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Big and Small: Rainbow binoculars |
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Big and Small: Lupinus binoculars |
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BIG & SMALL #8 binoculars |
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BINOCULARS RESEARCH WEBSITE, NOT FOR PROFIT FERNGLAS-FORSCHUNGS-WEBSITE, NICHT GEWINNORIENTIERT SITE DE RECHERCHE SUR LES JUMELLES, À BUT NON LUCRATIF |
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Nikko Big and Small Binoculars, Brand of Nippon Kōgaku Kōgyō Kabushikigaisha ( 日本光学工業株式会社 " Japan Optical Industries Co., Ltd.") (later Nikon) |
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Nikko was a brand used by Nippon Kogaku Kogyo Kabushikigaisha from 1922-1949 (per Hans Braakhuis in “Nikon Catalogus”). When used, it was usually a logotype of Nippon Kogaku in Japanese above NIKKO. Nippon Kogaku introduced the Nikko Novar model of binoculars in 1923 and produced them until WWII, then began producing them again in Dec.1945. Under SCAPIN 1535 “Occupied Japan” markings were mandated Feb 20 1947-Dec 5 1949 on EXPORTED products. US Army Post exchanges in Japan were established around Nov 1945. I am uncertain if products sold there had to be MIOJ marked , and I do believe they sold many Nippon Kogaku binoculars to US troops. |
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My early post war Nikko Tokyo Novar 7x49 binoculars #570948 ARE NOT marked MADE IN OCCUPIED JAPAN , and date 1945-1946 |
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I believe Nippon Kogaku resumed 6x Mikron binoculars post WWII under US occupation as “Nippon Kogaku Mikron 6x” marked binoculars with some chromed parts in 1948, and that the Nikko Mikron 6x binoculars below are all pre WWII |
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My Nikko Tokyo Novar 7x49 binoculars #575217 ARE marked MADE IN OCCUPIED JAPAN , and have a canvas case similar to WWII production that is also marked “MADE IN OCCUPIED JAPAN”. Crossing MIOJ & Nikko brand data it dates them 1947-1949. |
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My Nikko Tokyo Novar 7x49 binoculars #573780 ARE marked MADE IN OCCUPIED JAPAN , and have a canvas case similar to WWII production which is also marked “MADE IN OCCUPIED JAPAN” and crossing MIOJ & Nikko brand data it dates them 1947-1949. |
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My Nikko Mikron 6x binoculars #36110 are pre WWII production |
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My Nikko Mikron 6x binoculars #36763 are pre WWII production |
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My Nikko Mikron 6x binoculars #37803 are pre WWII production |
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My Nikko Mikron 6x binoculars #39554 are pre WWII production. |
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My Nikko Mikron 6x binoculars #39738 were captured in Saipan during WWII, and are pre WWII production. |
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My Japanese Navy military WWII Nikko Novar 7x50 binoculars #42729 have a reticule/ranging grid. Novar is in Japanese characters. For more details see the section Other Binoculars #12 |
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After Nippon Kogaku stopped using the Nikko logo branding in 1949, a Canadian importer started placing a plain text NIKKO branding on some of the binoculars they imported ( use completely unrelated to Nippon Kogaku ). |
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My Nikko non Nippon Kogaku 8x20 binoculars post date the US occupation period, but predate JB codes, so date 1952 to Nov. 1959. Their K logo indicates the assembling manufacturer was Omori Sogo Kogaku of Japan. |
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My Nikko non Nippon Kogaku gray 6x30 binoculars were assembled by JB241 / Kazuo Tsuchihashi of Japan, with body made by JE30 / Kofu Kogaku Kogyo Co. Ltd. of Japan, and date after Nov. 1959. |
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Shinsei Shoji Company Ltd. 信誠商事株式会社 of Japan, a contract manufacturer and exporter, held the Japanese domestic trademark #465898 for Rainbow for binoculars/ NICE class 9 products (application of 1952 granted in 1955, h lapsed 20150. My smallest 8x20 Rainbow binoculars post date the US occupation period, but predate JB codes, so date 1952 to Nov. 1959, and carry the “MSC” logo of Meiji Seiko Kogaku Ltd. 明治精工株式会社 of Japan. My small 10x20 Rainbow binoculars were assembled by JB47/ Tokuhiro Micro Binocular Co: (Tokuhiro Koki Seisakusho Inc)( 徳弘光機製作所株式会社 ), of Japan, and also carry the associated NAOKI mark. My next largst 7x50 Rainbow binoculars were assembled by JB207/ Hiyoshi Optical Co.Ltd. of Japan, with a frame/body by JE11 /Omiya Kogaku Kikai Seisalcujo of Japan. My largest Rainbow 20x50 binoculars were assembled by . JB207/ Hiyoshi Optical Co.Ltd. of Japan, with a frame/body by JE11 /Omiya Kogaku Kikai Seisalcujo of Japan. . |
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My Imperial Japanese Army military WWII era Nikko non prismatic Type 93 4x10 binoculars with scratched out serial number have a reticule/ranging grid. For more details see section Other Binoculars #12 |
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20x50 Rainbow binoculars kindly donated to the collection by Jerry Stellar |
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My Nikko Tokyo Novar 7x50 binoculars #577677 ARE marked MADE IN OCCUPIED JAPAN , and crossing MIOJ & Nikko brand data dates them 1947-1949. |
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SMALL PRE WAR NIKKO |
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LARGE NIKKO |
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NON NIPPON KOGAKU NIKKO |
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Lupinus was a binoculars brand of Japanese distributor Kowa Co Ltd. who marketed them in the US starting 1958, and who held Canadian and Australian Lupinus binoculars trademarks from 1965. My small 7x18 AND my small 8x20 AND my small 10x20 Lupinus binoculars ALL post date the US occupation period, but predate JB codes, so date 1952 to Nov. 1959, and all have the “ K ” logo indicating the assembling manufacturer was Omori Sogo Kogaku of Japan. My larger 10x50 Lupinus binoculars were assembled by JB34 Musashi Kogaku Co. Ltd. Of Japan. My larger 16x50 Lupinus binoculars were assembled by JB34/ Musashi Kogaku Co. Ltd. Of Japan with frame/ body made by JE1/ Toa Kogaku Co.Ltd. |
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Big and Small: York binoculars |
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York was a binoculars brand of US importer/ wholesaler/ retailer York Cutlery Co of York Pa. My small York 6x15 binoculars were assembled by JB47 /Tokuhiro Micro Binocular Co: (Tokuhiro Koki Seisakusho Inc)( 徳弘光機製作所株式会社 ) of Japan, with frame by JB7 / Nippon Kogaku of Japan. My other York 6x15 binoculars post date the US occupation period, but predate JB codes, so date 1952 to Nov. 1959, and carry the “ K ” logo of indicating the assembling manufacturer was Omori Sogo Kogaku of Japan. My big York 7x50 binoculars were assembled by JB26 / Futaba Kogaku Kogyo Co. Ltd. of Japan, with body by JE43 / Tozaki Kogaku Kogyo Co. Ltd. Of Japan. |
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My early post war Nikko Tokyo Novar 7x49 binoculars #571288 ARE NOT marked MADE IN OCCUPIED JAPAN and date 1945-1946 |
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Big and Small: many Jason binoculars |
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Jason was a trade marked brand in various countries of Jake Levin & Son starting 1952, and then Jason Empire, and then Bushnell. My small Jason 6X15 post date the US occupation period, but seem to predate JB codes, so date 1952- Nov. 1959. My small Jason 6X15 bright chrome binoculars post date the US occupation period, but seem to predate JB codes, so date 1952- Nov. 1959. My small Jason 6X15 CF were assembled by JB93 / Siewa Optical Co. Ltd. (Seiwa Kōgaku Kōgyō Kabushiki-geisha ) ( 清和光学株式会社 ) of Japan, with frame by JB50 Tanaka Koki Seisakujo. Inc. of Japan. My small Jason 7x18 binoculars post date the US occupation period, but seem to predate JB codes, so date 1952- Nov. 1959, and have the AKC marking of assembled by AKC /Akebono Kogako Co./ 曙光学工業 of Japan . My larger Jason model mercury model 1116F were made in Hong Kong. |
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My Jason 7x25 binoculars were assembled by JB93 / JB93/ Siewa Optical Co. Ltd. (Seiwa Kōgaku Kōgyō Kabushiki-geisha ) ( 清和光学株式会社 ) of Japan. My second larger Jason model mercury model 1116 were made in Japan. My other larger Jason Clipper 7x35 model 118 binoculars were made by JB118/ Yoshikawa Koki Co. Ltd. Of Japan. My larger Jason 8 to 12 x40 binoculars were assembled by JB21 / Kokisha Co. Ltd. of Japan, with body by JE25 / Zuiho Kogaku Seiki Co. Ltd. Of Japan. . My larger Jason model 312 10x50 binoculars were made in Korea. |
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My early post war Nikko Tokyo Novar 7x49 binoculars #572893 ARE NOT marked MADE IN OCCUPIED JAPAN and probably date to 1946. |
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My early post war Nikko Tokyo Orion 6x24 binoculars #571806 ARE NOT marked MADE IN OCCUPIED JAPAN and date 1945-1946. |
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Pending acquisitions I believe I have shown the made in occupied Japan marking of Nikko binoculars starting in Feb.1947 probably occurred in the 887 binoculars between serial number 572893 and serial number 573780. |
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My Japanese Navy military WWII Nikko Novar 7x50 binoculars #58565 have a reticule/ranging grid. Novar is in Japanese characters. For more details see the section Other Binoculars #12 |
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Pending acquisitions or more info, I believe the transition of post war Nikko Novar binoculars from 7x49 to 7x50 markings occurred between binocular serial # 575428 and 577677 and between 1947 and 1949. |
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My Nikko Tokyo Novar 7x49 binoculars #575428 ARE marked MADE IN OCCUPIED JAPAN, and crossing MIOJ & Nikko brand data it dates them 1947-1949. |
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Big and Small: Uniscope binoculars |
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Uniscope” and “Precision Uniscope’” b inoculars were widely distributed around the 1960’s in the US, UK, Europe, Australia/NZ markets and show up in Japan suggesting it is the brand of a Japanese Exporter rather than of an end use country importer. My two smaller Uniscope 7x18 were both assembled by JB5 / Meiji Seiko Kogaku Ltd. 明治精工株式会社 of Japan, and have MSK or MSC markings, and have frames by JE50 / Tanaka Koki Seisakujo of Japan. My smaller 10x20 Uniscope binoculars were assembled by JB47/ Tokuhiro Micro Binocular Co: (Tokuhiro Koki Seisakusho Inc) ( 徳弘光機製作所株式会社 ) of Japan, and also carry the associated NAOKI mark. My larger 7x50 Uniscope binoculars were assembled by JB71/ Toho Koki Co. Ltd.of Japan. |
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Big and Small: Ofuna Occupied Japan binoculars |
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Ōfuna Kōgaku-Kikai Seisakusho ( 大船光学機械製作所 ) Ofuna Optical Instrument Manufacturing Co., Ltd. was formed during WWII, and became defunct in 1963. Binoculars were a main product. Occupied Japan markings were mandated on exported Japanese products from Feb. 20 1947-Dec. 5 1949 by SCAPIN 1535. My smaller Ofuna 6x18 binoculars serial number 17548 and my smaller 6x18 Ofuna 6x18 binoculars serial number 16604 both date from then. So do my Ofuna 7x35 binoculars serial number 1192, and my Ofuna 7x50 binoculars serial number 4997. |
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Big and Small: Weiss L.I.C. binoculars |
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The “Weiss” name was intended to invoke Zeiss, and L.I.C. is not actually a recognized business acronym, but was intended to invoke Lic. (licensed/l licensee). My smaller Weiss L.I.C. 7x18 binoculars were assembled by JB5/ Meiji Seiko Kogaku Ltd. 明治精工株式会社 of Japan , with frame by JB50 Tanaka Koki Seisakujo. Inc. of Japan. My larger 16x50 Weiss L.I.C. binoculars were assembled by JB 127 / Koei Seiki Co. Ltd. Of Japan, with body by JE 30 / Kofu Kogaku Kogyo Co. Ltd. Of Japan. Importer is unknown at this time. |
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Big and Small: Delta Todai binoculars |
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I have never found documentation defining the background of Delta brand use on binoculars, or found Todai, which does not seem to appear on the 1959 Japanese assemblers list. Both my Delta Todai binoculars post date the US occupation period, but predate JB codes, so date 1952 to Nov. 1959. |
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Big and Small: Rex binoculars |
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I have never found documentation defining the background of REX brand use on binoculars relevant to this time period (later TM is unrelated). My small REX 8x20 binoculars post date the US occupation, but predate JB codes, so date 1952 to Nov. 1959, with the “ K ” logo of indicating the assembling manufacturer was Omori Sogo Kogaku of Japan. My larger Rex 10x50 binoculars were assembled by JB 82/ Sanwa Kogaku Co. Ltd. Of Japan with body by JE 24/ Ichikawa Kogaku Kogyo Co. Ltd. Of Japan. |