12567A10053133C/Contents-Frame/DBBAFC787992AE79C1256C41003C854B ====================================================================== Subject: Updates on a site about monoculars From: "u.zeun%cityweb.de" www.monokulare.0catch.com direct link to monoculars old and new www.monokulare.0catch.com/modelle.htm direct link to older monoculars www.monokulare.0catch.com/altemono.htm direct link to today's models www.monokulare.0catch.com/monokulare.htm There is still a lot of translation work to do to make the website accessible to english speaking people - but you can guess from your own translations that this is not a minute job. Ulrich ====================================================================== ======================================================================= Binocular List #307: 20 September 2004 ========================================================= The meeting in Koblenz was a great success. I am now recovering from all the obligations and chores that arose in my absence, and will write a long report very soon. Thanks very much to Hans Seeger and others for hosting this meeting. --Peter ======================================================== Subject: Koblenz From: fantao******et I put pictures from the Koblenz meeting of the Binocular History Society and a PDF copy of my paper on wide angle binoculars on my web site: http://home.att.net/~binofan/koblenz04.htm http://home.att.net/~binofan/WABino.pdf These posts will likely be only temporary as I will remove them in the future to make room for other posts. I hope I did not offend anyone with my commentary, and please inform me of any corrections. Regards, Fan Tao ======================================================== Subject: 80mm blc Kowa? From: gordiray******et I have no Kowa, but have seen them over the years. Many at Tokyo Tower, near the sword museum. Their rep. is Kowa Optimed, in Torrance, Calif. Those pictures have several typically Japanese features: figure eight IPD band housing, for example. The postwar Nikon 15 x 80 ( not seen one for over 25 years), the Fuji Meibo/Fujinon 15 x 80., the postwar Toko/Topcon, all look similar. About 20 years ago Japan Self Defence Navy training ships visited San Diego several times. They had a large complement of Nippon Kogaku, Topcon or Toko , and perhaps other postwar, coated versions of the familiar WWII types, such as the 20 x 120 x 3 deg. straight view, and the 15 or 13 x 80 inclined at 60deg. I took some pictures, but they are not at my desk now. So we know that at least some plans survived the war, ( or perhaps WW II types were copied when sent in for service, as were the deckmount Zeiss 8 x 60 at Oberkochen, according to the Seeger book). --Gordon Rayner =========================== Subject: On the web, Leica & Minox 8x20mm and 10x25mm Leica Ultravid models http://www.leica-camera.com/sportoptik/produkte/ultravid/ultravid20bl/index_e.html (3 meg pdf catalog) Many Minox brochures, in .pdf: http://www.minox-web.de/minox2002/index.phtml?&speechchange=e&sprache=e =========================== Subject: Hensoldt 25x56 monocular From: "u.zeun%cityweb.de" I've just bought a monocular Dialyt 25x56 - true Dialyt design but 40cm long and rather a telescope than a handheld monocular. Maybe this is quite interesting for you and the other bino-fans, as I couldn't find any hints to this on your Hensoldt list or anywhere else. See www.monokulare.0catch.com/dialyt25x56.htm Kind regards Ulrich ============================== Subject: Nikon site From: Hans Braakhuis Please visit my udated website http://home.planet.nl/~nikon.catalogus/ Hans Braakhuis ============================================================== ================================================================ Binocular List #308: 01 October 2004 ==================================== I am still writing an account of the Koblenz meeting, and this list is late because I was waiting to finish the text.....but it was a very complicated meeting & I have not finished yet. Until next time, here are Fan Tao's images, as noted in the last list: http://home.att.net/~binofan/koblenz04.htm and here is an image of some unusual contraption involving a Leitz binocular, circa WWI: http://home.europa.com/~telscope/temp/Beck.1999.Leitz-Werke.p44.jpg 153kb This is from p44 of: Beck, Rolf. Die Leitz-Werke in Wetzlar. Erfurt: Sutton Verlag, 1999. Any idea of whether this was actually used? --Peter =================================== Nick Grossman < balaton******tlantic.net > writes about a Galilean binocular by Goerz, seen at the meeting in Koblenz. It was marked, Goerz - Pozsony. This city is now Bratislava, Slovakia. The question is, what type of facility Goerz might have had in Pozsony......? ================================ Subject: Early Gasmask Binoculars From: Forslund******ine.de Early gasmask binoculars. On my last visit to the Swedish military archives I found the following letter from Norinab to Kungliga Marinförvaltningen (the Royal navy command) dated 3. January 1928. Translation from the Swedish text. Since our main firm (Nedinsco? My comment) now has been able to complete a binocular construction which enables the use of binoculars with applied gasmask or protecting glasses we take the liberty of offering the same. The prize for the mentioned binoculars including case and gasmask oculars, but not including reticule and filters is: 6x 24…..Swedish crowns 110:- a piece 6x30….. “ “ 130:- “ 7x50….. “ “ 180:- “ 12x50…. “ “ 240:- “ Free delivery incl. package. These prizes are guarantied until 31. January 1928. To explain the construction, which also can be seen on the included photograph, our main firm writes as follows: (Here comes a long presentation in German of the construction and its great advantages for military users. I do not want to bore the members of the list with a translation of this. If someone is interested I will email the text on demand.) A photo of one binocular is included. It is a 6x30 with white rubber eyecups. It seems to be identical to the Nedinsco binocular shown by Håkan Spuhr on his website www.technika.nu The binocular from Håkan has the number 1586694. In my collection I have a similar binocular number 1580716 which has bakelite gasmask eyecups. As the numbers are that close, I presume that they were ordered at about the same time. It is the first time I can recall seeing rubber gasmask oculars mentioned. Has anyone on the list seen bakelite gasmask oculars in production before 1928? Robert Forslund ================================================================ Subject: From the Deutsche Optik bulletin board ---------- 6x30 Czech military glasses from Deutsche Optik Re: range reticles Posted by Leon on 09/14/04 The military range reticle uses the mil scale: 6400 mils = 360 degrees (NATO) or 6000 mils = 360 degrees (Soviet/Warsaw Pact). The formula WAR (Width divided by Angle = Range in thousands) is used to estimate range. If a ten-meter long tank subtends 5 mils in the reticle, the range to the tank is 2,000 meters (10/5=2 (thousand)) The obvious weaknesses in the system are knowing the dimensions of the viewed object and having a perpendicular perspective. Military observer training used to include much time in learning dimensions of likely battlefield targets. ==================================== Subject: Good web document on vignetting in binoculars From: amj******com (Anton Jopko) From newsgroup sci.astro.amateur Several months ago there was a discussion of binocular vignetting in this forum and I had some false ideas about it. I decided to investigate this in detail for myself and so I prepared this web page with the address below to summarize my findings. I hope you will find it informative. Comments and constructive criticism welcomed. Regards, anton http://www.kwic.com/~amj/bino.html ===================================== Subject: New book by list member. There is a new book on the history of the telescope. Fred Watson. Stargazer: The Life and Times of the Telescope. Allen & Unwin, 2004. 342pp. It is a hybrid of a popularized account and a research paper. The tone of the writing is largely conversational, and it is without footnotes. This does have the positive effect of making it a pleasure to read. A 'Notes & Sources' section at the end serves the function of footnotes. As a survey, it is largely built on secondary sources, but there are sections that are nicely expanded: on Zucchi, Cavalieri, Mersenne, J. Gregory, D. Gregory, and Reeve, for example. Also a bit on Watson's time at Grubb, with D. Sinden & D.S. Brown. Price, in Australian dollars, $35. http://www.allenandunwin.com/shopping/product.asp?ISBN=1865086584 You can get a glimpse of the very 'cool' dust jacket on this web page. International orders are being accepted, but the book will soon be published in other countries. ================================= Subject: B&L 4x14; Hensoldt; etc. From: John Anderson jdamodels******om (to: Jack Kelly) Re: an early B&L 4x14 Opera & Field Glass..... it has the same flat spots on the front prism covers that yours have. Steve thinks that this might have been done to allow better fit in the case. Do you have any theories of your own? The serial number is also strange. Under the center cap are two numbers scratched in the same hand and apparently at the same time. The top number is X46X. The Xs stand for X not a number that I can't make out. The lower number is 2467. What do you make of this? I have also attached photos of a Hensoldt. It is pretty rough and I only bought it because I was curious why it was so similar to Zeiss' Feldstecher. Did Hensoldt have a licensing agreement with Zeiss to produce binoculars based on Zeiss' design? I cant see how they could have produced this binocular without Zeiss suing them if they didn't. Do you have any idea of the age of this one? Finally, there are pictures of a B&L that I originally purchased for parts. The eyecups are mismatched and it is a bit worn, but it is better than I thought it would be and it is fully functional. I have decided to keep it whole. My first question relates to the Triple Alliance logo on the right prism cover. I cannot recall seeing this logo on a B&L with this old style typography. Do you have an idea when this binocular was made? The serial number is 13815. The other question regards the prism set screws that are present in this specimen. I had understood that B&L used the Zeiss system of shimming and otherwise adjusting the central hinge for collimation. However, this binocular has set screws through the body sides that move the prisms exactly like the screws on specimens that I have opened from the WW1 era and later. I found no such screws when I opened the 4x14. Do you know when B&L switched from the Zeiss collimating system? Best regards, John ---------- From: "Jack Kelly" 1. I have two examples of the 4X glass and both have the flat area on the bottom prism cover. My first thought was that maybe the sheet stock of aluminum from which the bottom plate was made was only so wide and in an effort to save money B&L opted to use it with a flat area. That sounds a little too frivolous for an expensive binocular so maybe Steve's explanation makes more sense. What I cannot explain is why they left that area unpainted. Maybe they discovered an error in the fit of the binoc to the case and ground the plate after assembly but I think they would have fixed that pretty quickly and we would have seen it on only a few pieces. I guess that this will be one of the many mysteries we run across in collecting binoculars. I have no idea why the x46x marking exists unless it was used to identify different pieces of the binocular during assembly. I have seen many early binocs so marked with two digits of the serial number on each of the barrels, hinges, etc. The S/N of your glass appears to no. 2467. The two in my collection are 8989 and 11093. 2. Your Hensoldt glass is certainly a violation of the Zeiss patent if it was made prior to 1907. While rummaging through the archives in Jena I found many references to the "Difficulties with Hensoldt", a Victorian era euphemism for lawsuit. Hensoldt first tried to get around the patent using penta prisms instead of porro prisms. Zeiss had to sue Hensoldt for protection of their patent rights and won the case because the essence of the Zeiss patent was enhanced stereo effect due to the wider spaced objectives, not prism design. The Hensoldt roof prism design with objectives spaced the same as the oculars was the final resolution of the problem. My speculation is that the Hensoldt porro prism binoc in your photo is from shortly after the Zeiss patent expired in 1907. I come to this conclusion based on the block lettering used for the markings. Hensoldt produced several different models of porro binocs alongside their roof prism models right up through at least the 1980's. 3. The B&L with the triple alliance logo was certainly made in 1908 or later since the triple alliance was established by contract in that year. Based on the presence of the typical script logo and the lack of a circle around the triple alliance logo I would guess that your glass is one of the earliest produced under the new relationship with Zeiss. I have several early B&L Zeiss in my collection with the triple alliance logo. Some have screwed on hinges and lug straps like yours, others have cast hinges but screwed on lug straps and then there are those with both cast lug straps and cast hinges. I think this pretty well demonstrates the evolutionary design approach of B&L in that era. There does nor seem to be a single leap forward in binocular designs from B&L in the same manner that Zeiss changed everything all at once in 1907/08. This evolutionary approach could explain the presence of screw adjustable prisms in your glass as B&L introduced improvements. I have not yet disassembled any of my glasses with the triple alliance logo to determine if there are prism adjusting screws present but none are visible from the outside. Regards, Jack ------------- From: jdamodels******om Re. Question 1: I guess the mystery will remain for now. The serial number is either 2467 or 0467 with the 0 having a hash mark through it. The other numbers are clearly 4,6,& 7. Do you have any idea when #2467 might have been manufactured? Re. Question 2: This all sounds reasonable to me. I will date my specimen as circa 1908. Re. Question 3: You might not be able to tell from an outward inspection of your early B&L glasses if there are prism adjusting screws present. Unlike later models that used synthetic body coverings, my early leather covered model had no screw access holes cut into the covering. It was the presence of a couple of bumps under the leather that first attracted my attention. I carefully cut a small flap into the leather and found the screw along with a quantity of green waxy gunk that was causing the upheaval of the leather. Most of the other screws were not so affected and were located by careful probing of the leather covering. After collimation, I carefully tacked the flaps back down with a small amount of adhesive. The result is barely visible and would probably not be noticed unless looked for. Unless a specimen had been collimated at some point after manufacture, there might well be no external evidence of the collimating screws and consequently no way to tell if these screws were present without disassembly. I think that it is also likely that service technicians familiar with Zeiss binoculars might easily overlook the screws, or choose not to use them, and collimate in the Zeiss manner by shimming and otherwise adjusting the hinge assembly. This would also result in a whole leather covering without visible evidence of the screws. Best regards, John ============================================================ ============================================================ Binocular List #309: 06 October 2004 =============================================================== From: Zbigniew Fiema Concerning the factory of Goerz in Pozsony/Bratislava. I do not know details but it must have been a major producer of optical equipment for the Austro-Hungarian army before WW1. I happen to have an artillery panoramic sight for 8cm cannon, marked M8714 4 FACH für 8cm M.5.F.K. W.B.A. 18.9.18. C. GOERZ 14 Wien u. Pozsony. Regards, Zbig =================================== From: guus kasteel Subject: Early Gasmask Binoculars Dear Robert, As written to you before on Aug 20, 2004, but with an incorrect serial number: It just happens to be that in my collection I have a Swedish 6x30 army binocular made by Nedinsco 's Gravenhage, "systeem Carl Zeiss Jena" with the serial number 1580876 (on the left prism cover plate). Very close to the number 1580716 quoted by you in Peter's list #308, only 160 apart. Can we now assume that these are all from 1928? It has bakelite type of eye cups which are retractable (gas mask). The mechanism makes a "click" upon movement, so it indicates to me that the eye-cups are fixed at the two possible in/out positions. Further, the bino is marked with the Swedish crown and the coding A: 2476 g. "A" is for Swedish Artillery I was told last time by you. The reticule is of a very sharp quality, not to be compared with some of the British types of the same date or even later. This binocular is very similar in construction as another Nadinsco 8x30 produced for the Swiss army, dated 1932. It also has gas-mask eye cups, slightly different design, but on a wide angle ocular. This serial number is again very close 1597932 (on the rim of the prism house cover plate). It would be interesting if someone could explain on the list by what techniques these reticules were made (well before the time of optical etching techniques developed for the chip industry). best regards Guus ================================ Subject: Zeiss, marked 'E.I.' From: Zbigniew Fiema I have this Zeiss, probably 6x30, which is marked Carl Zeiss, E.I. 1910, No. 315. No other number on the "bridge" or anywhere else, although it could have been painted over some time ago with "Afrika Korps" tan. I am curious about the E.I abbreviation. Will appreciate any information. Sincerely, Zbig ================================== Subject: Koblenz meeting From: Peter Abrahams The third meeting of the Binocular History Society, in Koblenz, Germany, 3-5 September, 2004 by Peter Abrahams Friday, 3 September 2004. The Wehrtechnische Studiensammlung Koblenz is a large museum of German military technology. The optics section had several dozen optical instruments on display, including binoculars, rangefinders, and the 200mm Zeiss binocular. We met on Friday morning in a large room, up several flights of stairs, which rapidly filled with optical instruments and about 70 persons. A highlight of the meeting was the chance to discuss and display old binoculars, which occurred during breaks over the next three days. There were hundreds of binoculars on display, perhaps half for sale and half just to share. A significant contribution to the meeting was made by representatives of manufacturers, (in alphabetical order), Fujinon, Leica, Minox, Swarovski, & Zeiss. The Minox rep brought a case with about a dozen of their current models, which were excellent quality. There were a few Leica models, notably two new compact models. A new Zeiss Victory 8x40 gave particularly excellent images. Swarovski apparently has a collection of old optics, as one of their reps brought a Hofmann, Paris, prism monocular, from the 1860s. Fujinon's contribution is discussed below. There were also papers on display, not a very large selection, but a very nice contribution was made by Hanke Jark, who reprinted and gave away two booklets, 'DF 7 x 40 Bedienungsanleitung', and a second, which was gone when I arrived. R.C. Gregory brought a single copy of his just-published book, 'Binoculars of the 20th Century', a hard bound pictorial book on several dozen of the most interesting binoculars, but no distribution information was available at the meeting. We opened with introductions from Dr. Wirtgen of the W.T.S.; Hans Seeger, Peter Abrahams, and Walter Besenmatter. Presentations followed, first by Peter Abrahams, 'The First 300 Years of Binocular Telescopes, examples of binoculars from 1600 to 1900.' Dr. Wirtgen described 'Die Wehrtechnische Studiensammlung des BWB – ihre Organisation und die Aufgaben in der Gegenwart und Zukunft.' Larry Gubas showed a large number of images of Zeiss advertisements and catalog illustrations for his paper: 'Progression of Zeiss binoculars, demonstration of early advertising and company publications.' Larry included some early advertising from Goerz, Voigtlaender, Hensoldt, & Oigee. Unusual Zeiss sources included 'Zeiss Notizen' - information for retailers, and Zeiss advertising for military binoculars. Larry also described the Zeiss Historica society ( http://www.zeisshistorica.org/ ); and showed a copy of his new book, 'An Introduction to the Binoculars of Carl Zeiss Jena, 1893-1945.' This paperback, of about 250 pages, will soon be available for sale. Our host at the WTS, Lothar Simon, gave a talk on 'Fuehrung durch die WTS, Hinweise auf die optischen Exponate und die entsprechenden Pulikationen der WTS.' Next, the attendees all introduced themselves and provided a few words on their interests. This was a very useful half hour, when I identified many of the persons I had heard & read about over the years. Hartmut Lange is an Optiker-Meister (optician) who has worked extensively with Seeger on early binoculars; and the highlight of this period was when Lange presented Roland Leinhos with the replica 'Steinheil Konus' he had fabricated. (C.A. Steinheil produced, in 1833, a 'Sehkonus', a short conical tube of one piece of glass, the larger end convex and the smaller end concave, which could be used as a simple low power telescope. Lange made a shorter & wider cone, for a 'wide angle' Konus', with the straight sides of the cone painted with wrinkle paint.) Fan Tao's Powerpoint presentation was next, on 'Wide Angle Binoculars: An Overview of some Classic Models and Challenges for the Future'. Holger Merlitz gave an overview of his methods of evaluating binoculars, 'Fernglastestung – Kriterien für eine vergleichende Bewertung'. Holger gave a good introduction to binocular testing, from which I recall his point that sometimes when a binocular with small exit pupil is thought to be sharper, it can be because the user has undiagnosed astigmatism that is revealed with a larger exit pupil. Friday's session was concluded with a lengthy discussion, in German, 'Kurzvorträge der teilnehmenden Optik-Firmen: State of the art: Die Fernglas-Modelle der laufenden Produktion – was nicht im Prospekt steht'. This opened with a statement by Hans Seeger, in German with an English summary, concerning the level of quality in current binocular production. To summarize: Relatively few persons have looked through a high quality binocular in good collimation. Tests show that many binoculars in shops are out of collimation, though not including those from the best quality manufacturers. A binocular out of collimation is useless, and without advice, the user is unable to test collimation. Why are there no advisors in optical shops? Suggestion: offer binoculars that can easily be collimated by the user. Why are there no effective advertisements & promotions for binoculars. More people should get the feeling, that they really need a good binocular. Requirements and specifications for future binoculars were discussed. After this introduction, general discussion among audience members continued, as described in the program: 'Podiumsdiskussion: Mitarbeiter optischer Firmen und Teilnehmer: Ferngläser heute und in den nächsten Jahrzehnten. Was bleibt zu tun, was wurde vergessen, was sagt der Fernglas-Historiker?' Seeger showed a collimation checker built by Hartmut Lange, based on a design found in the literature. This is a small box that is sized about 10cm x 2cm x 2cm, to set over the eyepieces of a binocular. Two windows allow entry of light from the two eyepieces. Behind the left window is a mirror set at 45 degrees, behind the right window is a semi-reflecting mirror set at 45 degrees. Light from the left ocular strikes the mirror set at 45 degrees, and is reflected to the semi-reflecting mirror just behind the other eyepiece. Light from the right ocular passes straight through the semi reflecting mirror. Images from both eyepieces reach the right eye. Light from the left side passes throught a green filter. Light from the right side passes through a red filter. The user chooses a small object in the field of view, and observes, with the right eye, two images of this object in two colors, either superimposed (if collimated) or slightly offset (if collimation is off). Roland Leinhos, replied with a story about how he makes a monthly trip to the university, normally carrying an 8x20 in his pocket, and the neighbors will say, 'I want to look too'......at which point Leinhos switched from English to German. He also noted, to readjust the system in an optical shop is difficult to do while maintaining warranty conditions. Franz Erler of Swarovski said that a simple collimation system would be of interest to us. Hartmut Lange said that he has a special system for industry to use with a collimator, using a 'biprism in rotation' on one side, and the other side is normal. Lange also showed a lens mounted in a handle, the lens had been polished with strong astigmatism, but the function was not understood. The factory representatives provided their perspective and briefly introduced their new models at this time. Kurt Becker described the new Zeiss 'Victory' binoculars, with reduced chromatic aberration, with Abbe Koenig prisms 'as usual' using total internal reflection. The 32mm model uses Pechan prisms, which are do not permit total internal reflection, and so utilize a special coating on the prism faces. Tilman Taube showed new Fujinon models, which are not always the same as U.S. introductions. The most unusual model is not in production, but was made as a prototype for a possible military model, developed for the British Navy. He showed an 8x50, based on a 7x50 housing, with bayonet mounted eyepieces that were replaceable. This was a 'day vision' & 'night vision' model, using image-intensifier eyepieces for night use. They can use a variety of image intensifiers, of varying quality and price. Using generation-2 class image intensifiers (which cost 1,000 Euros each), the probable price for the binocular would be 8,000 Euros. Also manufactured was a prototype 25 x 150 with 'Day & Night Vision'. Philipp Syré introduced Leica's new models, including waterproof miniature models, and a laser rangefinder built into a lightweight binocular, for hunters. Friday closed with some free time for touring the museum's collection. The 200mm Zeiss binocular had been placed outside, giving a view of the city; but in the bright glare, being unable to move the binocular, it was difficult to evaluate the image. Friday evening was our group dinner. An interesting discussion was held with Walter Besenmatter, on the post-WWII development of binoculars by Zeiss. After the spectacular wartime models, postwar Oberkochen production was marked by very short eye relief, and the question was raised, as to why such marketing decisions were made. WWII designs were not used primarily because the division of the company left it unable to quickly resume production. 'The brains' went to Oberkochen .... but just the brains. In the West, manufacturing and business procedures were developed from a blank slate. Longer eye relief cannot be attained by simply adding a new eyepiece, it requires redesign of entire binocular. It took until the early 1960s to develop long eye relief models. Finally, the superiority of WWII designs was not a 'given' to Besenmatter, though the details of this were not elaborated and the meaning left unclear. Most attendees stayed in the small town of Guls, a few kilometers from Koblenz. A very picturesque old town center included old churches and views of surrounding hillside vineyards. Saturday, 4 September 2004. On Saturday, after an hour of visiting and viewing, Jack Kelly spoke on 'Mechanical designs over the first 20 - 30 years of mass production', showing many images of early binoculars to illustrate the variety of solutions to mechanical problems of producing a binocular. Steve Rohan followed, showing a DVD, 'The different versions of the Zeiss 8 x 60', in which a chronology of these models was presented, with a video clip of each model and a description of its features. Included was the Askania 8x60, designed as a case with two monoculars, on a gimbaled mount, an excessively complicated design that is difficult to take down. The case is not waterproof, however, the optics are very good, wide field, with low distortion. Also shown was the double 8x60 HT, from the Prince Eugen cruiser, a pair of binoculars at 90 degrees to each other, with very large prisms, and a very complex design. Terry Vacani was the narrator and demonstrator of the next video, 'Explanation of the disassembly of a Zeiss 25 x 100 and the similar rangefinder mounted 12 x 60.' Cleary shown & explained was the Cardano circle, used to adjust interocular distance. The prism and eyepiece move together, and the light path through the prism is doubled back on itself, so movement of the prism in any distance will cause the light path to increase or decrease twice that distance. The Cardano circle moves the prism half as far as the eyepiece is moved when adjusting interocular distance. Roland Leinhos was the next speaker, 'Die ersten Militärmodelle aus Oberkochen, Kurzvortrag mit Diskussion.' The talk included the telescopes 15x75, 15x75 45 degrees offset, and the 15x75 with 110 degree field using a very unusual eyepiece of Leinhos' design (29 of these were manufactured.) Diplom-Physiker Roland Leinhos was a leading optical designer at Zeiss, first in Jena, where he studied from and worked with Horst Koehler, developing the first post war Deltrintem, and improved test procedures for binoculars. Koehler left Jena for Oberkochen in 1951, and Leinhos followed in 1952, where he designed Oberkochen-produced military binoculars, including a post war 8x60, and civilian 6x20 and 10x25 models. After a career at Zeiss, he worked for the Bundeswehr, monitoring the development of binoculars, telescopes, U-boat periscopes and laser range finders. He is now retired. Michael Simonsen gave a presentation on 'Military handheld binoculars in Danmark 1900 - 1945.' This will hopefully be posted on Mike's web site, and / or published in a book. Bernd Leisse described the optical collection of another German military museum, 'Das Museum für Historische Wehrtechnik in Röthenbach - die Abteilung 'Optik'.' This talk included several unusual instruments, including a reflecting telescope by Busch, marked 'cxn', probably for aircraft spotting. If recollection is correct, there was also an instrument marked 'Goerz - Budapest'; one of a number of very unusual Goerz binoculars at this meeting that were not inspected due to limited time (a Galilean marked 'Goerz - Pozsony' was noted.) A 'silent auction' sale followed. Some attendees had brought binoculars for sale, and in total there was a very large number of sales items. I do not know of any great bargains, but there were some quite unusual models that are rarely seen in the U.S. After 90 minutes of sales, Karsten Porezag spoke on 'Zur Geschichte der militärischen Präzisions-Optik aus Wetzlar - am Beispiel des Richtkreis-Kollimators.' Porezag is the author of 'Hensoldt: Geschichte eines optischen Werkes in Wetzlar'. Although this lecture was not comprehensible to those who spoke only English, Porezag is a highly animated speaker who entertained us all. Walter Besenmatter was a leader of the Zeiss binocular design group in Oberkochen, and a designer of binoculars from the 1990s, now retired. He has published in SPIE, JOSA, and other journals. Besenmatter gave the next talk, 'Die ersten Dachkant-Prismensystem aus Jena und Wetzlar: Die damalige Patentlage und die Frage der Priorität.' This paper was a highlight of the meeting, a very detailed review of the development of roof prisms, and thoroughly illustrated to allow English speakers to follow the presentation. The first known roof prism was by Nachet, for a microscope, published in Comptus Rendus, in 1843. Sang patented a roof prism in 1876. The Zeiss Dosenfernrohr used an Abbe roof prism and the design is thought to have been completed as early as 1894. Richard Faltermair works in the Armeemuseum Ingolstadt in Bavaria, and spoke to us about 'Die Beschaffung von optischem Gerät in Bayern und dem Deutschen Reich bis zum Beginn des 1. Weltkriegs,' the acquistion of binoculars by the German and Bavarian Army. Wilhelm Heger gave a presentation on 'Historische Vermessungsoptiken, ein vernachlaessigtes Interessengebiet,' the development of telescopes used in surveying instruments. This is a very interesting aspect of the history of telescopes, involving some of the important developments in reticles and adjustments for parallax. Heger is a university professor of surveying. Saturday evening was 'Museumsnacht' at the WTS, with displays, re-enactments by soldiers in period uniforms, food, and large crowds. The 200mm Zeiss binocular was available for use after dark (viewing a fixed, terrestrial target). Some of us adjourned to a quieter venue for conversation and admiration of old instruments. Sunday, 5 September 2004. Sunday morning opened with some free time for viewing displays and visiting. Thomas Antoniades presented some 'Remarks on the numbering and production data of early Zeiss binoculars,' sharing with the audience his investigations into Zeiss serial numbers and what they reveal about production over time. Zeiss put a 'Privat Nummer' on some binoculars, which in addition to serial numbers are clues to production, retailing, and dating of instruments. Vulcanite eyecups and the format of name engraving are also clues for dating. (Antoniades' files are found on Peter Abrahams' web site) Wolfgang Wimmer, the archivist at the Zeiss factory in Jena, described these resources in 'Das Zeiss-Archiv in Jena - Hinweise zur Struktur, dem Internet-Zugang und zur Nutzung vor Ort.' Zeiss maintains a very large archive of papers, which are resource of great importance to those interested in early binoculars - including models from other manufacturers. Simon Tomlinson presented 'Ross Prismatic Binoculars, the early years,' showing examples of binoculars, patents, and serial numbers, to begin a sequence of dating for early Ross models. Hans Weigum gave the final talk, on 'Die derzeitigen optischen Firmen in Russland und ihr Fernglas-Produktionsprogramm', which was an English language presentation on Russian optics. Letters found on Russian binoculars can include: BPO = binocular Porro, and O = extended eye relief. For some manufacturers, the first two digits of the serial number are the year of manufacture. The Yukon models exported to the West are partially supplied by LOMO. After this talk, we took a tour of the Ehrenbreitstein fortress just outside Koblenz, including a 'living history' monologue drama. We returned to the WTS to pack up displays and say farewell. Back at the hotel, conversations continued late into the night. On Monday, some attendees drove to Wetzlar to visit the Zeiss-Hensoldt Werk, and see some of the underground, dug-out workshops used during WWII. This was a very complicated meeting, on a tight schedule. Extensive planning was needed to bring in the complicated schedule of speakers. Lunch and snacks were included. The museum is on German military property and security was an issue that planners needed to address. 90 people indicated that they would come, and about 70 actually attended, resulting in a shortage of funds which was not shared among organizers but borne by an individual. It was a very complicated meeting, perhaps exceeding what a volunteer-run organization should attempt. Some assistance was given by Peter Abrahams, Lothar Esch, and others; Lothar Simon and Frau Simon gave considerable assistance; and the meeting as a whole is almost entirely due to the efforts of Hans Seeger. One issue that was discussed by the entire group, was the future of the Binocular History Society. The larger issues of what we want to accomplish were mentioned, but the immediate issue was the location of our next meeting. To date, no one from an English-language country has volunteered to run the next meeting. Of course, it need not be as complex or large as the Koblenz meeting. A note was communicated to the group, from Dr. Aichner, of the Bayerisches Armee Museum, in Ingolstadt, Bavaria (near Munich), indicating that he would be willing to host an upcoming meeting. Presumably this would be in two years or even later. This is encouraging news, and we will see how things develop. Interested persons from other regions of the world will hopefully consider hosting a meeting in their location, which can be a smaller, informal, or regional event. ==================================================================================== ==================================================================================== Binocular List #310: 11 October 2004 ========================================================================== Subject: Reticles From list 309: >>It would be interesting if someone could explain on the list by what techniques these reticules were made<< Reticles are often the best clue to the intended purpose of a binocular. It is unfortunate that there is so little written about them. Seeger discusses a Fadenplatte ('thread plate'), using spider's web; Telemeterplatte (distance measuring reticle) from Goerz; and Gitterplatte (reticle using a grid). Three technical papers on reticles in optical instruments are the following, only the first has even a note on history: Bovey, E. Graticules and fine scales: their production and application in modern measuring systems. Journal of Scientific Instruments 39 (August 1962) 405-413. Rheinberg, Julius. Graticules. pp120-126. Richard Glazebrook, ed. A Dictionary of Applied Physics. London: Macmillan, 1922, 1923. Horne, D.F. Optical scales, reticles, gratings, masks, and standards. Applied Optics 20:23 (December 1, 1981) 4000-4008. Jack Kelly provided a photograph of a page from a catalog. Zeiss, Wien (Vienna). Zeiss-Feldstecher fuer Armee und Marine. (Catalog #) 'T.Oe.' It is undated, and includes a 7x50 (military version of the Noctar), the D.F. 16x40, and the Teleater - though why a Teleater in a military catalog is unclear. Strichplatten are extra accessories, listed at the end of the catalog. These pages illustrate & seem to explain the use of two reticles. Perhaps we can obtain a translation of the brief description -- if interested, you can email me to see if someone else has already done this. http://home.europa.com/~telscope/temp/Zeiss.Wien.p16-7.jpg 224kb --Peter ============================================================== Subject: Goerz, Bratislava From: Forslund******ine.de I have a comment on Bratislava. The German name for this town was Preßburg and it is known that Goerz had a factory there. For example I have a 80cm rangefinder built for the Finnish army. It is marked Goerz, Bratislava. See Seeger 2nd p.148. Regards Robert ========================================================= From list 309: "Seeger showed a collimation checker built by Hartmut Lange, based on a design found in the literature. This is a small box that is sized about 10cm x 2cm x 2cm, to set over the eyepieces of a binocular. Two windows allow entry of light from the two eyepieces. Behind the left window is a mirror set at 45 degrees, behind the right window is a semi-reflecting mirror set at 45 degrees. Light from the left ocular strikes the mirror set at 45 degrees, and is reflected to the semi-reflecting mirror just behind the other eyepiece. Light from the right ocular passes straight through the semi reflecting mirror. Images from both eyepieces reach the right eye. Light from the left side passes throught a green filter. Light from the right side passes through a red filter. The user chooses a small object in the field of view, and observes, with the right eye, two images of this object in two colors, either superimposed (if collimated) or slightly offset (if collimation is off)." I found an image & description of a similar tool. Hopefully this will motivate other persons to fabricate these useful items: http://home.europa.com/~telscope/temp/Alii.1996.Repair.p41.jpg (295kb) This is from: Alii Service Notes. Repairing & Adjusting Binoculars. 1996. It was for sale, fairly recently, from Alii, P.O. Box 30871 Honolulu, HI 96820. $24.95.+ shipping. --Peter ======================================================== Subject: BHS We are searching for a place to hold the next meeting. As noted in the last list, it is possible that a Bavarian military museum could host the next European meeting, possibly in two years. We can have other European sites, as well as meeting here in the U.S. If you have a good contact in a military museum with an optics collection, perhaps you could make some inquiries. Or, if you have an interesting collection and your home town is suitable, please consider hosting a meeting. Realizing that the size & scope of the Koblenz meeting presents a 'hard act to follow', I will note that our U.S. meetings brought only 20-30 people, and they were using all the publicity of Deutsche Optik. I will guess 15-20 people at the next U.S. meeting. --Peter ======= The following is an edited version of the text I read during introductions at the Koblenz meeting. It was written as a speech and sounds a bit overblown when read; but I include it as one person's idea of what the BHS might be hoping to accomplish. Certainly, now that we have a Society, the questions of what we want to do with it are relevant. I posted this text, and the long description of the Koblenz meeting, as one Word .doc: http://home.europa.com/~telscope/temp/BHS.Koblenz.doc The third meeting of the Binocular History Society, in Koblenz, Germany, 3-5 September, 2004 Introductory text by Peter Abrahams, edited for publication. 03 September 2004. (Note: This is not a statement of policy from the BHS, but the opinions of one person.) Thank you for attending the third meeting of the Binocular History Society. Binocular collectors, binocular repairmen & restorers, and persons interested in the history of binoculars, have held meetings for some years. In England, the 'Focus Family' has gathered for many years. In the United States, meetings were held at Steve Rohan's home, beginning in the 1980s, occasionally shifting sites, becoming more organized in the late 1990s, then meeting in Vancouver Washington in 2002, and Herne, England, in 2002. The meeting in San Diego of February 2003 was formalized, with presentations and a dinner. An informal managing group was formed from volunteers, although at this time our only organization is an occasional email. In San Diego, the attendees voted to approve a name for the society, the 'Binocular History Society'. Although most of us are collectors, we purposely did not choose a name that included the word 'collectors', because our purpose is slightly different. We have no formal statement of purpose, but we agree that our goal is not to enhance collections or promote buying and selling. We do have auctions or swap meets at our meetings, but our purpose is to increase knowledge of the history of binoculars. We work to increase knowledge in all possible ways, including: --communication, at meetings, in publications, on the internet, and in email. --by assisting those who research and write on binoculars. --by exchanging photocopies of early catalogs & manuals, as well as photographs & computer files. --by informing the public that this knowledge exists. Sharing knowledge is not necessarily unusual. But we deal with unavailable instruments, obsolete techology, and antiquated skills; things that cannot be purchased at any given time or place: they are scarce. Under these circumstances, there are many times when secrecy is maintained. For example, those who work at repairing and restoring old binoculars often do not talk about their knowledge of repair procedures, because they might lose work to those who would try to do the job themselves. Many collectors keep their knowledge as secrets; they might know of a rare binocular, but if they inform their competition, the next sale will be lost. So, they do not tell anyone, and their knowledge is lost. And of course it is work to share your knowledge, and it takes time, and busy people sometimes do not take the time and so their knowledge is lost. This sharing of knowledge is important for reasons that are clear to those of us who collected binoculars in the 1980s, or before. Back then, you could find a binocular at a bargain price, because sellers did not know what they had. The problem was, when you found an 8 x 60, you also did not know what it was. There were no books, no articles in journals, and no internet. Then, Hans Seeger wrote 'Feldstecher' and 'Militaerische Fernglaeser'. Steve Rohan wrote his books on 10 x 80 models, and on military binoculars. Antoni Piaskowski published 'Lunety I Lornetki', and Robert Gregory wrote two books on binoculars and their use. Bill Reid wrote on Barr & Stroud binoculars, and there also chapters in books and a few articles in journals. Internet web sites were contributed by Peter Abrahams, Fan Tao, Simon Gunning, and others. Several email forums were started. And now, our knowledge of early binoculars is much greater. The result is a truly fascinating new field of study, and in spite of these excellent books, we have only begun this work. For an example of how little is known, since we meet here in Germany, consider the following list of obscure German binocular manufacturers (not retailers), who were active mere decades ago but are now almost totally unknown: Ernemann, Dresden. Enuro, Wetzlar. F.O.G., Berlin. R. Fuess, Berlin. A. Fullgrabe, Kassel. Hartmann, Wetzlar. Laro, Rathenow. Krombach, Wetzlar. B. Nickel, Marburg. Nitschke, Rathenow. Ruf, Kassel. Ruhnke, Rathenow. Runge & Kaulfuss, Rathenow. Franz Talbot, Berlin. Fritz Volk, Berlin. Certainly we have much to discover about the past. To return to our Society. At the meeting where we first attempted to organize, in San Diego, we chose a name. The Binocular History Society met for a second time, in Tucson, Arizona, in March 2004. Mike Rifkin of Deutsche Optik donated some items for an auction, so we now have a small treasury. The third meeting of the society is here in Koblenz, and it is a larger meeting, with a more ambitious program, and we hope this leads to much more knowledge of this history. We are especially pleased to be meeting in this historic venue, for several reasons. The Wehrtechnische Studiensammlung is one of the most important sites in Germany for historic optical instruments. This meeting of the Binocular History Society is an official meeting of the WTS, meaning that it is part of their schedule and part of their agenda. We feel that this adds a quality of legitimacy and authority to our conference. And finally, it means that WTS conservatory Lothar Simon has provided much assistance in setting up this meeting, for which we are grateful. We want to welcome representatives of binocular manufacturing companies, in alphabetical order, Fujinon, Leica, Minox, Swarovski, and Zeiss. In San Diego, we hosted a representative of the Kamakura company, and we feel that attendance by industry is very productive, for two reasons. First, we want to tell these companies that there are people who think their history is interesting and important, so please save your old records, support your archives, and write a history of your company. Second, we think that there are certain early binoculars with truly excellent qualities that could be used to model new products. Collectors are also navigators, birders and astronomers; we use both the old and the new, and we believe we are the bridge between the past and the present. ============================================================================ ============================================================================= Binocular List #311: 19 October 2004 ====================================================== Subject: Collimator List 309 & 310: "Seeger showed a collimation checker built by Hartmut Lange, based on a design found in the literature. This is a small box that is sized about 10cm x 2cm x 2cm, to set over the eyepieces of a binocular. Two windows allow entry of light from the two eyepieces. Behind the left window is a mirror set at 45 degrees, behind the right window is a semi-reflecting mirror set at 45 degrees...." ---------- From: "Holger Merlitz" There is such a device available for purchase: http://www.astroselbstbau.de/binotest.htm The price for this 'Binotest' is 60 Euro. With regards, Holger -------------- From: Peter Lamb, Lamburntash******om The Helmut Lange / Hans Seeger collimation device is ok with one drawback : it has a fixed optical base and is therefore only accurate for a fixed inter-ocular distance. One can achieve the same result by using a photographic rangefinder ( the type that clips on the shoe of 35mm cameras from 50,s) but one needs to measure the optical base. Peter ================================================================= Subject: Future BHS meetings We received several notes about future sites for meetings. One email involved a potential volunteer for organizing a meeting in London. Another suggested a meeeting at (or in conjunction with) the Zeiss Sports Optics U.S. Division, in Chester, Virginia. Both of these sound like excellent possibilities. --Peter ================================================================ Subject: Zeiss Jena 8x50 From: fantao******et For future meetings, we should consider including donated items as part of the silent auction/sales like we did for the Tucson meeting. This would help to cover any shortfall in meeting expenses. At the meeting in Koblenz I picked up an unusual specimen which appears to be a prototype for the Zeiss Jena 8x50 Nobilem Super. I had heard stories of such a prototype from Terry Vacani but never expected to see it in person. At first glance I thought this was just a regular Nobilem Super but I did a double take when I saw what was engraved on the prism plate - "Deltrintem Super". What were they thinking? It seems like a joke, but remember that the folks at Jena also produced a 7x40W "Septarem Super S" (basically a civilian version of the DF 7x40 porro). Also on closer inspection, the prism plates are a different shape than on the production model, not as rounded. From inspecting the details of this prototype I believe it was Jena's reponse to the Oberkochen 8x50 porro model from the 1960's. It looks like features such as the focus wheel location and rubber seals were copied from the Oberkochen model. The focus location on the prototype was not retained for production, probably due to the use of large prisms (for a wider field of view) causing difficulty for the user's hands in reaching that spot. Optically, the prototype appears to be nearly the same as the production unit, except for the coatings. My guess is this unit was produced in the late 1970's (the Nobilem Super was introduced circa 1981). Please refer to my web site for pictures and other details: http://home.att.net/~binofan/delsuper.htm I also wanted to comment about Larry Gubas' new book, "An Introduction to The Binoculars of Carl Zeiss Jena 1893 - 1945", which I was happy to get. I am not qualified to review the content so I won't try. However, I can say that it is full of information on Zeiss and their binoculars up through the Second World War. Nearly every page has an illustration, most of very good quality, including a few in color. It is written in a informal rather than scholarly style so I found it easy to read. I only have a couple of suggestions. There is an index of sorts for binocular models, but a table of contents would have also been helpful. Larry is supposed to be compiling a bibliography which should be available from him in the future. Also, there are a few obvious typos which did not interfere with my understanding of the text and hopefully will be fixed in a future edition. I believe this book is self published and obviously a labor of love which I want to thank Larry for doing. You should be able to find out how to get the book from Larry by using the contact information found on the Zeiss Historica web site: www.zeisshistorica.org Fan Tao -------- Larry says he'll let us know when he's ready to start taking orders & shipping, which is not quite the present moment.....but hopefully soon. --Peter ========== Subject: Reticles From: "u.zeun%cityweb.de" Just found this website which also offeres a Graticules catalogue of Eyepiece Graticules & Stage Micrometers for 5 GBP http://website.lineone.net/~bsneesby/display.htm Maybe someone is interested to buy!? --Ulrich Special thanks to Ulrich Zeun for translating the German text on reticles, posted to: http://home.europa.com/~telscope/temp/Zeiss.Wien.p16-7.jpg This is from the catalog: Zeiss, Wien (Vienna). Zeiss-Feldstecher fuer Armee und Marine. (Catalog #) 'T.Oe.' Ulrich sent me a Word doc with the images included, but I cannot at this time post any files to the web site....I am on a new computer & have no ftp software. page 16 Carl Zeiss Vienna Co. Ltd. The Artillery Reticule can be used to estimate deviation of projectiles, spreading in width and height, and to determine distances of objectives of any kind with known height or width approximately. Reticule for the Army Field-Glass (Feldstecher) M. 11 Z., M. 9 Z., and for the Army Field-Glasses 7-, 8-, 12- and 16-power. On the horizontal divisions you get about 10 metres (9.8m) between two lines at 1000 metres each. The height of the vertical lines measure 2m at 1000 each metres. The length of the horizontal lines is: at 1000m each 1 m; 2 m The person ordering is asked to give his inter-pupillary distance in order to adjust the reticule vertically; an inter-pupillary measuring device can be sent on demand beforehand, at no cost. page 17 Carl Zeiss Vienna Co. Ltd. The Infantry Reticule* according to Colonel Lieutenant Steiner’s specifications is used: to determine distances of objects of any kind with known height or width; to determine spreading of height and width when distance is known; when the target basis is not known, to determine distances by measuring the angle of view of two points, and observing the increase of the angle when approaching; to specify observations of enemies or objects; to measure small angles (up to the range of the field of view) referring horizontally and vertically. Infantry Reticule for Field-Glasses M. 11 Z., M. 9 Z. and Army Field-Glass 9x. The length of the 10-line dividing marks is 2 lines. The length of the 5-line dividing marks is 1.5 lines. The length of single lines is 1line. 1 line at a 1000x distance correspondends to one step. The Infantry Reticule is also available for the 12x Army Field-Glass in a slightly changed form, but with the same specifications. The person ordering is asked to give his inter-pupillary distance in order to adjust the reticule vertically; an inter-pupillary measuring device can be sent on demand beforehand and at no cost. ------- * see Colonel Lieutenant Steiner’s essay on: 'The Use of the Binocular with Reticule to Estimate and Measure Distances'; publ. L.W. Seidel & Son, Vienna, 1, Graben 13, price K 1.20; can be ordered through us. ================================================================================== ================================================================================== Binocular List #312: 01 November 2004 ============================================================== From: "Brian Haren" "From list 309: It would be interesting if someone could explain on the list by what techniques these reticules were made." I worked for years in the cartographic and survey fields, long before computers made their impact, and we used the same techniques daily that are use to make reticles. In short, quality reticles are etched on glass using photo mechanical techniques. To begin with, a skilled draftsman creates the reticle pattern at a much larger scale using precision drafting instruments and pens like the old Rapidiographs. The reticle pattern would be drawn on a stable based material like mylar film. This allows the draftsman to hold a precise proportionate scale and draw the reticle larger than the finished product. This is for ease of drafting. When finished, the reticle pattern is then taken to a copy camera. A copy camera is a camera for which the distance from the focal plane to the copy board is very precisely calibrated and can be adjusted with repeatable accuracy. The reticle pattern is "shrunk" on the copy camera by adjusting the distance between the reticle pattern on the copy board and the focal plane (where the film is held). To reduce, or shrink, you simply move the copy board away from the focal plane a set distance. The camera operator is given the percent of reduction and adjusts the camera accordingly. A picture (in negative form) is taken of the "reduced" reticle. Glass blanks are then treated with photo sensitive etching chemicals, the reticle negative is placed on top and the whole arrangement is exposed to light - just like making a photographic print. After exposure the glass blank is washed off, and the reticle pattern is left behind, etched into the glass. There are advanced production techniques that allow manufacturers to make dozens of reticles in one pass, but I just outlined the basic techniques. Any optical instrument that used a cross hair, reticle, aiming circle, etc - binoculars, rifle scopes, cameras, observation telescopes, survey instruments - all had their reticles made in this fashion, and probably still do. I also noted a reference to spider webs. It is true that many early instruments with simple cross hair sights used spiderweb material for the cross hairs. In fact, years ago the old Army Map School/Defense Mapping School at Fort Belvior, Virginia kept black widow spiders in their instrument repair shop as a source of cross hair material. As students going through the shop we were all introduced to the "Merry Widows". Only one or two old guys working there had the skills necessary to take sections of web and rebuild the cross hairs. I'm sure it's a lost art now. Thanks! Brian Haren ============================================================== Subject: Collimation checker From: "Claudio Manetti" In the attachment there are some pictures of the alignment checker You wrote about in the previous lists. Here is a bit of comment on that tool. My best wishes Claudio Object: alignment checker Twenty years ago I bought two alignment checkers together with a very long double collimator from an Italian importer. Many years before they had purchased it from a Japanese binoculars manufacturer (or dealer), but nobody was able to tell me its name. At that time I used the double collimator to build a vertical binocular testing instrument similar to the Möller Wedel apparatus (but, due to the very long focal, more than 2.5 m high!), but never employed the alignment checkers because I was already accustomed to use the naked eyes for quick alignment tests. In the attachment there are some vintage pictures and a sketch made by that unknown Japanese company to illustrate the use of the unit, as well as some pictures of the checker. The suggested collimation tolerances are quite tolerant, as you can see in the sketch. One of the pictures of the checker shows the prism group removed. The arrows indicate the two wedge prisms, they are so thin that could be mistaken for plane-parallel protection glasses. Here is where the alignment of the checker can be adjusted. Turning their cells (there are two small holes), these wedge prisms superimpose the two images (one bluish, one yellowish) of the checker. This adjustment could be problematic because a single wedge prism cannot be as effective as two working together for each axis . One single wedge prism cannot adjust the image convergence/divergence without affecting the vertical alignment at the same time. The distance between the two windows of the instrument is 65/66 mm. After some training, this tool can be used to test a binocular at slightly different IP distances , let’s say from about 64 to 68 mm. However, for narrower or wider IP distances, I find it is reliable only for testing the vertical step. The device must be positioned on the same line of the eyepieces, without leaning, otherwise some error would be introduced. In the first vintage picture the logo of the binocular is a bit visible, though out of focus. Not much to understand which was the company. Regards. Claudio Manetti http://home.europa.com/~telscope/temp/Manetti.Collimation.Checker.jpg 234kb ============================================================== (From the Deutsche Optik board:) New test report Posted by Holger Merlitz on 10/18/04 This is a review of the newly introduced 7x50 wide angle binocular by Miyauchi. I have compared this one with Fujinon's FMT-SX and one older Tasco No. 124, as well a wide angle binocular. This is the link: http://www.geocities.com/holger_merlitz/miyauchi7x50.html Have fun. Holger ============================================================== From: hans.braakhuis******t.nl I restyled my homepage: http://home.planet.nl/~braak117/ and look for the Nikon bino's list not complete yet ================================================================ Subject: Inventory of Japanese binoculars From: "Harryman, Gene, Mr, DCAA" Attached is an updated Inventory for posting. I would appreciate it if you would put a note on the next list extending thanks for the entries submitted and also my apologies for the delay in updating the list and returning an email. I am several months behind. I plead personal commitments and change of ISP's. The listkeeper******com address is working again. It went dormant for a while. Regards, Gene http://home.europa.com/~telscope/JpnSurvy.xls ========================================================================= ============================================================================== Binocular List #313: 16 November 2004 ============================================================================ Subject: Spanish binoculars From: "Rafael Chamón Cobos" Concerning the history of binocular in Spain, I am affraid it will be few literature, if any. The only reference I have got is a 6x30 porro binocular with individual focus setting and uncoated lenses, that I purchased in a second hand shop in Madrid. It bears the mark and logotype of a militar technical department "Taller de Precisión de Artillería" (which still exists). I suppose this bino was manufactured in this workshop, perhaps in the 1940's. Naturaly this department will be busy with electronic devices today rather than with optical developments, I gess. I tried several times to contact people of this militar department, via E-mail, asking for information on the subject "binoculars manufactured in Spain", without success. Regards. Rafael ==================================================================================== Subject: Comparisons From: I was wondering if Holger compared these wide angle 7x50s to the humble and inexpensive Kronos 7x35 with 11 degree fov? I know he has reviewed Kronos wf glasses in the past (the 6x30 and 8x40, if I recall correctly) with an overall favorable opinion. I share his opinion of the Fujinon mil spec 7x50-a great glass, if only they made a center focus variant! Arnie =================================================================================== Subject: Koblenz From: charles barringer I recently found an item of interest to the Koblenz crowd, and maybe others: "Wehrtechnische Studiensammlung Koblenz", a 92 page A-4 format soft-cover book printed in 1999, covering (in German) many of the optical exhibits that surrounded us in September. Pages 19 - 91 of the book are devoted to one-page descriptions/specs and black/white illustrations of various items. The Surplus Shed (http://www.surplusshed.com/) has these at $17.50 + fixed S&H of $5 - the shipping fee remains the same regardless of the size of the order. The owner intimated that he has substantial stock and might be willing to negotiate a better price for multiple copies. Their site and catalogue are worth a visit in any case. Charlie Barringer =================================================================================== Subject: Collimation checker From: "William Cook" Claudio’s photos are great! They add a lot of insight to a group of historians. As a historian, I loved’em. However, as a tech, I must beat my same old, worn out drum. And that is that this set-up does not seem to allow for consideration of the axle. And, without the axle being taken into consideration, TRUE collimation MAY only be attained within a couple millimeters of the IPD at which the instrument was collimated. I know I must sound like a broken record on this. For that, I am sorry. However, the truth is a very strong substance. I keep seeing these collimators from all over the world. But, ANY collimator, of ANY vintage, from ANY part of the world that does not take the axle (i.e., allowing one to consider the “swinging barrel”) into consideration will not allow thorough collimation—ever. In addition, there are two telescopes in this setup. How do we know they are TRUE!? And if they are true one day, how do we know they are true the next!? One long-time tech, at a company (that shall remain nameless) I have dealings with, set up his dual scope collimator by using a binocular as his test standard! When I asked him how he knew THAT binocular was collimated, and could be used as a TEST STANDARD, there was a lot of silence on the phone. If we are going for “Good enough,” such a setup is adequate. Those of us with a reputation to uphold would not use such an instrument as a “standard” for love nor money. Many of the binos I repair are not worthy of collimation and could not maintain it if achieved. In such cases, the collimator Claudio illustrates is more than adequate. However, those repair tags are labeled “Conditional Alignment” and the price is adjusted accordingly. I’ll crawl back in my hole, now. I wish a great week for all. Cheers, Bill >> http://home.europa.com/~telscope/temp/Manetti.Collimation.Checker.jpg 234kb ========================================================================================= Subject: Collimation of binoculars From: "Rafael Chamón Cobos" I read with interest the contribution of Claudio Manetti in the last Binocular List and I would like to comment the collimation setup depicted in the attachment. I do not know if an arrangement of this type, using a double collimator, is commonly used in repair shops. According to me, the two big collimator serve to produce two collimated beams, this is, the rays coming from an object placed at the infinity. This assumes that both collimated beams are perfectly parallel each other. I ask me which is the reference for this pre-adjust, i.e. how to “collimate” the collimators. (Note that the term “collimation” is used in binocular literature as a synonim of “alignment”, although it should be applied only to beams of rays). At amateur level, for practical pourposes, the two collimators can be replaced by the light comming from a distant point, like a detail on the horizont. The use of the small device described in the photos and in previous Binocular List (“collimation checker”) would be very valuable. Could perhaps anyone of the Binocular List briefly describe how binoculars are collimated in repair shops? A method I have used to “collimate” a Jenoptem 7x50W is the following: 1- Mount the binocular on a fixed support that holds the bino tight, but that allows rotating it around the mechanical axle. (I use a wooden piece attached to a sturdy photography tripod). Obviulsly the angle of rotation will be limited by the support. 2- Look through the eyepiece of one the telescopes of the bino and observe the image of a distant point, let’s say, the peak of a mountain, placed exactly on the center of the field. 3- Let’s firstly suppose that the binocular is well collimated. This means that both optical axis and the axle are parallel each other. Then, a rotation of the binocular around the axle does not affect the observed field (except a neglectable paralax error due to the lateral displacement of the instrument during the rotation). So the peak of the mountain will stay on the middle of the field during the rotation, and the entire field of view will not change at all. 4- Let’s now suppose that the binocular is out of collimation. In this case at least one optical axis is not parallel to the axle, i.e. it forms a little angle wiht respect to the axle. Let’s suppose that the optical axis we are inspecting shows this deviation. Then, the optical axis will describe a cone during the rotation of the bino, so the center of the field will move away from the peak of the mountain along a small arc of circle. This would be best appreciated if a reticle were present. Since no reticle is present, the resulting effect is that the peak of the mountain and the rest of oberved objects move in the field. In other words, the covered field changes. This change is best appreciated against the edges of the fiel, i.e, by checking the movement of details near the edges. 5- The alignment of the optical axis can be changed by adjusting the eccentric rings located in the objective cells. Try several positions of these eccentric rings and control each time the above described movements of the field while the binocular is rotated around the axle. If you can manage to stabilize the field during the rotation, the optical axis of the telescope under test is then parallel to the axle. 6- Proceed the same way with the other tube of the binocular. 7- If both optical axis are parallel to the axle, then they are also parallel each other and the bino is collimated for any interpupillary distance. I did collimate my Jenoptem 7x50W by this way and the result was satifactory, at least for me. Regards. Rafael ==================================================================================== ===================================================================================== Binocular List #314: 23 November 2004 ===================================================================================== Subject: Goerz The list is happy to welcome Thomas Mix to the group Tom contributes two valuable documents. Email will probably break the lines, hopefully it won't be confusing. Both of these are working documents, not completed. Perhaps the list can help with these projects. 1, Zeiss telegram words. 2, Goerz models by date. -------------- From: mixfamily******ine.de Zeiss telegram words. To my opinion they follow roughly the following path: For the civilan models : tel + meaning of the magnification using German, English or Latin numerals: a) Period of the Feldstechers: Example 1901: 4 x 14 "Telier " = Tel + ( v) ier / German 6 x 18 " Telex " = Tel + (s) ex ( tus, a, um) / Latin 8 x 20 "Telact " = Tel + ac(h)t / German 5 x 24 "Telefive " = Tel + e + five / English 7 1/2 x 24 "Teleseven" = dto 10 x 24 "Teleten" = dto 12 X 24 "Teletwelve" = dto b) New models after 1907: now the telegram word appears as the binoculars name. 6 X 21 "Telex" = see above 8 x 24 "Telact" = see above 6 x 30 "Silvamar" - since it had to be clearly differentiated to the other 6 power glas 8 X 40 "Telumact" - to sign the difference to the 8 x 24 12 x 40 "Teleduz" = Tel + e + duz ( " Du(t)zend = 12 / German) 16 x 40 "Telextin" = Tel + (s)extin ( strangeGerman- English mixture) There are other exceptions from this path with the Silvamar, Telefort, Noctar, Binoctar , Stenor, Turol, Teletur, Teleater and others. What was puzzling you , was the telegram words for the military binoculars, the D.F.s (Dopperfernrohre) If you compare the catalogues , pages V- 21 to V - 46, you find in the 1910 catalogue the following logic: c) military ( army) models: D.F. 6 X (21) "Defex" = D.+e +F. - ex ( since it was military, the telegram words use the D.F. instead of the Tele - Prefix + the proper ending - ( s) ex for 6 x 21) D.F. 8 X ( 24) " Defacht" = D.+e+F. + acht ( German - strange that they now use the proper spelling "acht" for eight - not the "act" as earlier D.F. 12 X ( 30) " Defzwölf" = D.+e+F.+ zwölf ( German ) D.F. 12 x ( 30) second modell " Deductor" = name leaves the main path, maybe because there were too many 12power models around. D.F. 16 X 40 " Desixor" = lieves the path D.F. 6 x ( 24) " Defexor" = Defex as to indicate a 6 power DF, + or ( have no idea for what the "or" could stand) D.F. 8 X 40 " Defocta" = D.+e+F.+ octa ( Latin: octus, a, um = 8) (later it became the civilian 8 X 40 , known as the "TELACTO" - with the civilian Tel + turning the vocals in "octa" around yet in the 1920's the system in the telegram words gets mostly lost) D.F. 4 x ( 20) " Defquart" = D.+e+F. + quart ( Latin : quartus, a,um = 4) Fernglas 08 ( 6 X 40) " Galilex" = Galil( ei) + (s)ex ( as used for 6power binoculars) D.F 6 X 42 " Defexvier" = D.+e+F-( s)ex - vier ( = 6/ Latin - 4 / german) strange, that the DF was chosen ,since it was a exclusively navy binocular. For the navy binoculars they - mainly - had the "marine" within the telegram word: d) navy models: 10 X 50 ( Dekar) " Decemarin" = Dec( imuas, a, um = 10/Latin) + e+ marin(e) 7 X 50 ( Binoctar) " Marisept" = Mari(ne) + sept( imus, a,um = 7 / Latin) 6 X 30 ( Silvamar/ Marineglass) " Marinex" = Marin(e) + (s)ex ( the common ening for the 6power binoculars). ------------------------- ------------------------- (Preliminary list of Goerz models) Katalog der Ferngläser der Firma : GOERZ BERLIN GOERZ WIEN / GOERZ RIGA/ GOERZ ST PETERSBURG / GOERZ POZSONY / GOERZ WIEN u. POZSONY /GOERZ BERLIN - WIEN / GOERZ PARIS / GOERZ BRATISLAVA / SÜSS/GOERZ BUDAPEST/ GOERZ NEW YORK / GOERZ BERLIN – NEW YORK) I) Galilei- Glaser: ( unvollständig) 4 X 30 CPG 253 Zivilmodell ähnlich dem C 91 ( ohne Schnellzug) 4 X 33 JF M8 4X Goerz Wien / Pozsony, feste Brücke, ähnlich FG 08) 5 X 30 C 91 - Fernglas für Kavallerie und Infanterie ab 1891 , mit und ohne Schnellzug) ( 4 X 36) wie Fernglas 08 für Schweizer Armee ?? 6 X 40 Fernglas 08 ( Galilei- Dienstglas ( 1908 bis 1918, selten mit Datum vor 1915, 1918 auch mit Aufschrift Dienstglas auf Steg, sehr frühe Modelle beledert) auch als ziviles Glas ohne militärische Nummer auf der Klemmschraube) 6 X 40 Armee- Galilei Mod. 08 ( Wie Fernglas 08 mit Mitteltrieb , Alu- Augenmuscheln 3 1/2 X 50 Marine- Nachtglas ( wie Fernglas 08, aber 1150gr schwer, ca 1910 ) - im Prospekt 1913 mit Mitteltreib unb Okulareinzeleinstellung ------- 2 ½ X 20 Unipont ( Theatergläser) 2 ½ X 28 Unipont II) Porro I - Gläser mit nichterweitertem Objektivabstand: 1)ab 1897 : Zivile Modell, Mitteltrieb über Räder 3 X 15 Trieder Binocle ( bis 1913 ) 6 X 15 Trieder Binocle ( bis ca 1903/4) 6 X 20 Trieder Binocle ( Nachfolgemodell des 6 X 15 Modells, ab ca 1903/4, spätere Modelle mit Messingdeckeln) 9 X 20 Trieder Binocle 12 X 20 Trieder Binocle ( bis 1913) (frühe Stücke mit floraler Schrift, später Druckschrift, beledert, nichterweiterter Objektivabstand, Aludeckel)1902 - 1909? 2) ab 1902: Zivile Gläser: Theatergläser mit verengtem Objektivabstand: 2 1/2 X 12 Fago ( Theaterglas mit Mitteltrieb-Innenfocusierung, verengter Objektiv abstand , ab 1902 3 X Fago ( Theaterglas mit Mitteltrieb-Innenfocusierung, verengter Objektiv abstand , ab 1902 ? 3 1/2 X 15 Fago ( Nachfolgemodell ab 1907 ? mit Mitteltrieb auf Objektive , bis Ende der 20ger Jahre) 3 1/3 X 15 Fago 3)ab 1902: 6 X 30 Pernox auch „Marineglas“ ( unten geschlossenes Gehäuse, Ok. einzeleinstellung oder Mitteltrieb) 8 X 38 Pernox 10 X 45 Pernox ( ab 1910 :Ok.einzel und Mitteltrieb, zwei verschiedene Bauformen, auch als Militärglas, 3.Bauweise mit erweitertem Objektivabstand) 10 X 45 Pernox (ab ca 1912 ? sicher ab 1914 4. Bauweise mit abgeschrägten Prismendeckeln - 1924 nicht im Prospekt) 15 X 60 Pernox (vierte Bauform mit abgeschrägten Deckeln ab 1920 ? - 1924 nicht im Prospekt) verschiedene Pernox- Monokulare mit höherer Vergrößerung: 15 X 45 Marinefernrohr 15 X 20 X 60 Marinefernrohr 20 X ( zwei verschiedenen Bauweisen ) 4) ab 1905 - 1914 ? 6 X 15 Pagor ( Mitteltriebsglas in kompakter Bauform) alte Bauweise mit hornartigem Überzug über die Deckel und flacher Okularlinse, spätere mit Messingdeckel und gewölbter Okularlinse, 8 X 15 Pagor dto 10 X 15 Pagor dto 2)ab 1899/1900: Militärgläser, Okulareinzeleinst. nach Goerzmuster 7 X 20 DF 99 ( massive Brücke, Lederbezug und Alu- Deckel, später auch Gewebebezug und Messingdeckel, ab 1899, eingeführt ab 1900) 9 X 20 Armee Mod. Pat ( etwas größere Ausführung des DF 99 für russ. Armee ab 1899 ??) 3)ab 1902: Militärgläser: Typ Mantelglas - 1906 ? 6 X 20 "--------" ( angegossene offene Brücke ohne Mittelachse, Ok.einzel., leicht zerlegbar/ auch bereits als DF 03 bezeichnet) Auch „ DF 03 Offizierglas „ bezeichnet 7 X 20 ?? 3a)1904 - 1910 ? Militärgläser für den Export: 6 X 20 Trieder Binocular Army ( Typ Mantelglas mit Innenfocusierungs- Mitteltrieb ( für Export hergestellt) 9 X 20 Trieder Binocular Army (dto) 12 X 20 Trieder Binocular Army (dto) (( 65.000 Trieder wurden im Sommer 1904 erreicht)) (( 75.000 Trieder wurden im Sommer 1905 erreicht)) Einführung der Blockschrift auf Triedern ( ca 80.000) (( 100.000 Trieder wurden im Juni 1906 erreicht )) (( 125.000 Trieder wurden im Mai 1907 erreicht.)) (( 130.000 Trieder wurden im August 1907 erreicht.)) (( FG 08: 157.153 – III/1911 , 370.231 - III/1916 , 407.040 - XI/1916 , 454.478 - V/1917 , 455.665 - X/1917 )) 6x 24: 438.808 – IV/1918) 4) 1905 - 1914 ?( eventuell früher: Seriennummer bei DF 03 Offizierglas: 3860 – an Brücke eingeschlagen: 6 X 20 DF 03 ( Prismengehäuse herzförmig, massive Brücke, eingeführt ab 1905 als DF 03) 7 X 20 DF 03 Offizierglas ( Prismengehäuse herzförmig, massive Brücke ) 8 X 20 Armee Mod. Pat Trieder Binocle -militär. Verwendung in Deutschland unklar – ( als Exportmodell Armee Mod. Pat. auch mit Telemeter - Rumänien, als 8 X 20 auch Goerz St Petersburg, mit Kyrill B.U.1904 / Goerz Berlin auch an Russland geliefert) ( Prismengehäuse herzförmig, massive Brücke) 5) 1908 – 1913? : Militärgläser modernen Designs ( angegossene offene Brücke mit Mittelachse, umgebördelte Deckel, aber mit nichterweitertem Objektivabstand: 1910 noch im Prospekt ! 6 X 24 DF 03 Dienstglas UF 8 X 26 Armee-Trieder 6) 1907? Übergangszeit: erweiterter Objektivabstand. 6 X 18 M 7 für Offiziere , von Goerz Wien u. Poszony mit erweitertem Objektivabstand, aber alten angeschraubten Brücken wie bei DF 99 uns DF 03 ! ) III) Porro I - Gläser in Standardbauform ( erweiterter Objektivabstand) modernen Designs: ab 1908 : erste bekannte Nummer: 159.531 auf 6 x 24 Armee Trieder Mod.08 6) Zivile Gläser: mit Mitteltrieb / Okulareinzeleistellung 4 1/2 X 20 Neo Universal ( ab 1914/16 ? Miniaturglas ( noch im Prospekt 1924) 6 X 21 Neo – Trieder ( Mitteltrieb) 6 X 24 Heli- Trieder ( Okulareinzeleinstellung) ( noch im Prospekt 1924) 6 X 30 Helinox ( sehr viel breitere Okularlinsen als milit. 6X30)/ nach 1918 veränderte Bauweise mit langen Objetivstutzen und kurzem Prismengehäuse ( noch im Prospekt 1924) 8 X 24 Neotrieder ( Mitteltrieb) ( noch im Prospekt 1924) 8 X 26 Heli- Trieder ( Okulareinzeleinstellung) ( noch im Prospekt 1924) 12 X 24 Neo- Trieder ( Mitteltrieb) 8 X 38 Helinox ( verlängerte Objektivstutzen 12 X 38 Helinox ( verlängerte Objektivstutzen) ( noch im Prospekt 1924, 1927) 16 X 38 Helinox ?? ( verlängerte Objektivstutzen) später als 16 X 40 deklariert ( 1913) 7 X 45,5 Trieder - Binocle in der Form des 8 X 38 Helinox mit angesetzten breiten Objektivwülsten 7) Militärgläser: 4 X 20 Blink 16 ( Monokular für Scheinwerfer,. verm erst ab 1916) 6 X 21 Armee- Trieder 6 X 24 DF 03 , Armee- Trieder Mod. 08 6 X 30 Marine- Glas 09, Marine- Trieder Dienstglas 6 X 30 ( Zeiss Wien) 6 X 30 Armeefeldstecher : veränderte Bauform mit kurzen Gehäusen und und langen Objektivstutzen. ( vgl. Helinox nach WKI) – Goerz Bratislava 8 X 26 DF 99 n/A. Armee- Trieder ( ca 1918 mit Ölpapier statt Kunstlederbezug) DF 8 X 26 8 X 30 Armee- Trieder ( Prospekt 1913) 10 X 30 Armee- Trieder ( Prospekt 1913) 12 X 30 Armee- Trieder ( Prospekt 1913) 8 X 38 Marine - Trieder ( verlängerte Objektivstutzen) – mit Krone und M + große Nummer bekannt 12 X 38 Armee- Trieder ( Prospekt 1913) 16 X 40 Armee- Trieder ( Prospekt 1913) 7 X 45,5 Marine- Trieder ( Prospekt 1913) 8) Weitwinkelferngläser: vermutlich gegen Kriegsende entwickelt, 20iger Jahre hergestellt, Porro I) 8 X 56 Marine - Nachtglas ( Gewicht ca 3000gr , 150mGesichtsfeld, ab ca 1918 - bis 1925 ?) 8 X 60 Fliegerglas ( ??) ähnlich wie Marine – Nachtglas Weitwinkelgläser nach WKI: 8 X 24 Magon ( Mitteltrieb und Okulareinzeleinstellung) 8 X 30 Magon, ( Mitteltrieb und Okulareinzeleinstellung) Aludeckel, milit. Klemmschraube unten, Sehfeld 150m 12 X 40 Magon ( nur Mitteltrieb ) 9) Porro- I – Modell nach 1918: ( eventuell schon früher entwickelt) 7 X 50 Helinox (nur Mitteltrieb, in Preisliste 1924/25) 8 X 40 Helinox (nur Mitteltrieb, in Preisliste 1924/25) IV. Dachkantprismengläser: geradsichtige, lange zylindrische Bauweise 10) ab 1910 ? bis Ende 20gerJahre: 7 X 52,5 Marine- Trieder ( bis 1924: Ok.einz.) 10 X 52,5 DF 10 X 52,5 ( militärische Version mit großer Klemmschraube oben ) Perpax ( ab 1924) V. Weitere Modelle 8 X 20 knickbares Monokular in Form des Turmon von Goerz Bratislava ( vermutlich Anfang der 20ger Jahre) 7 X 52,5 Stativfernglas mit Schrägeinblick und Schmidtprismen Ende der Fernglasproduktion: ca 1928 . letzte bekannte Nummer:654.229 ( Fago) Stand Nov . 2004 T.Mix ============================================================================ Subject: Steiner 7x50 binoculars From: Michael Zhou Some information I've gathered from conversations on the Steiner 7x50 Military Marine binoculars. The US Army M22 and civilian 7x50 M/M had interchanging parts such as the armor, eyecups assembly, and strap. Around 1992, the 7x50 M/M underwent a body and eyecup modification that was not backward compatible. The new armor did away with the old markings - "MILITARY MARINE 7X50 MADE IN W. GERMANY". There is a model which has "M22 20 ft." tag on the right tube. This binocular, reticule equipped, is said to be an 3x21 Australian trainer with a 7x50 size body. Steiner currently offers a commercial off the shelf 7x50 Military R series that has the reticule and is nitrogen pressurized. This model also comes in the LPF (Laser Proof Filters) version which blocks the 1064nm wavelength just like the US Army M22. Unlike the filter of the M22 which is implemented by installing a filter lens in front of the objective, the Military R LPF filter is a coating on the inner side of the objective lens. Many vendor label this 7x50 Military R LPF as a military issue M22 even thought it is not an official government model. If anyone has a recent 7x50 M/M can you send me a closeup picture of the eyecup base. Regards, Michael Zhou ====================================================== From: jdamodels******om Subject: Ross 6x30, very early model I have a binocular that I acquired recently that I am hoping someone on the list might be able to shed some light on. Pictures are attached to this e-mail. It appears to be a very early specimen of Ross' first prismatic design with widely spaced objectives. It is almost identical to the standard type used by the British Military from 1909 through WW1. The difference is the strap lugs. This binocular uses strap lugs like those found on Zeiss Feldstechers that are screwed to the side of the body rather than being integral with the prism covers. The binocular also has two "National Physical Laboratory" inspection marks. These are the early style mark that looks like a scrollwork "K" superimposed over an "O" signifying Kew Observatory where the N.P.L. was located. The first mark is "KO 9" meaning 1909. The second is "KO 13" for 1913. It also bears the large stylized "broad arrows" associated with the N.P.L. on all four of the prism cover plates. I am assuming that the 1909 mark also indicates the year of manufacture since, according to Dr. Rohan's book, this style was not produced until 1909. I have never seen another Ross binocular with strap lugs like these. Has anyone on the list seen one? If so, can he or she tell me approximately when Ross stopped using this kind of lug? Any information that anyone might have would be greatly appreciated. Best regards, John Anderson ======================================================================== Subject: Zeiss repair shop in Switzerland OPTIK RIESEN INSTRUMENTENOPTIK WABERNSTRASSE 58 3007 BERN SWITZERLAND Phone: 41-31-371.33.11 Fax: 41-31-371.82.88 E-mail: info******riesen.ch, or: optikriesen******in.ch Contact person: G. Kuhny, e-mail: kuhny******in.ch. This company is an engineering company specialized in repairs and construction of all sorts of equipment, including optical equipment, and they are the Europen Service Center of Carl Zeiss Jena. They have an important stock of old pieces and can manufacture missing pieces for repairs. They state that they can be contacted about any problem dealing with optical instruments. ====================================================================== Subject: Huet 8x40 Fan Tao has an interesting update to his web site: http://binofan.home.att.net/huet8x40r.htm Huet 8x40 roof prism binocular with an ultra wide field of view. Made for the French Navy in the 1950's, it is partially rubber armored and has fixed focus eyepieces with a linear reticle on the right side. The prisms appear to be a two piece Abbe Konig (Koenig) type, shown in the photos above both in the cage assembly and apart. There is a slight offset in the optical axis from the eyepiece to the objective. Thanks to Thomas Antoniades for providing information and images of the prisms. ===================================================================== Subject: Collimator From: geneharryman******net Claudio's binocular collimator device is described in the Ali Notes also. Problem is finding the correct & matching rhombiod and right angle prisms. And also not letting Bill Cook know that they are only half collimated :-), even though he is absolutely correct and with the mechanical slop in some old glasses, you don't even have to go more that a millimeter or two off the collimation point to throw it out again. Regards, Gene ============================================================================================ ============================================================================================= Binocular List #315: 02 December 2004 ============================================================================================= = Subject: New book I heard from Clive Law, who is not on the list but contributed some information on REL, and has now finished a book that includes a section on REL binoculars. Clive allowed me to post this excerpt, but I will only leave it up for a week, and please do not distribute it further. http://home.europa.com/~telscope/temp/Law.2004.Without.Warning.-pp.REL.binoculars.pdf There is very little published material on military riflescopes, and this new book will be important for those interested in these telescopes. ----------------------- From: "Clive M. Law" Subject: REL binos Some time back I promised that I would forward to you the results of my research into REL No. 2 binos. This is now finished and the information was used in my most recent book "Without Warning - Canadian Sniper Equipment of the 20th Century" Attached is the PDF file showing 5 pages from the book. Feel free to post this if you think that it would be of interest to your readership. Grateful if you could credit me (Service Publications) at www.servicepub.com Thnx, Clive Clive M. Law Service Publications www.servicepub.com -------------- From the web page: Without Warning - Canadian Sniper Equipment of the 20th Century, Clive M. Law, 88 pages, 140 ill. CDN$29.95 (approx US$22.50) This long awaited book examines the many styles of sniper rifles and optics used by the Canadian Army. Starting with the Ross rifle of Great War fame, mated to the Warner & Swayze telescopic sight, the book examines issues and usage of a variety of sniper rifles. World War II saw a medley of equipment used in the early days. There is all new information on Small Arms Limited (Long Branch) and their experimental rifles as well as information on Research Enterprises Limited and the experimental scopes they developed for the Long Branch rifles. Post-war rifles used by the Canadian Army include Garand, Parker-Hale C3 and C3A1, The FN C1 and C2 (FAL) and the incredible MacMillan Bros Tac50. The entire text is based on original research at the Canadian National Archives and the Canadian Department of National Defence --------------- ==================================================================================== Subject: For sale A collector passed away recently & his collection is for sale, handled by Kevin Kuhne. The list is posted to: http://home.europa.com/~telscope/temp/Kuhne.pdf 152kb ----------- From: Kevin I neglected to add two glasses to the list. They are as follows. 1. WW 2 Japanese 7.5X60 m.m. Toko binocular with 45 degree inclined oculars. I recently completely restored this binocular and had the optical system coated. This binocular is complete with integral mounting and objective end covers. Performance with the new anti- reflection coatings is wonderful. Perfect richest field binocular. Views of the Milky Way are spectacular. 2. Carl Zeiss, Jena 12-20-40X80 m.m. triple turret binocular of the naval type, (page 348 in the newer Seeger book), with COATED optic's. Pristine condition. Optical system in perfect condition. Performance with the coated elements yields bright razor sharp images. Probably the best instrument of this type that I have seen to date. Those interested can e-mail me at kkuhne******line.net for prices and shipping information. I am accepting no money for doing this. Everything should go to her. Kevin. ============================================================================= Subject: Statement from Koblenz meeting At the meeting in Koblenz, Hans Seeger introduced a session by addressing the manufacturer's representatives, in a long statement, that he summarizes as follows: Let me give you a very short summary. I made some provocative statements. In Germany, everybody bearing a binocular, as a private citizen, is regarded as queer or peculiar. One of the reasons could be, hardly anybody has ever looked through a high class binocular in perfect collimation, and therefore doesn't know what he is missing. Binocular tests show that some glasses are out of collimation, even when brand new in the optician's shop. However, this does not refer to the top three or four brand names. A binocular that is out of collimation is useless, it is kaputt. The buyer has no chance to get advice or help and he is unable to test the collimation himself. Why is there no 'binocular advisor' present in an optician's shop? Hartmut Lange built for me an excellent instrument, simple and idiot proof. One view will reveal the truth. This instrument is, in my opinion, a must for each shop selling binoculars. My suggestion to the industry: offer binoculars which can be collimated easily, easier than with an eccentric ring. I ask: why is there so little promotion for binoculars? I mentioned a well made Swarovski promotion film, which I love. If more and more people get the feeling, 'I need a good binocular to have more fun', then everyone will gain profit. If new generations of binoculars would be developed, then the customers would say, 'A binocular like this is exactly what I was looking for, but I was not aware that a thing like this existed." We are now discussing the requirements and specifications for future binoculars. If only a single feasible idea would be developed here, then you from the industry can attend meetings like this, justified by increased sales of binoculars. --Hans Seeger ============================================================================== From: "Claudio Manetti" Subject: From Claudio Manetti. Object: collimators Bill wrote: “ There are two telescopes in this setup. How do we know they are TRUE!? And if they are true one day, how do we know they are true the next!?” Rafael wrote: “This assumes that both collimated beams are perfectly parallel each other. I ask me which is the reference for this pre-adjust, i.e. how to “collimate” the collimators.” I seem to guess that in the States there has been a preference for a single collimator with a large lens (20 to 30 cm), while Europe adopted more frequently twin collimators. As far as I know, a single collimator was used in the MK 5 binocular collimator of the US Navy (see ATM, tome 2), while twin collimators hae been employed by Carl Zeiss, Möller Wedel, and probably (though I am not sure) in DDR Zeiss Jena devices. During a visit at the Swarovski factory in the eighties, I saw twin collimators in the instruments used to collimate the Habicht models, and remember a picture of the Optolyth factory illustrating a technician adjusting the alignment of a binocular with an instrument similar to those ones seen at Hall in Tirol. An example of US collimating instrument adopting twin collimators is the MK 9 collimator, used to adjust binocular gunsights (see Basic Optics and optical instruments, Dover publications). A few devices used to simply test binoculars are equipped with two collimators, one example is in figure 161 of the Manual for Overhaul, Repair and Handling of 7x50 Binoculars (US Navy Department, 1951). An instrument with three parallel collimators is shown in the attractive site of Gary Hawkins, http://www.pbase.com/g_hawkins/image/31467585 Parallelism of the axes of twin collimators can be tested basically in two ways: 1. Collimating each reticule with that one of a testing telescope, usually the same scope used to test the binoculars. In vertical collimators the tes