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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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Japanese External Reverse Porro Prism Binoculars. WEBSITE MUSEUM |
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BIG & SMALL #1 binoculars |
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Big and Small: Binolux |
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“Binolux” was a trade marked brand of U.S. distributor Compass Instrument and Optical Co. Inc. from 1954. My smaller Binolux m-60 10x20 binoculars and by “ K ” logo were manufactured by Omori Sogo Kogaku. My larger Binolux 7x35 binoculars are manufacturer unknown. |
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Big and Small: Mercury binoculars |
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“Mercury” was a trademarked brand of U.S. importer/ distributor Jake Levin & Son used from 1964, then with Jason Empire Inc, then Bushnell Inc. My smaller Mercury 12x20 binoculars are probably manufactured by Tochihara). My larger 7x35 Mercury model 1111 binoculars were assembled by JB250/ Fujimori Optical Co, Ltd. of Japan |
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Colorado regional Sporting Goods chain and mail order business Dave Cook Sporting Goods Co. Inc. (est 1936) was observed to have advertised their non trade marked “ Dacote ” brand name on binoculars from at least 1952-1976. Based on various indicators (both independent focus; both with no JB or JE mfgr code markings; both prominently marked “made in Japan”: I date both of these after Apr. 28 1952 and before Nov. 1959 when JB codes were imposed. Manufacturers unknown. |
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Big and Small: Prestige binoculars |
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Big and Small: Manon binoculars |
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“Manon ” and “Shrine” were trade marked brands of Japanese exporter Miura Shoji K.K., dba Miura Trading Co. Ltd. from 1952. My smaller 7x18 Manon binoculars are unmarked as to assembling manufacturer, but the frame was made by JE7/ Nippon Kogaku K.K of Japan . My larger 7x35 Manon binoculars binoculars were assembled by JB119/ Nisshin Kogaku K.K. of Japan, and the frame/body was made by JE10/ Toko Seiki K.K of Japan, and the EP ( export only taxation marking) dates these to the 1950’s. The N.O.C logo (exporter?) logo is unfamiliar to me. |
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Big and Small: Bushnell binoculars |
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U.S. importer and distributor David Bushnell imported Japanese contracted Bushnell brand binoculars into the U.S. starting in 1948. My smaller 7x15 Bushnell binoculars were made for Bushnell by AOCo / (Asahi Kōgaku Kōgyō Kabushiki-geisha ), ( 旭光学工業株式会社 ) of Japan and post date the US occupation period but predate JB codes, so 1951-Nov 1959. My larger 7x35 binoculars were assembled in 1963 by JB138/ Toyo Jitsugo K.K. of Japan, with the frame/body made by JE4 / Toei Kogaku K.K. of Japan. These are also marked BOL (indicating inspection by Bushnell Optical Lab) |
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Sears sold various like binoculars, photo equipment, electric fans etc. under the “Tower” brand since at least 1949: mostly not trade marked specifically (though Tower was a trade mark of Sears photo finishing). The Tower brand was named after Sears Tower in Chicago, the world’s tallest building for 24 years. |
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My smaller (Sears) Tower 6x15 binoculars were made by AoCo (Asahi Kōgaku Kōgyō Kabushiki-geisha), ( 旭光学工業株式会社 ) of Japan, and these predate JB coding. My larger (Sears) Tower 7x50 binoculars were assembled by mfgr JB97 Soneda Kogaku Kenkujo Inc. of Japan, with frame/body by JE38 Nakabishi Kogaku Inc. of Japan. |
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Big and Small: Swift binoculars |
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U.S. importer Swift Instruments and it’s predecessor Swift and Anderson began importing European binoculars around 1924, and after WWII ended they imported Japanese binoculars and scopes under their “Swift” brand and trade marked Swift in cross hairs logo. My smaller Swift brand model 730 7x18 binoculars were assembled by JB001/ Toa Optical Co., Ltd. (Toa Kōgaku Kōgyō Kabushiki-geisha )( 東亜光学株式会社 ) of Japan. My larger Swift brand model 761 8x42 binoculars were assembled by JB56/ Hiyoshi Kogaku Co. Ltd. of Japan. |
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Big and Small: Omega binoculars |
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Big and Small: Atco binoculars |
