20x120 Toko Big Eye binoculars

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

As it is in such great shape, I do doubt it actually got installed on a ship, as most of the Imperial Japanese Navy was decorating various parts of the sea floor, after being relieved from the shackles of positive buoyancy by the end of the war

I couple of vessels did survive in various stages of disrepair, which should shorten the search for candidates. The only battleship to survive was the Nagato. The only other names of major ships I have come up with are the heavy cruisers Aoba, Myōkō, and Takao, the light cruisers Kitakami, Kashima, and Sakawa, the fleet aircraft carriers Katsuragi, Jun'yō, Ryūhō, and Hōshō, and finally the escort carriers Kaiyō and Kumano Maru. Some further craft may have survived. I doubt smaller craft would be equipped with such big binoculars, though I might be wrong.

[Callred1975]

That’s a great post with lots of good historical information Michael.  Thanks 

[Ships and Stars]

Could they have been shore-based obsy binoculars to detect approaching aircraft, etc? 

[Callred1975]

Quite possibly.  At this point, your guess is as good as mine.

[Callred1975]

I feel like a kid on Christmas.

[Callred1975]

For perspective’s sake, I’m 6ft 1 inch and weigh 260lbs.

[Callred1975]

Big Eyes on their custom made mount.

After picking them up for the first time, they definitely weigh more than the 36lbs I was told.

I’d say they weigh between 50-60lbs.  I’ll weigh them later and post the exact weight.

[Callred1975]

Duh.

 

it’s right in my own post.

 

23.3 kg or 51.37 lbs.

[JeremyS]

13 hours ago, Callred1975 said:

I feel like a kid on Christmas

And so you should! They look amazing.

[Callred1975]

I spoke with Cory Suddarth at Suddarth Optical and I’ve decided to let him do a complete restoration on them (IPD, eccentric rings & focusers cleaned out and re-lubed. All lenses cleaned, seated and re-sealed. Collimation and zero diopters set on their US Navy collimator, and all bare metal polished to a mirror finish)..

After Cory’s finished with them, they will be like new inside and out.

[Callred1975]

Just an update...

I have had a chance to look through them both terrestrially and at the night sky. The image is spectacular through the right eye with virtually no chromatic aberration. Focus is sharp and stars are nice and round nearly to the edge. The independent focuser for the left eye works, but it feels stiff, not smooth like the right one. I’m not quite able to achieve focus on the left. I will be shipping them to Cory Suddarth with the next few weeks and that will be corrected during the refurbishment he’s going to do on them for me.

[JOC]

Those are most def. stonking binoculars!

[Callred1975]

Thanks JOC!  
I learned a new word today.

”Stonking”

yeah.....  I’ll definitely be using that one.

 

Just an update...

I have had a chance to look through them both terrestrially and at the night sky. The image is spectacular through the right eye with virtually no chromatic aberration. Focus is sharp and stars are nice and round nearly to the edge. The independent focuser for the left eye works, but it feels stiff, not smooth like the right one. I’m not quite able to achieve focus on the left. I will be shipping them to Cory Suddarth with the next few weeks and that will be corrected during the refurbishment he’s going to do on them for me.

[RT65CB-SWL]

Keep us updated once they have been overhauled/restored.

GB/UK 🇬🇧 variations of the word: stonking - amazing, awesome, considerable, excellent, powerful,... the Dictionary of Contemporary Slang defines the word as an all-purpose intensifying adjective.

Edited April 1, 2020 by Philip R

[Callred1975]

I like it!

 

 I will definitely be adding it to my verbal repertoire. 

[BLUEThumb]

WOW They are superb  looking forward to see some images of their capability's

[Callred1975]

After further consideration, I’ve decided to see if a collector would like to purchase them before I have Cory Suddarth at Suddarth optical refurbish them.  I love these big binos, but I really want a pair for regular use and these are too rare (in my opinion) to risk screwing them up using them regularly.  Before I have any kind of modification/refurbishment performed on them to make them fit my needs, I figured I would see if someone wants them in their current condition.  I haven’t had them long, but I think I’ll experience physical pain when I do sell them.🙁
If no-one wants to buy them, then I’ll take that as the “Telescope Gods” telling me they are meant to be mine. 😁

Edited April 9, 2020 by Callred1975