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Japanese External Reverse Porro Prism Binoculars. WEBSITE MUSEUM |
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OTHER BINOCULARS #5 & OPTICAL SIGHTS (MOSTLY MILITARY) |
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1944 WWII Russian KOMZ 6x30 Captured Military Binoculars |
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The KOMZ logo is a light arrow being routed through a prism. Note crude wartime marking methods used. |
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My WWII Russian KOMZ ( Казанский оптико-механический завод / Kazan Optical Mechanical Factory) binoculars were produced in early in 1944 (serial number 44077210, with the first two prefix numbers of KOMZ binocular serial numbers being the year of manufacture), and these binoculars were rather quickly captured by German forces, possibly by the 11th Panzer division at Cherkassy in Feb 1944. The case of these binoculars is marked to German Oblt. (Oberleutenent) G. von Shealey of Aufkln (Aufkl ä rungsabteilung/Reconnaissance detachment) kompanie 3 of the 11P (the 11 Aufklarungs–Abteilung with it’s 3rd company was the reconnaissance detachment of the 11 th P anzer division). After Cherkassy, the damaged 11th Panzer division was withdrawn to southern France near Libourne/ Bordeau for rebuilding and was reorganized with integration of the 416 Grenadier Regiment and 273 Reserve Panzer division. Perhaps relevant to the B44 / 1944 Oberkommando der Wehrmacht stamp, the 11th Reconnaissance Abteilung was further reorganized in May 1944 by absorbing the Reserve Reconnaissance Abteilung 7, and perhaps relevant to the P44 /1944 Untech und Ausrustungsfeldlayer stamp (Technical and Equipments Field Warehouse Paris) on July 11 1944 the 11 Aufklarungs–Abteilung was converted into a Versorgunangs-Kompanie (Supply Company) with feldpost number 09426. I know from direct contact with veterans that by mid 1944 German reorganization and refitting made the best of shortages by using substitute standard items (like equipping refitted soldiers with French military compasses, and newly issued AC44 P38 pistols going into P08 luger holsters). A fairly new and serviceable pair of binoculars and case were probably judged to be a perfectly acceptable substitute when standard issue binoculars were unavailable. In cases where large quantities of substitute standard items were available and issued, they were given their own German model designation. |
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1944 WWII NIL No 5 Mk 5 Mk 5 Canadian Issue Binoculars |
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My 1944 dated Canadian issued British manufactured No 5 Mk 5 7x50 binoculars were made by NIL / Nottingham Industries Limited. NIL appears to have been a UK Ministry of Supply created wartime company (1941-1946) which was set up in what had previously been a cigarette factory, but with optics and binocular manufacturer Ross operating it. The binoculars carry the WWII era UK and commonwealth military property broad arrow mark, and red W waterproofed mark, and desiccant ports with the red paint authorized removal/sealed designation, and the case has a C and broad arrow Canadian military property mark. As sold as surplus, this binocular has no ranging graticule, which may be one of the two “ MA ” change markings. |
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WWII U.S. AIR FORCE BENDIX 1942? OPTICAL BUBBLE AIRCRAFT AN-5851-1 SEXTANT |
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My WWII U.S. Air Force AN-5851-1 Aircraft sextant was used for night navigation of large aircraft, including the B-17 bomber and PB4Y-2 bomber. It would be hung on a special arm for the navigator to take readings out of the bubble canopy, and it has a couple integral lights for night use. Since it was optical, complex, looked interesting, had an interesting case, and cost around $30 at my local flea market, it came home with me that day. |
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U.S. SECRET SERVICE MIRADOR LIMER BCF1180 11 X 80 BINOCULARS |
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The U.S. Secret service uses large high power binoculars to observe crowds, buildings, and surroundings as an integral part of their protection and counter sniper activities. Like all their equipment, their optical equipment gets periodically replaced or changed or upgraded. When a company that specialized in purchasing surplus government equipment at auction, and then reselling it, obtained a few of these US Secret Service property marked Mirador Limer 11x80 binoculars some years back, I purchased two. Though my interest was probably largely about the secret service label on the binoculars, I do like these. Even with 1,200 or so binocular to choose from, these are one of a handful I regularly grab to in order to use. Like other specialty items, these are only suited for special circumstances and conditions. Mirador is indicated as a registered trademark, but does not seem to show up as a US trademark in TESS, but does show up as Canadian trademark TMA294949 for binoculars from 1984-2000. Mirador binoculars were associated with the Mirador Optical Corporation of Marina Del Rey California in many US binoculars trade listings, and Mirador Optical Corporation was a registered California Corp 9/12/1982 until dissolved 10/28/2010. The U.S. Mirador entity is presumed to be an importer/ distributor, as Mirador also had a sales presence in Europe. |
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U.S. Navy Mk 89 Model 0 Optical Gun Sight, Part of Mk 15 Naval Antiaircraft Gunsight |
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My U.S. Navy Mk 89 Model 0 telescope is an initial target acquisition auxiliary scope made by Wollensak Optical Co. and used with the MK15 anti aircraft gun sight in U.S. Naval gun fire directors, such as the Mk52 fire director below. |
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Zrak ON-M59 Yugoslavain-Serbian RPG Rocket Propelled Grenade Launcher Optical Sight |
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When an optical sight like this shows up at my local flea market for $30 or so, I tend to buy them, partly for the fun of figuring out what they are and how they fit into military history. |
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My Zrak ON-M59 Optical Gun Sight was used on the Yugoslavian-Serbian M57A2 RPG rocket propelled grenade launcher, of which around 12,000-16.000 were made at the Kragujevac weapons factory Crvena Zastavia from around 1967-1975, and used in the 1992-1999 Yugoslav wars. The Zrak Optical Works factory that manufactured this sight is located in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. |
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1938 Wild Heerbrugg TM-2 Swiss Military WWII Land Artillery Optical Coincidence Range Finder |
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The clever design and detail and fit and finish of Swiss precision equipment is usually fairly impressive, and my 1938 Wild Heerbrugg military range finder (made 23 years after Wild was founded) is no exception. For example the multi part tripod consists of a Kern made table top tripod that fits into the full height tripod base, with a ball tripod head/ mount of some complexity, and elaborate cases for everything. |
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WWII Hungarian Army L å tcs ö 6x30 Military Binoculars |
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Though I have not been able to find much direct documentation, I believe my L å tcs ö 6x30 binoculars to be Hungarian military issue and their marking “ AM.KIR.KINGSTAR TULAJDONA ”’ to be the equivalent to “Property of Royal Hungarian Treasury”. These binoculars have both horizontal and vertical ranging grids, and may be either an artillery or infantry model. I have seen identical binoculars marked as “L é g ó ”, “Honvedseg”, or Suss/MOM, with most of those dated 1941, suggesting multiple manufacturers providing this pattern of binoculars to supply the WWII related Hungarian military mobilizations. |
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Hungarian army officer in WWII with these type binoculars |
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J.J. Messer London Day & Night Brass Telescope |
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My J.J. Messer London day and night brass telescope was made by optician and telescope maker John James Messer of 19 & 20 King St. Commercial Road East, in London, County of Middlesex, England probably in the 1850’s. Messer worked 1845-1880, but had been forced into bankruptcy in 1859. |
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Since British military officers purchased their own equipment like this, it is hard to say if it had military or civilian use. |