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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, Ŕ 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, |