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Japanese External Reverse Porro Prism Binoculars. VIRTUAL MUSEUM |
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MARK OHNO |
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Miniature Binocular Iconography. Fernglas Bildniskunde. Jumelles Iconographie. Бинокли Петербург. 双眼鏡 ブランド。 関連付けられているイメージ。 Iconografía Prismáticos. Iconografia dei Binocoli in Miniatura. |
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Anatomy of a Binocular Error. Ein Fernglas Erroe. Anatomie d'une Faute de Manufacture. Интересные бинокли производства ошибка. 双眼鏡 の上のマーキングエ ラー . Un Error de Producción Prismáticos. Un Errore Nella Produzione di Binocoli. |
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Another production error . Perl 10x20 binoculars in a correctly sized Perl marked box, but which was incorrectly marked for as 6x15 when it should have been marked 10x20. Perl 6x15 binoculars would have had been packed in a much smaller box. |
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The 10x20 binoculars in incorrectly marked black box, compared to smaller Perl 8x20 binoculars in their smaller blue box, compared to a typical smaller 6x15 binoculars box in red. |
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“Antares” Binoculars sold in the U.S. Virgin Islands in 1965. Miniatur-Fernglas in den US-Jungferninseln in 1965 Erworben. Jumelles Miniatures Achetés dans les îles Vierges Américaines en 1965. Миниатюрные бинокли приобретен в США Виргинских островах в 1965 году. Miniatyr Kikare köpt i USA Jungfruöarna 1965. Prismáticos Miniatura Comprados en las Islas Vírgenes de Estados Unidos en 1965. Binocolo in Miniatura Venduto Nelle Isole Vergini di nel 1965. |
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While binoculars of this type seldom have documentation, the sales receipt with these particular 6x15 Antares binoculars show that they were purchased with cash from the camera store Steel’s Photo Supplies in St Thomas in the US Virgin Islands in the Caribbean January 15, 1965, from a clerk with the initials B.R. for $15.75, presumably to enhance someone’s warm winter vacation holiday. The binoculars themselves were made by Meiji Seiko Kogaku. |
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This ancestor Makonde Lipiko carved wood helmet liked to use his miniature binoculars to spot candidates for the initiation ceremonies in Tanzania/ Mozambique. Since the wearer normally looked out the mouth... This is a rare example of looking through binoculars with your mouth! Collection Mark Ohno |
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MINIATUUR JAPANSE VERREKIJKERS MINIATUROWE LORNETKI PIENOISKOOSKA JAPANILAINEN KIIKARIT μικροσκοπικά κιάλια ミニチュア双眼鏡 ống nhòm mini مناظير مصغرة اليابانيةچھوٹے جاپانی دوربین BINÓCULOS JAPONÊS EM MINIATURA DÛRBÎN JAPANESE XWEBIXWE دوربین دوچشمی ژاپنی مینیاتوری MINIATUUR JAPANESE BINOCULAERS MINIJATURNI JAPANSKI DALEKOZOR MINIATURNÍ JAPONSKÉ DALEKOHLEDY MALIIT NA LARAWAN JAPANESE LARGABISTA MINIATYURA YAPONIYA DURBIN BINOCOLO GIAPPONESE IN MINIATURA TEROPONG KECIL JEPUN TYHULASI AMANCINANE JAPANESE ỐNG NH Ò M MINIATURE NH Â T BảN సూక్ష్మ జపనీస్ దూరదర్శిని மினியேச்சர் ஜப்பனீஸ் தொலைநோக்கியின் KEKERAN JEPANG MINIATUR کوچني د جاپان د فير CASRIGA GHADAFI JAPANESE MINIJATURNI JAPANSKI DALEKOZORI MINYATI LONGVI JAPON È L Í TIL JAPANSKA SJ Ó NAUKI MINIAT Ü R T Á VCS Ö DADA JAPAN BINOPKULARI MINIATURE JAPANESE MAKA ANYA ABUO KAKANG'ONO ZOYANG'ANIRA JAPANESE |
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CONTACT US WITH INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: miniature.binoculars@gmail.com |
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CONTACT US WITH INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: miniature.binoculars@gmail.com |
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Miniature binoculars may be an acquired taste. But they say once you taste the flavor you’ll have to have more…. |
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1740 dated medical bloodletting fleam made by Swain of London and marked as property of Peter Moor, believed the same barber surgeon known to have served with British military forces in India in the early 1700’s. It is the same type of human bloodletting fleam used to drain George Washington of 40% of his blood in four bloodlettings when he fell ill in 1799 in the attempts by his doctors to rebalance his four humours (blood, phlegm, yellow bile & black bile) together with forced vomiting, an enema, and skin blistering (vesiculation) of his throat, legs and feet, also to draw out humours and heal him. Despite these persistent helpful “healing” efforts by his three doctors, he promptly died. (collection of Mark Ohno) |
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Anatomy of a Binocular Error. Ein Fernglas Erroe. Anatomie d'une Faute de Manufacture. Интересные бинокли производства ошибка. 双眼鏡 の上のマーキングエ ラー . 大問題. Anatomi af en Fabrikationsfeji På Kikkert.Un Error de Producción Prismáticos. |
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As David Bushnell indicated when interviewed, when he marked his binoculars “triple tested” he meant the manufacturer might inspect them, and his company Bushnell usually looked at a few when a shipment arrived, and the end user looked at them after they bought them. Given such a rigorous regimen of painstaking scrutiny it is easier to understand how a batch could get sold with the brand name spelled wrong and an “L” missing. Or maybe somebody noticed it and figured it wasn’t really so important and the next batch could be spelled correctly. |
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Bushnell 6x25 CF binoculars made by AOCo (Asahi Optical Co.) with the BUSHNELL brand name incorrectly spelled as “ BUSHNEL ”. One of the useful phrases I learned in a number of business trips to Japan that would always get a startled laugh (as long as it was clearly false) was dai mondai 大問題 ( big problem). Probably no laughing over this, though, as it must have entailed some form of loss of face to have shipped goods with the customer’s name wrong, regardless of how that particular faux pas happened. |
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Made under contract for the US importer Bushnell (misspelled as Bushnel), with AOCo (Asahi Optical Co as exporter) JB6 marked so the assembling manufacturer by code also was Asahi Kogaku Kogo Co. Ltd (Asahi Optical Co), and JE49 marked so the frame and or metal parts were made by Sankyo Kogaku Kogyo Co Ltd. |
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INSATIABLE HUNGER FOR MINIATURE BINOCULARS |
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PHOTO CREDIT: PIXABAY |
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THANKS to Peter Owen from Bristol in the = UK for helping acquire these Parrot binoculars. |
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The sales receipt with these particular 7x25 Zenith binoculars show that they were purchased from the Fook Hing Trading Co in Singapore on 9/27/1966 for 45 Singapore dollars, and their description is “one Strong Binocular”. Fook Hing’s primary business was apparently watches. They were subsequently taken to the UK. |
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“Zenith” Miniature Binoculars sold in Singapore in 1966 Zenith Miniaturfernglas Verkauft in Singapur im Jahr 1966. Zenith Jumelles Miniatures vendues à Singapour en 1966. Миниатюрные бинокли Zenith, проданные в Сингапуре в 1966 году. Zenith ミニチュア双眼鏡 1966 年 にシンガポールで販売 . Zenith Miniatyrkikare Säljs i Singapore 1966. Prismáticos en Miniatura xxx Vendidos en Singapur en 1966. |
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“Prinz” Miniature Binoculars sold by “Dixons Photographic Ltd.” in the UK in 1967 . Prinz Miniatur Fernglas von Dixons Photographic Ltd in Großbritannien im Jahr 1967 verkauft. Prinz Jumelles miniatures vendues au Dixons Photographic Ltd au Royaume-Uni en 1967. Prinz Миниатюрный бинокль, продаваемый Dixons Photographic Ltd в Великобритании в 1967 году. Prinz 1967 年 に英国で Dixons Photographic Ltd によって販売されたミニチュア双眼鏡。 Prinz Miniatyrkikare säljs av Dixons Photographic Ltd i Storbritannien 1967. Prinz Prismáticos miniatura vendidos por Dixons Photographic Ltd en el Reino Unido en 1967. Prinz binocolo in miniatura venduto da Dixons Photographic Ltd nel Regno Unito nel 1967. |
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Prinz was a brand of Dixons Photographic Ltd, UK trademark # 921334 with prior use. |
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This set of Prinz binoculars, complete with their original receipt and warrantee hang tag, are a great example of a photographic store chain in the UK (Dixons Photographic Ltd, predecessor of Dixons Retail PLC and DSC Int Ltd) establishing a well recognized binoculars “house” brand (Prinz). The chain operated in the UK, northern Europe, and Greece under several names and was one of the largest consumer electronics retailers in Europe. |
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Anatomy of a Binocular Error. Ein Fernglas Erroe. Anatomie d'une Faute de Manufacture. Интересные бинокли производства ошибка. 双眼鏡 の上のマーキングエ ラー . 大問題. Anatomi af en Fabrikationsfeji På Kikkert.Un Error de Producción Prismáticos. |
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Misspelled Perl logo |
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Anatomy of a Binocular Error. Ein Fernglas Erroe. Anatomie d'une Faute de Manufacture. Интересные бинокли производства ошибка. 双眼鏡 の上のマーキングエ ラー . 大問題. Anatomi af en Fabrikationsfeji På Kikkert.Un Error de Producción Prismáticos. |
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These “PEPL” binoculars obtained from Juignac, D é partmente Charente in France ( thanks Miot ) are actually “PERL” brand binoculars with a lettering error as imported from Japan by Medas SA of France. Medas SA held 1954 Swiss trademark 159 059 for ‘Perl “in bioconvex surround logo, and subsequently expanded as Madrid Monitor world trademark 2273200 effective in 23 countries. The contract Japanese manufacturer of these binoculars, MEIJI SEIKO CO LTD/ 明治精工株式会社 ( identified by their manufacturer code JB5 on a prism cover) would have made these for many different importers in many markets. Their individual logos and markings would have been set up on a rotary engraver for each run. A worker unfamiliar with the western alphabet presumably set up for a “P” rather than “R” on these. There are a number of examples of these type entertaining spelling setup errors observed on Japanese binoculars of this time period |
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Correct Perl logo |
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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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ミニチュア双眼鏡 миниатюрные бинокли |
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FOR OUR MILITARY & FULL SIZE BINOCULARS see sections OTHER BINOCULARS & BIG & SMALL |
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FOR MILITARY and FULL SIZE BINOCULARS SEE SECTIONS “ OTHER BINOCULARS ” and “ BIG AND SMALL ” |
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Anatomy of a Binocular Error. Ein Fernglas Erroe. Anatomie d'une Faute de Manufacture. Интересные бинокли производства ошибка. 双眼鏡 の上のマーキングエ ラー . 大問題. Anatomi af en Fabrikationsfeji På Kikkert.Un Error de Producción Prismáticos. |
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Misspelled Herculls logo |
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Correct Hercules logo |
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Hercules 6x55 binoculars with the HERCULES brand name incorrectly spelled as “ HERCULLS ”. To understand these errors, employees in contract Japanese binoculars manufacturing in the 1950’s were setting up lettering marking templates in an unfamiliar alphabet system spelling out names in an unfamiliar language. A parallel would be people outside setting up varied Japanese words in kanji and kana, which would invite errors likely not to be immediately noticed. |