Text Box: VINTAGE MINIATURE BINOCULARS

Japanese External Reverse Porro Prism Binoculars. WEBSITE MUSEUM

OTHER BINOCULARS #2 & OPTICAL SIGHTS

Text Box: PG 74 of 97

 

- GERMAN ORIGINS #1

- GERMAN ORIGINS #2

- GERMAN ORIGINS #3

- GERMAN ORIGINS #4

- GERMAN ORIGINS #5

- GERMAN ORIGINS #6

- JAPANESE ORIGINS #1

- JAPANESE ORIGINS #2

- JAPANESE ORIGINS #3

- JAPANESE ORIGINS #4

- JAPANESE ORIGINS #5

- JAPANESE ORIGINS #6

- JAPANESE ORIGINS #7

- INTRODUCTION #1

- INTRODUCTION #2

- DISTRIBUTION #1

- DISTRIBUTION #2

- DISTRIBUTION #3

- DISTRIBUTION #4

- DISTRIBUTION #5

- DISTRIBUTION #6

- DISTRIBUTION #7

- DISTRIBUTION #8

- DISTRIBUTION #9

- FUN ANALYZING BRANDS #1

- FUN ANALYZING BRANDS #2

- FUN ANALYZING BRANDS #3

- FUN ANALYZING BRANDS #4

- BINOCULARS BY BRAND A-B

- BINOCULARS BY BRAND C-G

- BINOCULARS BY BRAND H-M

- BINOCULARS BY BRAND N-Q

- BINOCULARS BY BRAND R-S

- BINOCULARS BY BRAND T-Z

- PHOTO GALLERY #1

- PHOTO GALLERY #2

- PHOTO GALLERY #3

- PHOTO GALLERY #4

- PHOTO GALLERY #5

- PHOTO GALLERY #6

- PHOTO GALLERY #7

- PHOTO GALLERY #8

- PHOTO GALLERY #9

- PHOTO GALLERY # 10

- PHOTO GALLERY # 11

- VINTAGE ADVERTISING #1

- VINTAGE ADVERTISING #2

- VINTAGE ADVERTISING #3

- VINTAGE ADVERTISING #4

- VINTAGE ADVERTISING #5

- VINTAGE ADVERTISING #6

- VINTAGE ADVERTISING #7

- VINTAGE ADVERTISING #8

- ORIGINAL BOXES #1

- ORIGINAL BOXES #2

- CAN YOU REPAIR THESE?

- REPAIR SEIZED OCULARS IF

- COLLIMATE AND REPAIR CF

- MORE REPAIRS #1

- MORE REPAIRS #2

- MORE REPAIRS #3

- IDENTIFY THIS

- SWAP SHOP & MISC

- MISC #1

- MISC #2

- BIG & SMALL #1

- BIG & SMALL #2

- BIG & SMALL #3

- BIG & SMALL #4

- BIG & SMALL #5

- BIG & SMALL #6

- OTHER BINOCULARS #1

- OTHER BINOCULARS #2

- OTHER BINOCULARS #3

- OTHER BINOCULARS #4

- OTHER BINOCULARS #5

- OTHER BINOCULARS #6

- OTHER BINOCULARS #7

- OTHER BINOCULARS #8

- OTHER BINOCULARS #9

- OTHER BINOCULARS #10

- BINOCULAR CATALOGS #01

- BINOCULAR CATALOGS #02

- BINOCULAR CATALOGS #03

- BINOCULAR CATALOGS #04

- BINOCULAR CATALOGS #05

- BINOCULAR CATALOGS #06

- BINOCULAR CATALOGS #07

- BINOCULAR CATALOGS #08

- BINOCULAR CATALOGS #09

- BINOCULAR CATALOGS #10

- DATA BINOCULARS BRANDS

- INDEX #1

- INDEX #2

- JB JE MFGR. CODE LIST

- TRADEMARKED LOGOS

Text Box:    PAGE NAVIGATION: I WANT TO SEE:

As our holdings of miniature binoculars and catalogs have gotten massive, and as Covid made international acquisition/shipment more difficult, impossible or costly, I decided to add some space to be able to indulge myself in exploring some other interesting types of binoculars and optics in the collection.

SARD 7x50 Mark 21 WWII US Navy Military Binoculars

My SARD 7x50 WWII Mark 21 US Navy binoculars were produced by the Kollsman Instrument Co. Inc (which had been purchased in 1940) a division of the New York electric parts company Square D. They were assembled by newly hired workers, to a design licensed from Bausch and Lomb, to fill their June 1942-Feb 1943 contract 88-B-320 from the newly created U.S. Navy purchasing agency BU. Aero/ Bureau of Aeronautics. But of my many military binoculars, these give me an impression of compromised durability and design. For example, despite this example showing absolutely minimal signs of prior use: a screw worked itself loose and is rattling around inside; and the flimsy plastic ocular rings are obviously barely suited for the job; and both filter lenses were fastened so poorly they have just fallen off; and the rattling flimsy rotating eyecup and filter assembly would be clunky even on a kid’s toy.

WWII US Navy SARD 7x50 military binoculars Mark 21.
Jumilles militares Sard modele Mk. 21 7x50 de la matine Americaine.
7x50 Militarfernglas der US marine Sard modelle Mk. 21.
Amerikanska flottam marinmodell Sard 7x50 Mk. 21 kikare.
Binoculares militares modelo Sard 7x50 Mk. 21 de la Armada de los Estados Unidos. 
 WWII SARD Mark 21 U.S. Navy 7x50 military binoculars.
Jumelles militares modele Sard Mk. 21 7x50 de la marine Americaine.
Militarfernglas der US Marine Sard modell Mk. 21 7x50.
Amerikanska flottan marinmodell Sard mk 21 7x50 kikare.
Binoculares militares modelo Sard mk 21 7x50 de la Armada de los Estados Unidos.

beh (Leitz) WWII 7X50 German Military Kriegsmarine Navy Binoculars

WWII beh Leitz military 7x50 German Navy Kriegsmarine binoculars.
beh Leitz 7x50 jumelles militaires de la marine allemande.
beh Leitz 7x50 militarfernglas der Deutsche Marine Kriegsmarine.
beh Leitz 7x50 Tyska flottan marinmodell militar kikare.
beh Leitz 7x50 binoculares militares de la armada Alemana.
     WWII German Navy Leitz beh 7x50 7x50 military binoculars.
beh Leitz jumelles militaires 7x50 de la marine allemande.
beh Leitz militarfernglas 7x50 der Kriegsmarine.
beh Leitz Tyska flotta marinmodell 7x50 militar kikare.
beh Leitz Binoculares militares de la armada Alemana.

With rubber ocular armor removed

My WW II beh (wartime German code for E. Leitz Wetzlar) 7x50 binoculars are Kreigsmarine (German Navy) issue, and with their partial rubber armor they were presumably intended as being particularly suitable for smaller boat use (like the fast Schnellboot), where excessive salt water spray was normally expected. While these are often labeled on-line as having been U-boat binoculars to help sell them, I am not sure how many of these were actually intended for that use. The rubber ocular cover ( 1 ) clips to the armor body to hold it out of the way. The cover for the ocular focus adjustment rings ( 2 ) must be removed to focus the binoculars. The binoculars would probably normally be used at infinity, but still focused to each of the users eyes. A Schnellboot (fast boat) WWII German crew member is shown at left with these type binoculars.

blc (Zeiss) WWII 7X50 German Military Kriegsmarine Navy U-Boat Binoculars

WWII blc Zeiss 7x50 U-Boat German Kriegsmarine binoculars
blc Zeiss 7x50 sous marine jumelles militaires de la marine francaise.
blc Zeiss 7x50 unterseeboot der Kriegsmarine.
blc Zeiss 7x50 ubat Tyska flottan militar kikare.
blc Zeiss 7x50 submarino de la armada Alemana. WWII German U Boat Binoculars 7x50 by blc Zeiss.
blc Zeiss sous marine jumelles militaires de la marine allemande.
blc Zeiss unterseeboot militarfernglas der Kriegsmarine.
blc Zeiss ubat Tyska flottan marinmodel 7x50 militar likare.
blc Zeiss submarino binoculares militares de la armada Alemana. blc Zeiss WWII German Navy7x50  U Boat binoculars.
blc Zeiss sous marine 7x50 jumelles militaires de la marine Allemande.
blc Zeiss unterseeboot 7x50 militarfernglas de Kriegsmarine.
blc Zeiss ubat 7x50 Tyska flottan marinmodell militar kikare.
blc Zeiss submarina 7x50 binoculares militares de la armada Alemana

My WW II blc (wartime German code for Carl Zeiss Jena) 7x50 binoculars are a Kreigsmarine (German Navy) design specifically for use on U boats, and are the pattern from early 1943 on. Cases of these were captured from storage by the British at the end of WWII, and were sold off as war surplus to companies such as Charles Frank to sell at retail. These are fixed focus, and partially rubber armored.

1

2

Of my huge quantity of binoculars, these still never fail to really impress me as having superior optical properties whenever I use them. Because earliest observation and earliest optical detection was critical to U- boat performance and survival, priority was given to excellent optical performance. Mine have desiccant ports, non original paint, original rubber armor, and replacement rubber eye cups.

U-boat crew member with these binoculars

1944 US M-16 WWII 7X50 Military Binoculars made by Nash Kelvinator

1944 US M-16 Nash Kelvinator 7x50 military binoculars.
1944 Etats-Unis jumelles militaires M-16 Nash Kelvinator 7x50.
1944 Estados Unidos binoculares militares M-16 Nash Kelvinator 7x50.
1944 Stati Uniti M-16 Nash Kelvinator 7x50 binocolo militaire.
1944 USA M-16 Nash Kelvinator 7x50 militar kikare.
1944 M-16 Nash Kelvinator verrekijker.

My WWII US military M16 7x50 binoculars were apparently made in 1944 by Nash Kelvinator (the company being a 1937 merger of Nash Motors Co and Kelvinator Appliance Co). Mine came in an original green color, and with a horizontal and vertical ranging grid in one ocular, which is not uncommon for military binoculars. The US badly needed binoculars early in WWII. So naturally they got car and refrigerator makers to make binoculars.

1970? Carl Zeiss Jena East German NVA/Nationale Volksarmee der DDR 7x40 Military Binoculars

Carl Zeiss Jena NVA East German army 7x40 Military Binoculars
Carl Zeiss Jena Armee Est-Allemande NVA 7x40 jumelles militaires.
Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Armee NVA 7x40 militarfernglas.
Carl Zeiss Jena ejercito de Alemania NVA 7x40 binoculares militares.
Carl Zeiss Jena binocolo militaire NVA 7x40 dell'esercito della Germania dell'Est.
Carl Zeiss Jena osttyska arme NVA 7x40 militar kikare.
Carl Zeiss Jena Oost-Duitse leger NVA 7x40 militaire verrekijker.

Even with around 1,300 or so binoculars to choose from, when I want to look at something with binoculars I normally grab one of around 6 binoculars, and these rubber armored East German Carl Zeiss Jena DF 7x40 military binoculars are one of those 5. These were made for the East German NVA (National Volksarmee) and are NVA marked. Based on the serial number I think these were made in 1970, with the model produced from around 1968-1981. The eye cups were designed for gas mask use. Excellent Optics.

Carl Zeiss Jena East German army NVA 7x40 military binoculars.
Carl Zeiss Jena Armee est Allemande NVA 7x40 jumelles militaires.
Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Armee MVA 7x40 Militarfernglas.
Carl Zeiss Jena ejercito de Alemania NVA 7x40 binoculares militaires.
Carl Zeiss Jena binocolo militaire NVA 7x40 dell Germania dell'est.
Carl Zeiss Jena osttyska arme NVA 7x40 militar kikare.
Carl Zeiss Jena Oost-Duitse leger NVA 7x40 militare verrekijker.

These binoculars have a port for a dovetailed slide on accessory reticle illuminator for using the right ocular horizontal and vertical ranging grid at night.

These binoculars have a knob to rotate an active night time IR light detection filter into the field of view, which is charged by placing the binoculars in sunlight.

Ca late 1950’s? Hensoldt Bundeswehr (German Army) DF 8x30 Dienstglas Military Binoculars

Hensoldt Wetzlar DF 8x30 German Army Military Binoculars. 
Jumelles militaires Hensoldt DF 8x30 de l'armee allemande.
Hensoldt DF 8x30 Bundeswehr militarfernglas.
Binoculares militares del ejercito aleman Hensoldt DF 8x30.
Hensoldt DF 8x30 binocolo militaire dell'escercito Tedesco.
Hensoldt DF 8x30 Tysk militar kikare.
Hensoldt DF 8x30 Duitse leger militaire verrekijker. German Army Hensoldt Wetzlar DF 8x30 military binoculars.
Jumelles militaires Hensoldt DF 8x30 de l'armee allemande.
Hensoldt DF 8x30 Bundeswehr militarfernglas.
Binoculares militares del ejercito aleman Hensoldt DF 8x30.
Hensoldt DF 8x30 binocolo militaire dell'esercito Tedesco.
Hensoldt SF 8x30 Tysk militar kikare.
Hensoldt DF 8x30 Duitse leger militaire verrekijker.l

My Bundeswehr (post WW II German army) issued Hensoldt DF 8x30 fully rubber armored Dienstglas (military binoculars) feature clever pop inside outside rubber ocular/eyepiece covers. They are nitrogen gas filled. The 12-124-8444 marking on these are related to the NSN 6650-12-124-8444 for Fernrohr, Doppel (double telescope or binoculars) and I think these   date to the 1960’s, though I’ve seen conflicting information. Zeiss had acquired a majority stock holding of Hensoldt in 1954, so these are sometimes referred to as being Zeiss-Hensoldt, though they are not so marked.

UNDER THE RUBBER

UNDER THE RUBBER

1916 Binocular Prismatic No. 2 Mk II 6x30 British Sherwood & Company Ltd WWI Military Binoculars

1916 WWI British 6x30 military binoculars No 2 MK II Sherwood & Company London.
1916 6x30 jumelles militares de l'armee Britannique No 2 Mk II Sherwood Londres.
1916 6x30 militarfernglas der Britischen Armee No 2 Mk II Sherwood 7 Co London
1916 6x30 binoculares militares del ejercito Britanico No 2 Mk II Sherwood & Co 
1916 6x30 Brittisk arme militar kikare No 2 Mk II Sherwood & Co London 
1916 6x30 binocolo militare dell'esercito Britannico No 2 Mk II Sherwood & Co.
1916 6x30 Britse militaire verrekijker No 2 Mk II Sherwoos & Co. London                       Sherwood & Co. London WWI British military binoculars 6x30 WWI 1916 British military binoculars 6x30 made by Sherwood & Co London.
1916 jumelles militares de l'armee Britannique 6x30 No 2 MkII Sherwood.
1916 militarfernglas der Britischen Armee No2 Mk II Sherwood & Co. London
1916 binoculares militares del ejercito Britanico No 2 mk II Sherwood & Co.
1916 Brittisk arme mlliitare del esercito Britannico No 2 Mk II Sherwood & co London
1916 Britse militaire verrekijker No 2 Mk II Sherwood & Co London.

My 1916 dated WWI British Military binoculars No 2 MKII are 6x30, and the model was introduced into British military service in 1909. These are marked Sherwood & Co. London 1916 and they were part of a contract of 1,000 No 2 Mk II binoculars placed with Sherwood located at Verulam St., Grays Inn Rd, London EC1 on Feb. 1915, and completed by March 1917. (credit Terence Wayland). The case is marked on the top CASE No2 PRISMATIC BINOCULARS, T. French and Son Ltd, London 1916 , that being Thomas French and Son of Jewin St., London EC1, with their mills in Manchester. For the war they made everything from machine gun belts to webbing equipment, and apparently also binoculars cases .

Facing large broad arrows indicate official UK military property disposal

Broad arrow UK military property mark on binoculars case

Case marked to the officer C.C. SHEARER.

NVA soldier with binoculars

1953 and 1950 A.L. Arm è e du Luxembourg OIP (Optique et Instruments de Precision) 8x38 Military Binoculars

I have two A.L. marked (Arm è e du Luxembourg) 8x38 binoculars, one dated 1950 and the other 1953. These were presumably made in relatively small numbers, as the Luxembourg army was quite small (total strength in 1954 was 7,700 soldiers), and normally only a small percentage of soldiers are issued with binoculars. The 1953 binoculars are hand paint marked with what looks like C/V . and 2/I and the case is hand painted in two places 2/CO. It p robably represents the 2nd Company of the First Infantry Battalion of the Corps de la Garde Grand Ducale. Both my binoculars are marked as having been made by O.I.P Gand , which is Optique et Instruments de Precision: an optical and instrument maker in Ghent Belgium from 1919 to the present day (“Gand” is the French language spelling for Ghent). Both of these binoculars are independent focus, and both have a right ocular horizontal and vertical ranging reticle/ reticule/ graticule.

1953 O.I.P.8x38 military binocular of Luxembourg Army.
1953 O.I.P. 8x38 jumelles militaires de l'armee Luxembourgeoise.
1953 O.I.P. 8x38  Luxemburgska militarkikare.
1953 O.I.P. 8x38 leger van Luxemburg militaire verrekijker.
1953 O.I.P. 8x38 armee von Luxemburg militar fernglas.
1953 O.I.P. 8x38 binoculares militares del ejercito de Luxemburgo.
1953 O.I.P. 8x38 binocolo militaire dell'esercito Lussemburghese.

WWII Japanese Army Kaikosha K.T. 6x24 Military Binoculars

My WWII Japanese army 6x24 officers binoculars are interesting. The Kaikosha marking on these binoculars (or in Japanese 偕行社 , or Kaikōsha) , is the literal wording in English for “Officers Club”, and this was an organization founded on 15 February 1877 in Kudan Tokyo (the K.T. marking on the binoculars) as a meeting place for officers and as a reception hall. This was not long after the founding of the Imperial Japanese Army. The Kaikosha name means “let’s go together” or “we shall fight this war side by side”, and is derived from a Chinese poem. Other Kaikosha groups cropped up at divisional headquarters across the country, and Kaikosha was soon incorporated for providing aid to wounded soldiers, supporting temples that consecrated war dead, publishing academic research and essays on military topics, and fostering friendships among fellow officers, similar to the way service membership and mutual aid organizations in other countries operate. But since Kaikosha was for officers only and since prior to WWII Japanese officers normally purchased their own clothing and kit (as did British officers), Kaikosha then commenced the manufacture or contract manufacture and sale of military related hard goods and military equipment, especially clothing, for officers. By World War II, Kaikosha stores sold every variety of officers uniform, as well as military caps, gloves, boots, swords, pistols, holsters, binoculars including mine , and memorabilia from military exercises and parades, and other goods. All these Kaikosha-made or distributed goods were widely used by military officers.

Japanese WWII Kaikosha K.T. 6x24 Military Binoculars.
Kaikosha K.T. 6x24 jumelles militaires Japonaises.
Kaikosha K.T. 6x24 Japanisches militarfernglas.
Kaikosha K.T. 6x24 Japanse militaire verrekijker.
Kaikosha K.T. 6x24 binocolo militaire Giapponese.
Kaikosha K.T. 6x24 binoculares militares Japoneses.
Kaikosha K.T. 6x24 Japansk militar kikare.

Patriotic logos such as the mum on these binoculars, or other traditional symbols of Japan like cherry blossoms were common markings on Kaikosha made goods. The organization also ran schools, inns, and cafes for use by officers and their families.  ( credit /thanks to Wikipedia for some of this information)

USN/ US Navy Mark XI Model 13 Telescopic Gun Sight

Mark XI Mod 13 USN US Navy brass telescopic gun sight

My 24” long and heavy (7 lb) brass MK XI USN Mod 13 brass telescope is presumably a direct fire telescopic gun sight, as it has a non ranging center cross hair. I have found no reference information on these so far, but have seen a photo of an almost identical Mark XI Mod 1 unit which has March 17,1903 patent date markings (but unfortunately no patent no.) so this gives a clue about the original era of these units. If anyone has primary source documentation on these, please email me at miniature.binoculars@gmail.com.

1944 USN/ US Navy MK 74 Mod.1 Antiaircraft Gun Sight for 3 inch gun mounts Mk20, Mk21, Mk22

1944 WWII US Navy Mk 74 antiaircraft artillery gun sight

My 1944 dated WWII U.S. Navy Mark 74 Model 1 prismatic 6.11x optical sight is the aiming device for the naval 3 inch anti aircraft artillery guns using the Mk20, Mk21, and Mk22 gun mounts, commonly used on all sorts of vessels including merchant ships in WWII. In common with many other military naval optics, it has a sophisticated rotating polarizing filter wheel to improve visibility in haze and other challenging visibility conditions. And like most mounted naval optics, it is quite heavy at 16 lbs. Made by Honeywell in Minneapolis Minnesota USA.

Mark 74 components

1980’s Leica 8x30 Swiss Army Binoculars

Swiss military issue Leica 8x30 binoculars with monopod.
Leica jumelles militaires suisses 8x30 .
Leica Schweizer militarfernglas 8x30.
Leica binoculares militares suizos.
Leica Schweizisk militar kikare.
Leica Zwitserve militaire verrekijker.
Leica binocolo militaire Svizzero.
 Leica 8x30 military binoculars with monopod
Leica 8x30  jumelles militaires suisses.
Leica 8x30  Schweizer Militarfernglas.
Leica 8x30 binoculares militares Suizos.
Leica 8x30 Schweizisk militar kikare.
Leica 8x30 Zwitserse militaire verrekijker.
Leica 8x30 binocolo militaire Svizzero. Leica Kern 8x30 Swiss Military Issue binoculars

Leica (Kern) Swiss military binoculars serial # 0171

Swiss mande Leica Kern 8x30 binoculars

Serial # 03638

My two pairs of Leica (Kern) 8x30 rubber armored and laser protected Swiss Armed Forces binoculars were built around 1988-1991, after the combined firm of Ernst Leitz and Wild Heerbrugg (merged 1987) had then acquired a majority shareholding of the Swiss optical firm Kern located in Aarau in 1988 (and closed in 1991). As a result both of these binoculars carry the “Leica” brand. (Earlier models were marked “Kern”). One of these binoculars still has it’s military issued Flab monopod, which seems to be quite uncommon, though all of the binoculars have the special stud to mount this design of monopod. One of mine is early, with serial #171, and the other is serial # 3638.

Monopod stud on binoculars

Swiss armored vehicle crew soldier using these type Leica 8x30 binoculars

Text Box: SARD 7x50 Mark 21
 WWII Navy Binoculars
Text Box: beh Leitz WWII 7X50 German Kriegsmarine Navy Binoculars
Text Box: blc Zeiss WWII 7X50 German Kriegsmarine 
U-Boat Binoculars
Text Box: Carl Zeiss Jena East German 7x40 Military Binoculars

I would like to recommend & credit as a reference source the multilingual  book Milit ä rische Fernglasser un Fernrohre in Heer, Luftwaffe und Marine (Military Binoculars and telescopes for Land, Air and Sea Service) by Hans Seeger as being an invaluable information resource.

1950’s Luxembourg soldier using these type binoculars

1950 OIP 8x38 Army of Luxembourg military binoculars.
1950 OIP 8x38 jumelles militaires de l'armee luxembourgeoise.
1950 OIP 8x38 Luxemburgska militarkikare.
1950 OIP 8x38 leger bvan Luxemburg militaire verrekijker.
1950 OIP 8x38 armee von Luxembyrg Militar fernglas.
1950 OIP 8x38 binoculares militares del ejercito de Luxemburgo.
1950 OIP 8x38 binocolo militare dell'esercito Lussemburghe. Text Box: U.S. Navy Mk XI Model 13 Military telescope
Text Box: 1944 U.S. Navy Mk 74 Mod. 1 Antiaircraft  Military  gun Sight
Text Box: Swiss Leica 8x30 Military Binoculars 
Text Box: Swiss Leica 8x30 Military Binoculars 
Text Box: Swiss Leica 8x30 Military Binoculars 
Text Box: A.L. Luxembourg 8x38 Military Binoculars 
Text Box: Hensoldt Wetzlar 8x30 Military Binoculars 
Text Box: Hensoldt Wetzlar 8x30 Military Binoculars 
Text Box: 1944 Nash Kelvinator M6 7x50 Military Binoculars 
Text Box: 1944 Nash Kelvinator Binoculars 

1940 Nash Car

1940 Kelvinator Refrigerator

U.S. Department of Commerce Maritime Administration Bausch & Lomb 7x50 binoculars

I presume my U.S. Department Dept of Commerce Maritime Administration Bausch & Lomb Optical Company 7x50 binoculars were probably procured in a relatively small quantities, so “ No 338 ” probably represents binocular No. 338 of the contract. The aluminum sticker is typical of US Govt. property tags, so #4558 was probably item #4558 on the property records of the U.S. Dept. of Commerce Maritime Administration. The U.S. Dept of Commerce Maritime Administration existed from 1960-1981 (and was then was transferred from Commerce to the Dept of Transportation), so these probably date from an early 1960’s U.S. Maritime Commission contract to Bausch and Lomb optical Co in Rochester NY. The Maritime Commission managed various subsidy programs, such as the maintenance of the defense reserve maritime fleet, and it also administered the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.

Text Box: WWII Japanese 6x24 Kaikosha Military Binoculars

Can a viewer read the Japanese name? It would be astonishing if it was 大野 ( my name).

Contact:

Miniature.binoculars@ gmail.com