|
SANS & STREIFFE, INC. (USA) |
|
MINIATURE BINOCULAR BRANDS (U.S. TM owner)
SANS & STREIFFE BINOCULARS
PRIMARY
SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
US PATENT & TRADEMARK OFFICE, TRADE DIRECTORIES
|
|
Sans & Streiffe, of 565 West Washington Blvd., Brookfield, Illinois was probably formed around 1951 as an importer/distributor of binoculars, microscopes, telescopes, drafting tools, weather instruments, slide rules, movie cameras transistor radios, and similar goods. They held US trademark # 72055522 for “Sans & Streiffe” for binoculars, telescopes, microscopes, barometers, thermometers, & hygrometers from June 1959 to 2000, claiming first use in commerce of 12/15/1951. Sans and Streiffe appears in trade directories at least through 1973.
|
|
Japanese External Reverse Porro Prism Binoculars.
VIRTUAL MUSEUM
|
|
MARK OHNO |
|
MINIATURE BINOCULAR BRAND (presumed owned, but trade marked for other photo trade items )
ZYKKOR BINOCULARS
PRIMARY
SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
PERFECT LEADS, US PATENTS AND TRADEMARK OFFICE, LEGAL FORCE TRADEMARKS, BUSINESS LOOKUP
|
|
Photo Audio Consumer Marketing Corporation of One West 34th St., NYC was formed in 1979 as a distributor of photographic products and accessories and consumer electronics, including those that were marketed under the ZYKKOR trade name and distinctive US trade mark# #73276663 logo as seen on miniature binoculars. Dissolution of the co was reportedly on June 26,1996.
|
|
TASCO SALES PTY LTD (AUSTRALIA) |
|
MINIATURE BINOCULAR BRAND (handled)
TASCO BINOCULARS
PRIMARY
SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
AUSTRALIAN SECURITIES AND INVESTMENTS COMMISSION
|
|
Tasco Sales Pty Ltd of Brookvale NSW was apparently formed 11/5/1965 as a Australian distribution entity for Taco products, and is currently active.
|
|
SANKYŌ KŌKI K.K. /
三協光機㈱
(JAPAN) |
|
USA
MARKET |
|
MINIATURE BINOCULAR BRAND (OWNED)
KOMURA BINOCULARS
PRIMARY
SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
CAMERA WIKI ORG, US PATENTS & TRADEMARKS OFFICE
|
|
Sankyō Kōki K.K. (also appearing on some documents as Sankyo Kohki), produced and distributed products (predominantly lenses) under the Komura and Chibanon brand names, at least as early as 1953, including presumably on miniature binoculars under the Komura brand. Sankyo held
US trademark# 72134157 for a Komura logo (for camera equipment) filed Dec 15,1961. The company became insolvent in 1980 and is believed not to have survived beyond 1981.
|
|
SPI/ SOUTHERN PRECISION INSTRUMENT CO. (USA)
OPTEX INC., WORLD PRECISION INSTRUMENTS INC |
|
MINIATURE BINOCULAR BRAND (U.S. TM owner for SPI logo)
SPI BINOCULARS & telescopes,
(
U.S. TM owner
)
OPTEX BINOCULARS
(model name)
SOUTHERNER BINOCULARS
PRIMARY
SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
SPI ADVERTISEMENT, TEXAS STATE COMPTROLLER, TRADE DIRECTORIES, US PATENT & TRADEMARKS OFFICE
|
|
SPI / Southern Precision instrument Co./ Nathaniael Halpern of San Antonio Texas held US trademark #71651245 for the “SPI in diamond” logo for binoculars, telescopes & microscopes from July 13, 1954 until transferred to affiliated company Optex in April 1960, with first use in commerce stated as 1951. The trademark was transferred to Zale Corp in 1974, and then to Sugerose in 1986, and World Precision Instruments DBA Southern Precision Instruments in 1994. An occupied Japan AOCo marked “Southerner” pair of miniature
a binoculars suggests SPI was active ca 1950 and had a relationship with Asahi Optical Co. SPI/ Optex were longtime importers and distributors of binoculars, telescopes, microscopes, stop watches, compasses, measuring instruments, and other products, and for a time of transistor radios. Optex Inc DBA Southern Precision Instruments held US trademark #72260953 for Optex for binoculars from Dec 1967 claiming first use in 1957 but it was reassigned 9 times subsequently starting in 1974 including back and forth between the same or similar entities and last trademark owner World Precision Instruments DBA Southern Precision Instruments.
|
|
SPI Advertisement ca 1952 |
|
HENRY BIRKS & SONS LTD. (CANADA)
LES JOAILLIERS BIRKS INC.
BIRKS JEWELERS INC. |
|
MINIATURE BINOCULAR BRANDS (Canadian TM owner)
BIRKS BINOCULARS
PRIMARY
SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
CANADIAN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE, CLOUDY NIGHTS.
|
|
Henry Birks & Sons (now Birks Group, formerly Berks Jewelers Inc & Les Joailliers Birks Inc) of 1240 Phillips Sq Montreal Canada has operated as a Canadian retail jewelry and giftware chain since 1879, and holds Canadian design trade mark #TMA575763 with 61 related Canadian trademarks for “Birks”and or lion
for binoculars, telescopes, microscopes and for around 122 other items. Birks binoculars were sold through Birks owned Canadian retail outlets, but they do occasionally show up in the UK and elsewhere so they might or might not have been distributed at wholesale.
|
|
HEADQUARTER & GENERAL SUPPLIES, LTD (UK) |
|
MINIATURE BINOCULAR BRANDS (believed owned)
LIEBERMAN & GORTZ BINOCULARS, L & G TELSTAR BINOCULARS, TELSTAR BINOCULARS (distributed?) REXINA BINOCULARS,
PRIMARY
SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
ACCOUNTANCY NOV 66 VOL 77 ISSUE 879, FINDMYPAST
|
|
According to the 1966 trade publication “Accountancy”, Headquarter and General Supply was a mail order company formed in 1941 and made public in July 1963. They say that much of the early business was in binoculars and watches, but the company expanded to tents, camping equipment, carpeting, records, transistor radios, tape recorders, photographic equipment, furniture and clothing. And apparently guitars, power tools, jewelry and various other things at different times. A good portion of the outdoor gear was military surplus. As of 1966 they also operated retail outlets. They advertised extensively in “Exchange and Mart”, but also in a wide range of specialty periodicals such as “Commercial Grower”. Ads in the Northern Ireland newspaper Larne Times (Antrim) as early as June 1947 show the mail order location as 196-200 Coldharbor Lane, London SE5 (Brixton), which still exists and is a triangular building on the corner of Flaxman and Coldharbor roads and is adjacent to
Loughborough station. According to two people who worked for the company at their Surbiton (Surrey) and their Guilford (Surrey) retail stores the company went out of business in the late 1970’s. By all accounts “Lieberman & Gortz” was a “house” brand for binoculars for almost the entire lifespan of the company, but does not appear to have had a UK trademark. For some reason I am unable to find documentation on Headquarter & General Supplies Ltd in UK Companies House records of dissolved, current, or prior name companies, nor any information in the UK Insolvency Register. H & GS appears to have sold it’s Lieberman & Gortz binoculars at retail rather than distributing them at wholesale.
|
|
UK
MARKET |
|
CANADA
MARKET |
|
HENRY KAUFMANN (GERMANY) |
|
MINIATURE BINOCULAR BRANDS (probably owned)
HK HELGOLAND BINOCULARS
PRIMARY
SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
ASTRONOMIE.DE, “JEWELIER & SPORT OPTIK HENRY KAUFMANN” WEBSITE
|
|
Jewelry and optics trader Henry Kaufmann is located on the resort island of Helgoland at Siemens Terassse 162. Helgoland currently is exempt from the EU VAT and thus offers a tax advantage to visitors purchasing goods to take home. It is believed that the firm imported binoculars from Japan and sold them with HK Hegoland brand markings, probably at retail. The firm currently offers Leica, Zeiss, Steiner, and Swarovski sports optics, as well as jewelry. |
|
GERN OPTIK (SWITZERLAND) |
|
EUROPEAN
MARKET |
|
MINIATURE BINOCULAR BRANDS (probably owned)
WEGA BABY BINOCULARS, WEGA SPORT BINOCULARS
CONVENTIONAL BINOCULAR BRANDS:
WEGA LUX, WEGA SPORT BINOCULARS
|
|
Gern Optik markings are commonly found on “Wega” brand binoculars. The firm is listed in directories as being a wholesaler of optical instruments in Vaud Switzerland, but is believed no longer in operation. Distributors included
Newbold and Bulford for the UK market. |
|
LL BEAN INC (USA) |
|
MINIATURE BINOCULAR BRANDS (owned)
LL BEAN BINOCULARS
PRIMARY
SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
WIKIPEDIA
|
|
The American mail order, catalog, on line, and retail store outdoor outfitter and clothier LL Bean was founded in 1912 and is based in Freeport Maine. The company imported and sold binoculars under it’s LL Bean brand name over the years.
|
|
USA
MARKET |
|
MONTGOMERY WARD/ WARDS (USA) |
|
SEARS ROEBUCK & CO./ SEARS (USA) |
|
K MART (USA)
SS KRESGE |
|
MINIATURE BINOCULAR BRANDS (U.S. trademark owner)
FOCAL BINOCULARS
PRIMARY
SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
US PATENT & TRADEMARKS OFFICE, WIKIPEDIA
|
|
The US retail chain K Mart headquartered at different times in Michigan and
Illinois is the successor to the US retail chain SS Kresge, founded in 1899. SS Kresge Co held US trademark # 72312306 for Focal for binoculars, telescopes, cameras from 11/15/1968 to 1977 (claimed first commercial use1966, then succeeded by K Mart. K held Canadian trademark TMA270461) FILED 8/28/1981
, used in Canada since 1975,
expunged 1998 K Mart imported and distributed binoculars, telescopes, and photographic products under the Focal brand name through it’s retail outlets. |
|
MINIATURE BINOCULAR BRANDS (owned)
WARDS BINOCULARS
(believed owned)
ADAMS BINOCULARS
(handled)
PLUM BINOCULARS
PRIMARY
SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
WIKIPEDIA
|
|
MINIATURE BINOCULAR BRANDS (owned)
SEARS BINOCULARS, TOWER
BINOCULARS
PRIMARY
SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
CAMERA-WIKI.ORG
|
|
The American mail order, catalog, and department store retailer Montgomery Ward (later Wards) was founded in 1872 and was apparently closed in chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2000. The company imported and sold binoculars under the Ward’s name and sold binoculars and photographic accessories through it’s stores and catalogs under the Adams brand, though not trademark listed. This collection holds their 1950 and 1952 photo/camera catalogs. To view them click
RESEARCH MATERIALS #1
.
|
|
USA
MARKET |
|
USA
MARKET |
|
The American mail order, catalog, and department store retailer Sears Roebuck & Co (later Sears) was founded in 1886 in Chicago Illinois. The company imported and sold binoculars under the Sears name and sold
TOWER BINOCULARS
, as well as all manner of cameras & photographic accessories, typewriters, electric fans, and other products using it’s “Tower” brand, named after the famous “Sears Tower” building in Chicago, which was the world’s highest building for 24 years. Sears owned the “Tower” brand trade mark for some things, like Sears photo finishing (from 1949). Additional items were sold under the “Sears Tower” trade mark. Many
“Tower”
marked miniature binoculars were made by Asahi Optical Co and are also “
AOCo”
marked, and these are virtually identical to
AOCo
marked Bushnell miniature binoculars. Sears held Canadian trademark #0210156 for
SEARS
for binoculars 1951 to the-present. Sears held New Zealand trademark #140946 for
SEARS
for binoculars 1986 to 2004. Sears held US trademark #172097101 for
SEARS
for binoculars 1960 to -2003. All of Sears various brands products were contract manufactured.
|
|
1954 Sears ad for Tower miniature binoculars with
AOCo
markings visible
|
|
GEORGE MAYERLE OPTICAL CO (USA) |
|
USA
MARKET |
|
USA
MARKET |
|
MINIATURE BINOCULAR BRANDS (handled)
FATA MORGANA BINOCULARS
PRIMARY
SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
ADS IN VARIOUS PUBLICATIONS
|
|
The George Mayerle Optical Co. of 960 Market St, San Francisco, California USA was the exclusive US and Mexican wholesale distributor for the Fata Morgana binoculars in the early 1920’s. |
|
LUDWIG BÜNGER (JAVA, DUTCH EAST INDIES) |
|
The optician firm of Ludwig B
ü
nger, with shops in the cities of Bandoeng (later Bandung) and Semaring, was the agent for “Fata Morgana” binoculars during the early 1920's, on the island of Java. Java was part of the colony of the Dutch East Indies at the time (the area is now Indonesia)
|
|
MINIATURE BINOCULAR BRANDS (handled)
FATA MORGANA BINOCULARS
PRIMARY
SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
CATALOGUS KOLINIALE TENTOONSTELLING, AECHIEF VOOR DE SUIKERINDUDTRIE IN NEDERLANDSCH-INDIE, Volume 30, Part 1 1922
|
|
GŌSHI-GAISHA ENDŌ KAMERA-TEN /
㈾遠藤
カメラ店
(JAPAN) |
|
MINIATURE BINOCULAR BRANDS (believed)
PIGEON (?) BINOCULARS
PRIMARY
SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
CAMERAPEDIA
|
|
Gōshi-gaisha Endō Kamera-ten
(Endo camera shop) in Itabashi Tokyo from around 1951-1953 and then successor
Endō Shashin Yōhin K.K.
in Kyōbashi Tokyo from 1953 to at least 1956 distributed various photography related products under the “Pigeon” brand name, probably (?) including “Pigeon” brand miniature binoculars. |
|
JAVA
MARKET |
|
USA
MARKET |
|
CARTON OPTICAL INDUSTRIES, LTD. (JAPAN)
|
|
OTHER
MARKETS |
|
MINIATURE BINOCULAR BRANDS (U.S. TM owner)
CARTON BINOCULARS
PRIMARY
SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
CARTON WEBSITE, USPTO,
|
|
Carton Optical Industries Ltd was founded in 1930 as a wholesaler of spectacle frames. In 1951 Carton became a trading company importing and exporting a variety of optical goods. In 1964 Carton established it’s own factory to manufacture microscopes, binoculars, telescopes, magnifiers, and ophthalmic instruments under the Carton name. and for other brands. Carton held US trademark # 76396103 for binoculars, telescopes & microscopes Apr 2003 to present, but listing first use in commerce as 1964, and held Japanese trademark #4095350 of 1997 listing first use 1964 and Canadian design trademark #TMA604018 for binoculars, telescopes, micro scopes & opera glasses 2004-.present.
|
|
ŌFUNA KŌGAKU-KIKAI SEISAKUSHO (
大船光学機械製作所
),
OFUNA OPTICAL INSTRUMENT MANUFACTURING C0. INC. (JAPAN) |
|
USA
MARKET |
|
MINIATURE BINOCULAR BRANDS (owned)
OFUNA BINOCULARS, WOODSMAN BINOCULARS, HERON BINOCULARS
PRIMARY
SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
CAMERAPEDIA, OBSERVATION
|
|
Ofuna Optical Instrument Manufacturing Co. Inc. was formed in Japan during WWII to produce military binoculars and optics, in the town of Dai in an area commonly known as Ōfuna. After the war the company made binoculars (and cameras for a short time), until closing in 1963. Ofuna was more of a manufacturer than distributor, and
K.K. Kashimura Yōkō
distributed the binoculars in Japan. Ofuna binoculars were also distributed in the USA, but the mechanism for export and import and US distribution are not known.
|
|
HEILAND PHOTO PRODUCTS, HONEYWELL CORP. (USA)
|
|
MINIATURE BINOCULAR BRANDS (handled)
PENTAX BINOCULARS
PRIMARY
SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
CAMERAPEDIA, WIKIPEDIA
|
|
Heiland Research Corporation developed the modern external electronic photographic flash attachment in the late 1930’s, and merged with Honeywell Corporation in 1954. From around 1959 to at least 1973 Honeywell was the U.S. importer of
Asahi Kogaku/ Pentax cameras, and for at least part of that time also distributed Pentax binoculars, through it’s Heiland Photo Products division.
|
|
USA
MARKET |
|
OKAYA KŌGAKU KIKAI K.K./
岡谷光学機械㈱
(JAPAN) |
|
MINIATURE BINOCULAR BRANDS (owned)
VISTA BINOCULARS
PRIMARY
SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
CAMERAPEDIA
|
|
Okaya Kōgaku Kikai K.K./
岡谷光学機械㈱
,
or Okaya Optical Works Company, Ltd.) was a Japanese maker of "Vista" brand binoculars in the 1950s and perhaps 1960s, and appear to have acted as exporter and wholesale distributor. |
|
OTAKE & CO. LTD. (JAPAN) |
|
MINIATURE BINOCULAR BRANDS (owned)
VESPER BINOCULARS
PRIMARY
SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
OTAKE & CO LTD CATALOG
|
|
Otake & Co. Ltd of No 17 1 Chome Sugamao, Toshima-K Tokyo was, according to their English language catalog, owner of the “Vesper” name for all optical instruments as registered in the Japan Patent office. Otake was probably a manufacturer (several Otake companies appear on the 1959 list of Japanese binoculars makers), but because of the English catalog was probably also involved in export or distribution. This collection holds an Otake & Co catalog.
To view it click
RESEARCH MATERIALS #2
.
|
|
Please note: a great amount of effort has been made to try to be as accurate as possible. But
information about distribution tends to be scarce and fragmentary, and errors or misinterpretation are possible and/or probable.
Please keep in mind that any errors are unintentional, and will be cheerfully corrected upon
notification And that this is a not for profit attempt to document otherwise unavailable aspects of binocular history by optics enthusiasts, for the benefit of optics enthusiasts.
The distinction between Japanese manufacturers, exporters, and distributors and importing country wholesale and retail distribution may be blurred, so I have been generous about inclusion. |
|
COPITAR CO. LTD. (JAPAN) |
|
MINIATURE BINOCULAR BRANDS (U.S. TM owner)
COPITAR BINOCULARS
PRIMARY
SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
US PATENT & TRADEMARKS OFFICE
|
|
Copitar Co Ltd. Of 11-12, 5-ChomeNishi-Nippori, Arakawa-Ku, Tokyo Japan
is a company
listed on the 1959 list of Japanese binoculars makers, and held US trademark # 74259298 for Copitar for binoculars, mini binoculars, telescopes, opera glasses & magnifiers, claiming first use in 1966 (trademark cancelled Dec. 2000).
|
|
USA
MARKET |
|
PRENTISS IMPORTERS (USA) |
|
USA
MARKET |
|
MINIATURE BINOCULAR BRANDS:
(probably)
PRENTISS DELUXE BINOCULARS
PRIMARY
SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
POPULAR MECHANICS, POPULAR SCIENCE
|
|
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.
|
|
OMORI SOGO KŌGAKU KŌGYŌ
大森総合光学工業
(JAPAN) |
|
MINIATURE BINOCULAR BRANDS: (using & believed owned)
PLUM
BINOCULARS
PRIMARY
SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
DIRECT OBSERVATION
|
|
Omori Sogo Kōgaku Kōgyō was a prolific Japanese assembling manufacturer of miniature binoculars. I have observed 33 miniature binoculars brand names which Omori Sogo Kōgaku made binoculars for, and there are presumably others. Binoculars manufactured by Omori Sogo Kōgaku are found in every geographic market where Japanese miniature binoculars are found. I believe that the “Plum” brand belonged to Omori Sogo Kōgaku, and that “Plum” was the brand used on those binoculars that Omori Sogo Kōgaku distributed on it’s own behalf. Omori Sogo Kōgaku products carry a distinctive “K in a cloud” stamping. |
|
ALL KNOWN
MARKETS |
|
USA
MARKET |
|
MINIATURE BINOCULAR BRANDS:
(believed owned/used)
BURTON DURATEST BINOCULARS
PRIMARY
SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
TRADEMARK REFERENCES, BLOOMBERG
|
|
The R.H. Burton Co. was founded in 1947 and distributed ophthalmic and optometry equipment and supplies and optical equipment. It was located at 2504 Sullivant Av, Columbus, Ohio, and later of 1395 Brookham Dr., Grove City Ohio) and for a time apparently also imported and distributed binoculars under the Burton Dura-Test brand. The company is still active. |
|
MEIJI SEIKO CO LTD./ MEIJO SEIKO KŌGAKU
明治精工株式会社
(JAPAN) |
|
ALL KNOWN
MARKETS |
|
MINIATURE BINOCULAR BRANDS:
(believed using/owned)
EAGLE BINOCULARS, MENAN BINOCULARS,MEIJI BINOCULARS
PRIMARY
SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
DIRECT OBSERVATION
|
|
Meiji Seiko Kōgaku/ Meiji Seiko Co. was a prolific Japanese assembling manufacturer of miniature binoculars. I have observed 45 miniature binoculars brand names for Meiji Seiko made binoculars, including those of well known importers such as Swift, and there are presumably others. Binoculars manufactured by Meiji Seiko Kōgaku are found in every geographic market where Japanese miniature binoculars are found. I believe that the “Eagle” brand belonged to Meiji Seiko Kōgaku for a while, and that
EAGLE BINOCULARS
was the brand used on those binoculars that Meiji Seiko Kōgaku distributed on it’s own behalf in the 1950’s-1970’s. |
|
C.W.S. COOPERATIVE WHOLESALE SOCIETY (UK) |
|
MINIATURE BINOCULAR BRANDS:
(using/ believed owned)
INVINCIBLE BINOCULARS
PRIMARY
SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
1960 C.W.S. ADVERTISEMENT
|
|
UK based C.W.S. /Cooperative Wholesale Society was formed in 1933, and together with successors CRS/Cooperative Retail Services and later The Cooperative Group, they are a large chain of retail food, department stores, convenience stores, and sometimes pharmacies, banks, footware stores, funeral care, legal services, with as many as 3500 locations, and an ownership of millions of UK consumers. Ads indicate as early as 1960 they were apparently using the
INVINCIBLE BINOCULARS
brand for their own range of imported binoculars.
|
|
UK
MARKET |
|
MIZAR-TECH CO, LTD. (JAPAN) (
successor
to
) MIZAR CO LTD, HINO KINZOKU SANNGYO CO LTD, EIKOW OPTICAL CO
|
|
MINIATURE BINOCULAR BRANDS (owned)
MIZAR BINOCULARS,
(successor)
EIKOW BINOCULARS
PRIMARY
SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
CORRESPONDENCE WITH MIZAR OPTICAL, JAPAN (overseas direct/web marketing/sales & marketing entity for Mizar-Tech )
|
|
Hino Kinzoki
Sanngyo Co Ltd was formed in 1952. The company was a manufacturer and distributor of telescopes, binoculars, spotting scopes, microscopes, magnifiers, compasses, etc., and the Mizar brand was well respected, particularly for astronomical telescopes. In 1990 Eikow optics and Hino merged to become Mizar Co., Ltd., and in 2013 the company became Mizar-Tech, Ltd. The company currently supplies the Japanese market through wholesale channels, with direct web sales elsewhere through Mizar Optical.
Eikow and Mizar brand miniature pattern binoculars are encountered in various countries. |
|
USA
MARKET |
|
OTHER
MARKETS |
|
1970’s product line of Hino Kinzoku Sangyo Co Ltd., with miniature pattern poro prism binoculars circled. Photo reproduced by permission of Mizar Optical,
www.mizar-optical.com (all rights reserved).
|
|
EUROPEAN
MARKET |
|
1965 K-Mart
Optical Dept |
|
USA
MARKET |
|
JAPAN
MARKET |
|
JAPAN
MARKET |
|
JAPAN
MARKET |
|
USA
MARKET |
|
SWITZERLAND
MARKET |
|
JAPAN
MARKET |
|
R.H. BURTON CO. (USA) |
|
PHOTO AUDIO CONSUMER MARKETING CORPORATION (USA) |
|
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Distribution of Japanese Miniature Binoculars.
Miniatur Fernglas Verteilung. Jumelles Miniature Distribution.
Миниатюрные бинокли распределения.
小型双眼鏡配布
.
Miniatyr Kikare Distribution. Prismáticos en Miniatura Distribución. Distribuzione dei Binocoli Giapponesi Miniatura. |
|
AUSTRALIAN
MARKET |
|
GERMANY
MARKET |
|
TAYMOR INDUSTRIES (CANADA) |
|
MINIATURE BINOCULAR BRANDS (brand used? )
KURT MULLER OPTICA BINOCULARS
|
|
Taymor Industries Ltd of Canada distributed a very wide range of products over the years from bathroom hardware and tools to boats and camping goods, and has had several distinctive trade marked “TAYMOR” logos. It is believed that as part of the range of camping goods (tents, backpacks, cook stoves, Mountain House freeze dried foods) Taymor offered a range of imported Japanese binoculars in the 1960’s and 1970’s branded as “Kurt Muller Optica” or “Kurt Muller”, including miniature pattern binoculars. A good number of the larger “Kurt Muller” binoculars are observed to also have the distinctive Taymor Industries logo (though some Kurt Muller branded binoculars that look a bit earlier do not have the logo) |
|
CANADA
MARKET |
|
INTERNATIONAL TRADE ASSOCIATES, INC (JAPAN) |
|
MINIATURE BINOCULAR BRANDS (brand distributed? )
MILO BINOCULARS
PRIMARY
SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
JAPAN DIRECTORY 1990
|
|
Many Milo binoculars have been observed supplied with a lens cleaning cloth marked “MILO” and “INTERNATIONAL TRADE ASSOCIATES INC.” and ’MADE IN JAPAN’. The term “Inc.” is odd to see used with Japanese companies who tend to use KK or Ltd. The Japan directory lists a firm International trade Associates, Inc. located in Shinjuku-ku district of Tokyo exporting optical and cinematographic products which is probably the same entity (but speculative).
|
|
1955 Sears Ad |