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Big and Small: Asahi Pentax binoculars |
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Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha was formed in 1919 in Japan as spectacle makers, and by 1938 it was producing camera lenses. After being reorganized in occupied Japan in 1948, it returned to manufacturing and distributing binoculars and cameras, including supplying Konica and Minolta. My smaller AOCo / Asahi Optical Co. 6x15 Pentax binoculars were assembled by JB6/ Asahi Optical Co. of Japan with frame by JE49/ Sankyo Kogaku Kogyo Co. Ltd. Of Japan. My larger 6x30 Asahi Pentax binoculars were assembled by JB127 Koei Seiki Co Ltd. of Japan, and the frame/body were made by JE30 Kofu Kogaku Kogyo Ltd. of Japan. |
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Japanese External Reverse Porro Prism Binoculars. WEBSITE MUSEUM |
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BIG & SMALL #5 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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Big and Small: Starlite binoculars |
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I have never found any documentation defining the background of Starlite brand use on binoculars. My smaller 8x20 Starlite binoculars are marked “ MSC ” for Meiji Seiko Co. Ltd. 明治精工株式会社 of Japan . My larger Starlite 7x35 are marked DBK IOC. ( do not know what company D.B.K. represents but believe I.O.C. to be Itabashi Optical Manufacturing Co. Ltd. of Japan Both binoculars post date the US occupation period, but predate JB codes, so date 1952 to Nov. 1959. |
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Big and Small: Ashreh binoculars |
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Ashreh was a non trade marked brand of US distributor Ashreh Supply Co. of New York City . My smaller 6x15 Ashreh binoculars were assembled by JB 001/ /Toa Optical Co., Ltd. (Toa Kōgaku Kōgyō Kabushiki-geisha )( 東亜光学株式会社 of Japan . My larger 7x50 Ashreh binoculars post date the US occupation period, but predate JB codes, or else post date JB codes (lean toward the latter). Both of these Ashreh binoculars appear in this collection’s 1970 Ashreh catalog. |
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Big and Small: King binoculars |
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Big and Small: Perfex binoculars |
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Perfex was a trade marked binoculars brand of Imperial Optical Co. of Toronto Ontario Canada. My smaller 6x15 Perfex 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 7x35 Perfex binoculars were assembled by JB101/ Hifumi Kogaku Kikai Co. Ltd. with frame/body by JE7/ Nippon Kogaku Kogyo Co. Ltd. Of Japan. |
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I have never found any documentation defining the background of King brand use on binoculars. My smaller external prism design 15x50 King binoculars were assembled by JB93/ Siewa Optical Co. Ltd. ( 清和光学株式会社 ) of Japan. My larger conventional 10x50 King binoculars were assembled by JB207/ Hiyoshi Optical Co.Ltd. of Japan, with a frame/body by JE22/ Itabashi Kogaku Kikai Seisakujo Inc. of Japan. . |
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Big and Small: Boots binoculars |
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Big and Small: Aetna binoculars |
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Big and Small: Optex binoculars |
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SPI/ Southern Precision Instruments was a DBA business entity of Optex Inc. of Canada (later Gentec), and Optex was a trade marked brand for binoculars. Binoculars and boxes appear marked “Optex” and/ or marked “SPI” and/or marked “Southerner” and often all three. My smaller Optex SPI 12x50 external prism binoculars with box were assembled by JB93/ Siewa Optical Co. Ltd. ( 清和光学株式会社 ) of Japan, with frame by JE84/ Oei Kogaku Co. Ltd. Of Japan. My next larger Optex 7x35 binoculars were assembled by JB145/ Kimura Kogaku Seisakujo of Japan, and the maroon color is very unusual. My largest Optex 7x50 binoculars were assembled by JB134/ Kozan Kogaku Seisakujo Co. Ltd. of Japan. |
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I have never found any documentation defining the background of Aetna brand use on binoculars. My smaller 6x15 Aetna binoculars post date the US occupation period, but predate JB codes, so date 1952 to Nov. 1959. I have not identified the assembling company represented by the M.O.C. marking. My larger 7x35 Aetna binoculars post date the US occupation period, but predate JB codes, so date 1952 to Nov. 1959. The assembling manufactured represented by the I.O.C. is Itabashi Optical Manufacturing Co. Ltd., of Japan. |
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Boots binoculars were sold by the UK retail drug store chain Boots the Chemist Ltd./ Boots Stores Ltd. My smaller 8x20 Boots Courier model binoculars were assembled by JB231/ Tochihara Optical Co ( 栃原光学株式会社 of Japan. My larger 8x30 Boots Admiral II model binoculars were made in Korea, and my best guess is that these 8x30 binoculars post date around year 2000. |
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Big and Small: Halina binoculars |
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Halina is an Australian trade marked binoculars brand of Hong Kong distributor W. Haking Enterprises Ltd. And the crown that appears with Halina is a W. Haking UK trade marked design. My external prism Halina 10x30 binoculars are marked “ Empire Made ”, which in this context usually means Hong Kong assembly from Japanese parts in order to be Commonwealth import duty free. My conventional 7x35 binoculars presumably also had a now missing center empire made marked pivot cap. |
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Big and Small: Crescent binoculars |
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Big and Small: Traveler binoculars |
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Big and Small: Windsor binoculars |
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I have never found any documentation defining the background of Crescent brand use on binoculars. My smaller 7x18Crescent binoculars were assembled by JB 001/ /Toa Optical Co., Ltd. (Toa Kōgaku Kōgyō Kabushiki-geisha )( 東亜光学株式会社 of Japan . My larger 7x50 Crescent binoculars post date the US occupation period, but predate JB codes, so date 1952 to Nov. 1959. I have not been able to identify the Y or A&A markings. |
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I have never found any documentation defining the background of Traveler brand use on binoculars. My smaller Traveler Hm 3-55 6x15 binoculars post date the US occupation period, but predate JB codes, so date 1952 to Nov. 1959, and are marked OSK and carry the “ K ” logo of indicating the assembling manufacturer was Omori Sogo Kogaku of Japan. My larger (non prismatic) low quality Traveler 7x15 binoculars were assembled by JB204 / Chuo Koki Seisakujo of Japan. The C.O.C. in diamond suggests export by Carton Optical Co (speculative as logo is not identical to trade marked COC in shape Carton Optical Co. logo) |
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I have never found any documentation defining the background of Windsor brand use on binoculars. My smaller 7X18 Windsor binoculars post date the US occupation period, but predate JB codes, so date 1952-Nov. 1959. My larger Windsor 6x30 binoculars were assembled by JB134/ Kozan Kogaku Seisakujo Co. Ltd., with frame/body by JE7/ Nippon Kogaku Kogyo Co. Ltd. Of Japan. |
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Big and Small: Hercules binoculars |
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I associate the Hercules binoculars brand/ KW logo with Japanese binoculars importation to the US in the 1950’s. I have found no documentation other than David Bushnell mentioning the brand was made under contract by Asahi Optical Co. in the 1950’s. My best guess is that Hercules was a non trade marked brand of a Japanese exporter. My smaller Hercules brand 6x15 and 6x18 binoculars are both marked “ MADE IN OCCUPIED JAPAN ”, and so are my largest Hercules 7x50 binoculars, so all date during the US occupied Japan binoculars import period 1948-1952. My Hercules 8x30 binoculars were made post occupation and pre JB code requirement, so date 1952 to Nov. 1959. I have not been able to identify the KW logo. |
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Big and Small: Marbo binoculars |
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Big and Small: Universal binoculars |
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I have not found direct documentation (trade marks, corp. history, customs documents, catalogs) defining Marbo brand use on binoculars, but by observation is closely and widely associated on many binoculars also marked Hoya , which was a Japanese binoculars glass manufacturer from 1951. My smaller Marbo Hoya 6x15 binoculars post date the US occupation period, but predate JB codes, so date 1952 to Nov. 1959, and are marked TOA as having been contract assembled by Toa Optical Co., Ltd. (Toa Kōgaku Kōgyō Kabushiki-geisha )( 東亜光学株式会社 of Japan. My larger 7x50 Marbo A.P.O. binoculars post date the US occupation period, but predate JB codes, so date 1952 to Nov. 1959. I have not been able to identify the A.P.O. markings, but repetition on the pivot suggests may be an exporter. |
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Hurricane Import Co/ Hurricane International of San Francisco Ca. imported a variety of binoculars in the 1950’s and 1960’s, including under “Hurricane” and “Horizon” brands they used, and also imported RKK, Mirador and Limer binoculars. My smallest Hurricane 6x15 binoculars were made by JB5/ Meiji Seiko Kogaku Ltd. 明治精工株式会社 of Japan. My larger Hurricane Horizon 7x35 binoculars were assembled by JB78/ Kuribayashi Kogaku Seisakujo of Japan, with body made by JE9/ Sato Kogaku Kogyo Co. Ltd. of Japan. My next larger Hurricane 7x50 binoculars were made by JB34/ Musashi Kogaku Co. Ltd. Of Japan, with body made by JE10/ Toko Seiki Co. Ltd. of Japan. My largest Hurricane Horizon 10x50 binoculars post date JB codes (silk screen markings), but with manufacturers unknown. |
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Big and Small: Hurricane / Horizon binoculars |
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I have not found documentation defining Universal brand use on binoculars. My smaller Universal 7x18 binoculars were assembled by JB93/ Siewa Optical Co. Ltd. ( 清和光学株式会社 ) of Japan, and the frame manufacturer was JE50/ Tanaka Koki Seisakujo. Inc. of Japan. My larger Universal 16x50 binoculars post date the US occupation period, but predate JB codes, so date 1952 to Nov. 1959. I am unable to identify the “U”logo exporter marking. |
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Big and Small: Unitron binoculars |
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From 1955 United Scientific trademarked Unitron in stylized form on microscopes and telescopes (and probably binoculars), and from 1981 Ehrenreich Photo Optical trademarked Unitron for cameras, with both trademarks transferring to Unitron Inc. of the USA, which held a Unitron brand US trademark specifically for binoculars from 1998. My smaller 10x20 Unitron 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 8x40 Unitron rubber armored binoculars presumably post date the common use of JB codes, are Japanese made, and may date to the 1980’s or 1990’s (purely speculative). |
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Big and Small: Phoenix binoculars |
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I have never found documentation defining the background of Starlite brand use on binoculars, and miniature binocular examples seem to be UK market. My smaller Phoenix 10x20 binoculars were assembled by JB93/ Siewa Optical Co. Ltd. (Seiwa Kōgaku Kōgyō Kabushiki-geisha ) ( 清和光学株式会社 ) of Japan and the frame/body were made by JE50/ Tanaka Koki Seisakujo. Inc., of Japan. They carry an exporter logo that I am quite familiar with, but which I have never found documentation about. My larger 20x50 Phoenix binoculars post date JB codes (silk screen markings, cheap plastic components, poor quality). |
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FOR OUR MILITARY & FULL SIZE BINOCULARS see sections OTHER BINOCULARS & BIG & SMALL |
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Big and Small: Le Gran binoculars |
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Le Gran was a trade marked binoculars brand of Le Gran Corp of Long Beach California USA. My smallest 6x15 LeGran model LE-504 binoculars with box were assembled by by JB231/ Tochihara Optical Co ( 栃原光学株式会社 of Japan. My larger 8x20 LeGran model 8502 binoculars post date the US occupation period, but predate JB codes, or else post date JB codes. My larger 7x35 LeGran binoculars were assembled by JB119/ Nisshin Kogaku Kogyo Co. Ltd., with frame/body by JE22/ Itabashi Kogaku Kikai Seisakujo Inc. of Japan. My largest 7x50 LeGran model 8502 binoculars post date the US occupation period, but predate JB codes, or else post date JB codes |
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Big and Small: Prentiss binoculars |
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Prentiss Importers of the Mercury Building in West Los Angeles California USA advertised in various magazines from around 1950 to around 1961, as being a binoculars and telescope importer, initially offering to supply dealerships, and later offering mail order retail direct catalog sales. In 1955 they claimed to be distributing 22 models of binoculars. My smaller Prentiss 6x15 and my larger Prentiss 7x50 Prentiss Deluxe binoculars were made post occupation but pre JB code requirement, so date 1952 to Nov. 1959. |
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Big and Small: Astra binoculars |
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Astra, Astra-Center, and Apex appear associated, but I have not found further documentation. My smaller Astra Center Apex 6x15 binoculars post date the US occupation period, but predate JB codes, so date 1952 to Nov. 1959, and are of an unusual design. My larger Astra 7x50 binoculars post date the US occupation period, but predate JB codes, so date 1952 to Nov. 1959 I have not identified E.OC. |
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Big and Small: Alpha binoculars |
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I have never found any documentation defining the background of Alpha brand use on binoculars. My smaller 6x15 Alpha binoculars were assembled by JB93/ Siewa Optical Co. Ltd. ( 清和光学株式会社 ) of Japan, and the frame manufacturer was JE50/ Tanaka Koki Seisakujo. Inc. of Japan. My larger S.T.C. Alpha 6x30 binoculars were assembled by JB76/ Izumi Seiki Seisakujo. Inc. of Japan with frame/body by JE19/ FujiKogeisha Co. Ltd. Of Japan.h |
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Big and Small: Kanto & Glanz binoculars |
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Glanz binoculars are believed a brand of Kanto Optical Co. ( Kantō Kōgaku Kabushiki Kaisha ) ( 関東光学株式会社 ) of Japan . My small Kanto Carol 6x15 post date the US occupation period, but predate JB codes, so date 1952 to Nov. 1959. Both of my small Glanz 6x15 binoculars were 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 big Kanto and Glanz marked 8x30 binoculars also are marked K.O.C. (Kanto Optical Co). and date 1952 to Nov. 1959. |
