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WWII Japanese Army 6x9.3 ° military binoculars w/ graticule, Fuji Shashin Kōki K.K.( 富士写真光機㈱ ) |
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Japanese External Reverse Porro Prism Binoculars. WEBSITE MUSEUM |
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OTHER BINOCULARS #12 & OPTICAL SIGHTS/ MOSTLY MILITARY |
WWII Toko 東京光学 Tokyo Kogaku Kikai Kabushikikaisha (Tokyo Optical Co.) Japanese Navy 7x7.1 military binoculars w/ ranging grid. |
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My WWII Toko Japanese senior officers binoculars with original canvas case and with right ocular graticule/ ranging grid were made by Tokyo Kogaku Kikai Kabushikikaisha, founded in 1932 to make various Japanese army optical goods. Their successor company is now known as Topcon. |
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The marking 航 means “navigation”and was used on Japanese navy and naval aviation binoculars. The marking ' 目盛入 means “with scale” (graticule or ranging grid). |
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WWII Nikko Novar / Nippon Kōgaku Kōgyō Kabushikigaisha ( 日本光学工業株式会社 Japanese Army 7x50 military binoculars #42729 |
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My WWII era Nikko Japanese senior officers military 7x50 binoculars serial number 42729, with right ocular graticule/ ranging grid were made by Nippon Kōgaku Kōgyō Kabushikigaisha ( 日本光学工業株式会社 " Japan Optical Industries Co., Ltd."), and their successor company is today known as Nikon. |
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The marking 日本光学 means “Nippon Kogaku”. The marking 目盛入 means “with scale” (graticule or ranging grid), and the marking 丿 バ一 is the Kanji phonetic equivalent of “Novar” |
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WWII Nikko / Nippon Kōgaku Kōgyō Kabushikigaisha ( 日本光学工業株式会社 Japanese Army NCO/ Non Commissioned officers 93 式双眼鏡 / 93-Shiki sōgankyō) Type 93 4x10 military binoculars |
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In the same way that the German military developed the 08 fernglas in WWI as durable and economic and simple to make Galilean/ non prismatic binoculars to be issued to non commissioned officers in WWI, the Japanese also developed the Type 93 (93 式双眼鏡 / 93-Shiki sōgankyō) Galilean/ non prismatic binoculars to be issued to non commissioned officers during their 1930’s Manchurian conflict. It has a right side ranging grid. As with the Nikko binoculars above, and by the distinct logo outline, my example with it’s canvas carry case was made by Nippon Kōgaku Kōgyō Kabushikigaisha( 日本光学工業株式会社 " Japan Optical Industries Co., Ltd."), and is branded as Nikko binoculars. (the company is today known as Nikon). The serial number has been scratched out. |
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The J.E.S. mark Japan Engineering Standards #13554 |
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My Japanese 6 x 9.3 ° binoculars are Japanese army issued and have a right ocular graticule or ranging grid. The Mt. Fuji mark is that of Fuji Shashin Kōki K.K. ( 富士写真光機㈱ , which later became Fuji Film Co, and whose factories were involved in WWII producing optical glass and related products including aerial cameras and apparently Japanese army binoculars, which the Japanese army actively promoted from the 1930’s. (thanks to Andrey Berdnikov/ Андрей Бердников of the USSR for identification). |
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WWII Japanese Army 6 x 9.3 ° military binoculars, with graticule Tokyo Dai Ichi Rikugun Zoheisho |
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NIKKO logo |
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My 6 x 9.3 ° binoculars are Japanese army issued, and are of a typical Japanese military pattern, and have a right ocular graticule or ranging grid. The star circle mark is of the Tokyo Dai Ichi Rikugun Zoheisho ( 東京第一陸軍造兵廠 ) / Tokyo 1st Army Arsenal (thanks to Andreydrey Berdnikov/ Андрей Бердников of the USSR for identification). These would be very typical of a US soldier bring back item, and virtually all Japanese binoculars encountered by U.S. soldiers were brought home. |
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The J.E.S. mark is Japan Engineering Standards #13554 |
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WWII Japanese Takatiho Optical Co. Ltd Army 7x50mm military binoculars ser. #3063 |
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My WWII Takatiho 7x50mm binoculars Serial #3063 were made by Takatiho Optical Co. Ltd. , and are marked on the left side 目盛入 ( with scale/ reticule/ range grid) and I believe they have a 空 in circle marking indicating Army or Air Force use. The pivot has the marking of the Naval Chief Inspector, Tokyo Arsenal, and has the marking of the Toyokawa naval Arsenal/ Toyokawa kaigun kōshō/ 豊川海軍工廠 . (thanks to Andrey Berdnikov/ Андрей Бердников of the USSR for arsenal mark identifications). Translation help for kanji case marking to: miniature.binoculars@ gmail.com.). Hand held Takatiho military binoculars do not seem common, and the 3063 serial number seems quite low. |
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WWII Nippon Kōgaku Kōgyō Kabushikigaisha ( 日本光学工業株式会社 ) Novar 日本光学 丿 バ一 Japanese Army 7x50 military binoculars #59568 |
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My WWII era Nikko Japanese senior officers military 7x50 binoculars serial number 59568, with right ocular graticule/ ranging grid were made by Nippon Kōgaku Kōgyō Kabushikigaisha ( 日本光学工業株式会社 " Japan Optical Industries Co., Ltd."), with the successor company today known as Nikon. They came with their canvas case. The marking 日本光学 means “Nippon Kogaku”. The marking 目盛入 means “with scale” which is the graticule or ranging grid, and the marking 丿 バ一 is the Kanji phonetic equivalent of “Novar” |
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1942 U.S. ATTD/ ALCOHOL TAX DIV OF IRS PROPERTY DOCUMENTED ex U.S. Army M9 Universal Camera Corp. 6x30 binoculars W.P.B. (War Production Board) marked |
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1944 U.S. FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION PROPERTY MARKED Spencer Lens Co Buffalo NY ex U.S. Navy Mark 30 Mod. 0 binoculars |
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My 1944 US Navy Mark 30 Mod. 0 binoculars were made by Spencer Lens Co. of Buffalo NY for the US Navy, and were subsequently obtained and owned by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Equipment like binoculars that were surplus to US military needs were made available to U.S. government agencies by the US Surplus Property Act of 1944 Statute 756,50a/US Code, and so were widely used by any agency that could use them. |
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U.S. FBI #22 PROPERTY MARKED SARD ex BU. Aero/ Bureau of Aeronautics U.S. Navy Mark 21 Military Binoculars |
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Carry Case Property Markings |
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As WWII ended, the US had huge quantities of military surplus to deal with. A neighbor who served in a US WWII Army motor pool in the pacific told me they were ordered to install all their vehicle spare parts onto vehicles. And then all these vehicles were promptly placed on barges and taken past the reef and dumped in the sea. Instant solution to pesky surplus. (...plus the US govt. actually had agreements with domestic automotive makers, particularly Ford, not to return surplus military vehicles into the US market). The US Surplus Property Act of 1944 Statute 756,50a/US Code gave federal agencies priority to receive any war surplus goods they could reutilize. So, though not commonly seen, it explains the FBI 22 marking and the two federal agency asset labels on my WWII era Navy Mark 21 SARD Bu. Aero binoculars, which were built by the Kollsman Instrument Co. div. of the Square D Co. under their June 1942-Feb 1943 contract 88-B-320 from the newly created U.S. Navy purchasing agency BU. Aero/ Bureau of Aeronautics. The newer bar code asset tag appears to be in code 39 format, which the DOD/ Department of Defense adopted in 1981 and other federal agencies adopted soon after. |
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the FBI 22 marking is presumably a field office item log number for non assigned equipment: ie: the property log that Agent A logged out binoculars# 22 for an assignment on Jan 5,1965 and then returned them Jan 20,1965. |
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Two U.S. SECRET SERVICE PROPERTY MARKED 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 also like these. Even with 1,400 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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Early 1930’s Huet Aerix 16x50 MG (Minist è re de la Guerre ) French Army military binoculars with EXTREMELY LOW production serial number of # 16. |
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My Huet Aerix 16x50 binoculars were made by the Societ é Generale d’Optique, as marked in the case, and both binoculars and case are “ MG ” military property marked (Minist è re de la Guerre). They have an unusually low serial number of 16, of a model of military binoculars not frequently encountered, and probably were not produced in particularly large quantity. The low serial number (217) of another known example held by the on line binoculars museum fernglasmuseum.at is also suggestive of low overall production quantities. (speculative). These binoculars feature an unusual elaborate telescoping friction rod bridge system, to fix the inter ocular distance in a more positive way than pivot friction (which works less well on big and heavy binoculars like these), while allowing quicker adjustment than using a threaded rod and lock wheel. This is presumably partly because with the high 16x power eye placement has to be unusually exact for a clear view by both eyes, and a person would not want to fiddle to get it set with every use. But it is also probably related to indexing the profiled eyeshades. The case is wide enough to not have to fold the binoculars to fit. No graticule/ range grid and so marked. |
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WWII Chiyomitsu 千代光 Japanese Navy 7x 7 ° 10 ′ military binoculars serial #2935 w/ graticule |
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My WWII Chiyomitsu 千代光 7x7 ° 10 ′ binoculars Serial #2965 have the Japanese naval property marking 航 in circle, and the marking indicating “with scale” 目盛入 on the left plate, and the marking indicating “with rule/ divider “ 規 on the right plate. I have not found information on Chiyomitsu as an optics firm, and welcome help. |
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WWII Japanese Army 6 x 9.3 ° military binoculars, unidentified maker |
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My 6 x 9.3 ° binoculars are Japanese army issued, of a typical Japanese military pattern, without reticule, with maker logo I am unfamiliar with. |
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Ca. 1907 Carl Zeiss Feldstecher 8 Facht sold by E. B. Mayrowitz of New York and property marked to the State Of New Jersey (USA) Dept of Conservation and Development. |
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My Carl Zeiss Jena Feldstecher 8 FACHT (8 power) binoculars serial no. 59929 were produced in Germany around 1907. They are stamped No. 1 which is probably a property number (binocular #1), and are also marked as sold by Mayrowitz of NYC, and are engraved as property of the State of New Jersey Dept of Conservation and Development, which was formed in 1915, probably transferred from the precedent organization. This organization later transformed into the current New Jersey DEP/ Dept of Environmental Protection. |
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Carl E.B. Mayrowitz is an optical retailer opened in New York City in 1875, and who also had locations in London and Paris, and who still exists in a NYC location. |
WWII Toko 東京光学 Tokyo Kogaku Kikai Kabushikikaisha (Tokyo Optical Co. Ltd.) Japanese army 6x9.3 military binoculars |
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My WWII Toko 6x Japanese were made by Tokyo Kogaku Kikai Kabushikikaisha , who was founded in 1932 to make various Japanese army optical goods. The successor company is now known as Topcon. |
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The J.E.S. mark is Japan Engineering Standards #13554 |
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The right ocular ring has this engraved mark. If you can identify it contact us: miniature.binoculars@gmail.com |
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誰 もがこのロゴを認識している場合は、私に連絡してください: If anyone recognizes this logo contact me at: miniature.binoculars@gmail.com |
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The case was marked to Bailey Bridges of Canyon City Colorado, who was probably Army Air Corps Sgt. John Bailey Bridges of Canyon City Co. who served in Japan in 1945, and returned to Canyon City. |
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NON MINIATURE BINOCULARS & OPTICS: MOSTLY MILITARY |
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I.K.K./ Inoue K.K. WWII Japanese Army 6 x 9.3 binoculars |
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My WWII era I.K.K. marked IJA/ Imperial Japanese Army 6 x 9.3 binoculars with right ocular graticule/ ranging grid. I believe I.K.K. to be Inoue Kogaku Kogyo (and a Japanese enthusiast agrees). I have seen other I.K.K. marked WWII 6x9.3 binoculars, and 1952 dated “I.K.K. Tokio” logo plus “Orient” logo 8x25 civilian binoculars, and in 1959 binocular maker Inoue Optical Co. Ltd. had offices at 2-658 Hiratsuka, Shinagawa, Tokyo and a factory at 13 Naga-machi, Itabashi-ku Tokyo. The binoculars strap and case are kanji marked: 漢字翻訳 お願いします (kanji translation help please... miniature.binoculars@gmail.com). |
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J.E.S. mark is Japan Engineering Standards # 13554 |
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IKK 第 2 次世界大戦 の日本軍用双眼鏡 |
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Two WWII E.K. /Enomoto Kogaku Seiki K.K. 榎本光学精機製作 WWII Imperial Japanese Army 6 x, 9.3 ° binoculars, serial numbers 63849 and 88929, with right ocular graticule |
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My two WWII era E.K. made IJA/ Imperial Japanese Army 6 x, 9.3 ° binoculars serial numbers 63849 and 88929 are typical of an approved Japanese military pattern, and have a right ocular graticule/ ranging grid. These type binoculars are normally thought of as infantry & mobile artillery officers equipment. E.K. is the abbreviation for Enomoto Kogaku Seiki K.K.( Enomoto Optical Instruments Works/ 榎本光学精機製作 所 ) , which was a Japanese optics assembling manufacturer founded in 1934. They produced quantities of WWII Japanese military and ordinance optics. “ Fuji Shashin Kōki K.K. ( 富士写真光機㈱ , meaning "Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd.") was founded in 1944, from the assets of Enomoto Kōgaku Seiki Seisakusho ( 榎本光学精機製作所 ), but this was absorbed back into Fuji Shashin Film ( 富士写真 フィルム㈱ ) after 1945.” (quote credit Wikepedia). Enomoto contributed the Meibo name that Fuji Photo Optical subsequently used on some of their post war civilian binoculars. |
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J.E.S. mark is Japan Engineerin g Standards # 13554 |
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J.E.S. mark is Japan Engineerin g Standards # 13554 |
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Tokyo Arsenal mark |
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Toyokawa naval Arsenal mark |
