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OTHER BINOCULARS #4 & OPTICAL SIGHTS (MOSTLY MILITARY) |
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Japanese External Reverse Porro Prism Binoculars. WEBSITE MUSEUM |
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Pre 1940 WWII E. Leitz Dienstglas D.F. 6x30 German Military Binoculars serial #156507 |
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My E. Leitz Wetzlar D. F. 6x30 Dienstglas serial #156507 German Military Binoculars are of the standard WWII Infantry pattern, but predate 1940 because the manufacturer’s logo is present (rather than a manufacturer’s numerical code). E. Leitz (Leica) together with Zeiss are among the most respected German optics manufacturers. The M indicates use of metric screws on faceplate screws (per Hans Seeger). |
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1914 WWI Rodenstock Fernglas 08 German Military Binoculars (Galilian/ non Prismatic) |
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My WWI German military binoculars are of the ubiquitous pattern issued to all non commissioned officers and are marked “ F.G. 08 ” (Fernglas 08 or binoculars [model] 08), and are marked “ K.B Dienst ” ( K.B. Govt Service property?) and also “ J ” (Bavarian acceptance mark of Geschofabric Ingolstadt) and also “ IX14 ” (production date of September 1914) on the pivot arms. These binoculars are also maker marked “ G. Rodenstock Fernglas 08 No. 7676 Munchen ” on the pivot disk. The case is marked as having been made by “ Emil Busch A.G. Rathenow” (camera maker) and has the normal case lid instructions, which are quite faded. . |
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1918 Captured WWI E. Leitz Fernglas 08 German Military Binoculars (Galilian/ non Prismatic) |
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Internal filter disk |
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My WWI German Fernglas 08 military binoculars were made by famous optics maker E. Leitz in Wetzlar in November 1918, near the end of the war (the Versailles Treaty ending the war was June 28, 1919). These were “captured”, and brought back as a souvenir or war trophy to the United States by Corporal Elton O. Bartlow, of the U.S. 83rd Infantry Division, 329 Infantry Regiment, Machine Gun Co., associated with the state of Ohio USA. Their case is marked as having been made by Spindler & Hoyer Gottingen. |
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Case Lid Inside Label |
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Post WWI Civilian Pseudo “Model 08” Non Military Binoculars |
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French “model 08” civilian binoculars |
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So many American and French soldiers brought home captured German noncom model 08 Military binoculars, that after WWI it created enough civilian demand for American and French firms to make and sell knock off civilian center focus binoculars intended to resemble the wartime “08” binoculars and marked as being them. In the normal way that marketing creates self serving illusions, the U.S. made binoculars of this type marked “ ARMY ” and “ 08 ” and of course these are neither. But to this day people are still deceived. |
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US “Army 08” civilian binoculars |
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1917 WWI Carl Zeiss Fernglas 08 German Military Binoculars (Galilian/ non Prismatic) |
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My WWI 1917 German Carl Zeiss 08 military binoculars are the Zeiss manufactured version of the Rodenstock and Emil Busch made 08 binoculars above and the Leitz made 08 binoculars below. (08 pattern binoculars were also made in WWI by Oigee, Voightlander, Goerz, Spindler and Hoyer, and perhaps other manufacturers). This pattern of military non prismatic binoculars were cheaper and easier to produce in large quantities than prismatic binoculars, and were considered good enough for to be issued to NCO’s (non commissioned officers) and these cheaper easier to produce design enabled all NCOs to receive a pair, which was a revolutionary military concept. |
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My 08 binoculars came with one of the German WWII button flaps to attach the binoculars to a uniform button so it doesn't bang around and make noise and get you shot at night, or smack you in the face when diving for cover. |
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1912 Pre WWI Emil Busch AG Fernglas 08 German Military Binoculars (Galilian/ non Prismatic) |
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My pre WWI German military binoculars are marked “ Fernglas 08” and have a “ K ” acceptance mark of Gewehr Prufungskommission Spandau, and are also marked “ XI 12 ” (production date of November 1912) on the pivot arms. These binoculars are also maker marked “ Emil Busch AG Rathenow ”. These were probably a US soldier bring back war trophy, perhaps given to a sweetheart “Bonnie”, and with her name scratched into them. |
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There were also a few US made examples such as my “Rover” binoculars that did not pretend to be military binoculars. Has case marked with Long Island NY original owner. |
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British Barr & Stroud C.F.41 Admiralty (Navy) 7x50 Binoculars with Expanding Objective Shields |
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Undated WWI Spindler & Hoyer Fernglas 08 German Military Binoculars (Galilian/ non Prismatic) |
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My undated late war WWI German Fernglas 08 military binoculars were made by Spindler & Hoyer Gottingen. In my opinion, what makes them quite cool is that the the case is marked that these were issued to “11074 Untfz. Witsch” (Unteroffizier Witsch), a German junior non commissioned officer. These were probably an item brought back by a U.S. soldier after being captured from, or surrendered by, or taken off the body of Unteroffizier Witsch ( a junior non commissioned officer). Few military binoculars carry forward any insight into their past ownership, so I am both surprised and pleased when one does. |
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FOR GERMAN WWII BINOCULAR and OPTICAL MANUFACTURER CODES |
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Contact: miniature.binoculars@gmail.com |
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Two WWII Carl Zeiss Jena German Army 10x50 Dienstglas military binoculars serial #1719452, and serial #2163364, both pre 1940 |
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My two Carl Zeiss Jena Dienstglas 10x50 German Army binoculars predate 1940, when German manufacturer’s letter codes were instituted replacing manufacturer names or logos on German military binoculars. According to period documents the light blue dot under the Zeiss logo on My Zeiss serial number 2163364 binoculars indicates use of cold weather grease #1416 (credit Hans Seeger). The H/6400 marking refers to the right ocular graticule/ strichplatte/ range grid, such that the Artillerie promille grid units indicate a 2m object filling one grid unit is 2km away. My flea market bargain purchased pre 1940 Carl Zeiss Jena Dienstglas 10x40 German army binoculars serial #1719452 came with intact original ocular cover, straps, leather case, and uniform strap. |
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WWII E Leitz Wetzlar German Army 7x50 Dienstglas beh military binoculars serial #477474, with US Army War Trophy paperwork |
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My Ernst Leitz Dienstglas 7x50 German Army binoculars are unusual in a few ways. They carry both the full manufacturer name on the left plate, as was normal prior to 1940, and the beh wartime code on the right plate as was normal 1940 on. I would have guessed that these were transitional production except for the + marking on the right plate, which was the mark for cold weather grease 1442, which was introduced Nov. 1, 1942. These do show some signs of a rework?? These are also quite unusual in being documented by serial no. (477474) along with a Walther P38 pistol on a U.S. Army personal property certificate (“war trophy capture papers”/permission to bring home) dated Sept 27, 1945, for Corporal Frank Feinstein, of the 559th Anti Aircraft Artillery/ Automatic Weapons battalion, a unit that participated in the Battle of the Bulge. U.S soldiers in WWII collectively brought or mailed home huge amounts of captured military equipment souvenirs as a War Trophy (including my father). Only a few items were prohibited, such as machine guns, live munitions, explosives, and grenades). Rifles and pistols were permitted, but required paperwork permission of a commanding officer, normally easily obtained, and I have rifles & pistols with their capture paperwork. The War Trophy rules were laid out in U.S. War Dept circular 155 (click above to see). In practice single pieces of enemy field equipment including binoculars did not require “capture paperwork” and so are very rarely documented, and then only when listed as additional items on the paperwork needed for a war Trophy firearm to be declared. |
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My Ernst Leitz Dienstglas 7x50 German Army binoculars serial # 256173 carry the full manufacturer name on the left plate, as was normal prior to 1940. The “M” marking on these Leitz binoculars under the serial number indicate use of metric thread on faceplate screws (per Hans Seeger). |
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WWII beh (Ernst Leitz ) German Army 7x50 Dienstglas military binoculars serial #383996, post 1940 |
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WWII blc (Carl Zeiss) 10x50 German Dienstglas Military Binoculars. Post 1940 |
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My blc 10x50 Dienstglas WWII German military binoculars were made by Carl Zeiss. I believe the “ • ” to indicate use of a cold weather grease. |
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WWII blc Carl Zeiss 7x50 Dienstglas German Military Binoculars, post 1940 |
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My blc 7x50 Dienstglas WWII German military binoculars were made by Carl Zeiss The + marking indicates 1442 cold weather optical grease “ Dienstglas ” has been the standard German military type designation on binoculars from WWI to the present. |
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WWII E Leitz Wetzlar Pre-1940 German Army 7x50 Dienstglas military binoculars serial #256173 |
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Yellow ocular filters in case |
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“Capture papers” for these binoculars |
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TO SEE US WAR DEPT CIRCULAR 155 , Rules and Regulations on enemy war trophy captured items... |
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WWII rnl Carl Zeiss 6x30 German Dienstglas Military Binoculars (post November 1944) |
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My rnl 6x30 Dienstglas WWII German military binoculars were made by Carl Zeiss after November 1944, when Zeiss changed from their previous blc manufacturer code to the rnl code. The triangle mark indicates use of a cold weather grease. |
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My flea market bargain ($25)purchased WWII post 1940 beh (Ernst Leitz) Dienstglas 7x50 German army binoculars serial #383996 came with intact original ocular cover, binocular straps, and original leather case and straps. Many binoculars like these are now missing the ocular covers, original straps and/or original case, so it is a treat to acquire complete original examples like this. |
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“Dienstglas”property mark has been defaced. |
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The + marking indicates 1442 cold weather optical grease |
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WWII Carl Zeiss 6x30 Dienstglas German Military Binoculars, pre 1940 |
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My Carl Zeiss Jena Dienstglas 6x30 German Army binoculars serial # 1923587 predate 1940, when German manufacturer’s letter codes were instituted replacing manufacturer names or logos on German military binoculars. The H/6400 marking refers to the right ocular graticule/ strichplatte/ range grid, Artillerie promille grid units. They have Waffenampt WaA202, an inspection mark of the weapons agency Heereswaffenampt. |
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case marking |
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Post 1942 WWII E. Leitz beh Dienstglas 10x50 German Military Binoculars serial #411031 |
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My post 1940 beh (Ernst Leitz) Dienstglas 10x50 German army binoculars serial #411031 are marked with this type + mark indicates instrument grease 1442 for use to –40 ° C , and suggests production after Nov 1 1942 (per Hans Seeger). |
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These binoculars have a right ocular strchplatte/ reticule for estimating range. |
