Binocular Identifcation ??

[Telescope40]

Hello all. Just bit of help here maybe from knowledgeable people on this forum. Always been intrigued by a pair of binos ( see pic ) from a book I was bought by my Uncle back at Christmas in 1974 !!!  Star and Planet spotting - A field guide to the Night Sky. One of my most treasured astro items. 

Photo in the book shows a bunch of differing binos sat on a garden table. Very interested to know if anyone can ID the big set at the back. I cant quite make out the markings on the side - maybe DF 10 x 80 but no makers name. They have always caught my attention whenever I had cause to pick the book up!! 

 

John 

Edited September 14, 2023 by Telescope40
Photos

[globular]

The large pair look a bit like Second World War 10 X 80 Flak Binoculars

https://www.bonhams.com/auction/21699/lot/89/a-pair-of-second-world-war-10-x-80-flak-binoculars-by-josef-schneider-kreuznach/

[doublevodka]

Almost certainly flak binoculars, look a lot like these on the "other" forum minus the extended dew shields - https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/570583-10x80-german-ww2-binoculars/

[Telescope40]

Thanks both @globular @doublevodka

After years of wondering, in minutes I have a result. I did think probably military. I have a pair of WW2 issue 6x30 binos made by Kershaw and Sons Leeds 1940 that I covet on the basis of their provenance. I do wonder what they have seen and been used by who ?? They work nicely for astro, I find, given their low power. 
If a firearm was placed to my head and I had to part with these binos or my FS128, the binos would stay. There - I said it. 
 

John 

Edited September 14, 2023 by Telescope40

[doublevodka]

15 minutes ago, Telescope40 said:

Thanks both @globular @doublevodka

After years of wondering, in minutes I have a result. I did think probably military. I have a pair of WW2 issue 6x30 binos made by Kershaw and Sons Leeds 1940 that I covet on the basis of their provenance. 
If a firearm was placed to my head and I had to part with these binos or my FS128, the binos would stay. There - I said it. 
 

John 

No problem 👍

I have similar feelings about some Zeiss 8X30's that I inherited from my grandfather, they're not anything special, made sometime in the late 70's I believe, but the views are fantastic, they're nice and light to hold and the family connection makes them something I'll never sell.

[F15Rules]

On 14/09/2023 at 12:18, Telescope40 said:

Hello all. Just bit of help here maybe from knowledgeable people on this forum. Always been intrigued by a pair of binos ( see pic ) from a book I was bought by my Uncle back at Christmas in 1974 !!!  Star and Planet spotting - A field guide to the Night Sky. One of my most treasured astro items. 

Photo in the book shows a bunch of differing binos sat on a garden table. Very interested to know if anyone can ID the big set at the back. I cant quite make out the markings on the side - maybe DF 10 x 80 but no makers name. They have always caught my attention whenever I had cause to pick the book up!! 

 

John 

Hi John,

Hope you're well🙂.

I thought the following might be of interest to you: I have the same book, but I also have Lancaster Brown's  later, and updated (1971) book, "What Star is That?"

I bought this in 1971 when I was 15. It cost me £3.50 which was a lot when my only income was c 50p per week!

I have always loved this book, you can see it is well used! 

These come up regularly on ebay and used books stores like W.O.B and Abe Books for a few pounds, and I have a second copy which is in very good condition..the one in the photos above is my original "field copy". 

The sky maps are great, (they go down to -40 degrees latitude) there are also useful variable star maps for identifying individual stars etc.

Finally, they came with a set of colour slides when new, and used copies often still have them..a bit old hat now of course, but a nice bit of nostalgia and quite "cool" when the book came out!

But back to your original post..my version of the book shows what I think are the same binoculars you were interested  in, and are clearly identified  there as being "10x80 binocular telescope, field 7.5 degree, (ex military reconnaissance) "..superb, I'm sure, for astro use..

But the instrument that I really used to covet was the big beast on the same page, see below.."25 x 105 binocular telescope, field 3 degrees  (ex military reconnaissance)"..amazing!!👌🤘👍😃.

Dave

[Saganite]

I too have Zeiss 8 x 30's , and agree they are exceptionally good.

Edited September 20, 2023 by Saganite

[wookie1965]

Thank you just sent for one of these books just over £5 with slides in very good order. 

[Telescope40]

9 hours ago, F15Rules said:

Hi John,

Hope you're well🙂.

I thought the following might be of interest to you: I have the same book, but I also have Lancaster Brown's  later, and updated (1971) book, "What Star is That?"

I bought this in 1971 when I was 15. It cost me £3.50 which was a lot when my only income was c 50p per week!

I have always loved this book, you can see it is well used! 

These come up regularly on ebay and used books stores like W.O.B and Abe Books for a few pounds, and I have a second copy which is in very good condition..the one in the photos above is my original "field copy". 

The sky maps are great, (they go down to -40 degrees latitude) there are also useful variable star maps for identifying individual stars etc.

Finally, they came with a set of colour slides when new, and used copies often still have them..a bit old hat now of course, but a nice bit of nostalgia and quite "cool" when the book came out!

But back to your original post..my version of the book shows what I think are the same binoculars you were interested  in, and are clearly identified  there as being "10x80 binocular telescope, field 7.5 degree, (ex military reconnaissance) "..superb, I'm sure, for astro use..

But the instrument that I really used to covet was the big beast on the same page, see below.."25 x 105 binocular telescope, field 3 degrees  (ex military reconnaissance)"..amazing!!👌🤘👍😃.

Dave

Evening Dave @F15Rules. Good to hear from you. All is good with me and hope the same with yourself.  Your post is a great read. Going to have to take a shufty on Fleabay re the book you kindly note. I've never seen it before TBH. 

Will be a nice addition to my smallish book collection I'm sure and will go nicely with the one my " Uncle Frank" purchased for me. It has been pretty well used and I like to have fun with it - checking where the planets are at the mo and looking in the index planet finder co ordinates pages of said book, to see where this matches from years ago  ( 70's/80's).  I'm happy to sound ancient because I am.  

I was intrigued re the binos that I flagged up since the book came into my possession (1974).  Had always coveted them somehow although the one's you refer to  ( 25 x 100) seemed totally beyond any sort of purchase. The 10 x 80 "flak" ex military binos always looked like they might be "reachable". Rather apt too. My Uncle Frank - (actually one of those Uncle's - friend of my dad's from the local hostelry) Great guy.  I only ever found out after Uncle Frank had passed that he was a D Day veteran. Went in on the beach that fateful morning !!!!! 

Also, I never really knew how he had managed to pick out this book for me. Dad could not help with an explanation. Possibly complete luck of the draw by all accounts. Along with the fabled Ladybird book of The Night Sky, the book has been with me throughout most of my astronomy adventures. 

There has not been much of that lately. 2 sessions since late June. I think most of us are in the same boat but knowing the FS128 is ready when I see fit is fine, for now !!  Even astro related purchases have dried up - that may about to change. 

Best regards    John 

 

[Peter Drew]

I have a German 10x80 Flak binocular.  They are very heavy compared to modern 80's.  They have wonderful wide angle independent focusing eyepieces and surprisingly false colour free images considering that they are faster than F4.     🙂

[wookie1965]

Book turned up great condition with the sleeve as well. 

[Telescope40]

And the same for me !!  Delivered this morning after the recommendation by Dave @F15Rules 

If cloud is about later I’ve a reading option for this evening. 👍👍 

John 

[F15Rules]

Nice one Wookie., and John (@Telescope40)..

The star maps are handy, as they're not too big and no need to be precious about the book getting marked etc🙂..

Dave

Edited September 23, 2023 by F15Rules

[josefk]

Thanks for that book recommendation @F15Rules - i  used to use transparency film many years ago (not for astro) and so i still have the kit to view slides. A few slides being included with this book has caught my attention - i hope they are still attached to the book when it arrives later this week. Depending on how they are mounted i may be able to project these pretty big somewhere; even "just" under a loupe they may be quite immersive versus a printed picture. 🤞

[josefk]

On 24/09/2023 at 07:44, josefk said:

Thanks for that book recommendation @F15Rules - i  used to use transparency film many years ago (not for astro) and so i still have the kit to view slides. A few slides being included with this book has caught my attention - i hope they are still attached to the book when it arrives later this week. Depending on how they are mounted i may be able to project these pretty big somewhere; even "just" under a loupe they may be quite immersive versus a printed picture. 🤞

Book came without slides! Nooooooooo!