Paulboll Posted 22 September , 2013 Author Share Posted 22 September , 2013 Hi MikB, Thanks for the info Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikB Posted 23 September , 2013 Share Posted 23 September , 2013 I should have added that with a Registration number in the range you have, best guess is that this glass was approved in early 1915. By 1916 the British optical industry was catching up with demand, and by the end of the war there were large surpluses. WD selling these off at low prices eventually took a number of instrument makers out of the market for optics altogether - for example, Negretti & Zambra produced a very wide-ranging catalogue of telescopes in 1921, but appear to have been out of that business only about a year later. Regards, MikB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulboll Posted 26 September , 2013 Author Share Posted 26 September , 2013 (edited) Hi I have S4 / m43 binoculars see attached with name J.Cpipps 1916 on them ? I had a look on line, found two men, which one do you think he could be. Paul Edited 26 September , 2013 by Paulboll Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancashire Fusilier Posted 26 September , 2013 Share Posted 26 September , 2013 Paul, One man was a Private in the Essex Regiment, the other was a Gunner in the RHA., who also served overseas in N.W. Persia. I would think it more likely that the RHA Gunner would have had more use for the binoculars, particularly in the landscape found in N.W. Persia. Regards, LF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Upton Posted 26 September , 2013 Share Posted 26 September , 2013 It is nice to see your Kershaw's being clearly dated 1918 for WW1, as I have seen inaccurate reports that Kershaw only started making binoculars for WW2. A strange rumour to have developed, seeing it is so easily disproved. There was a 1917 dated pair that ended on Ebay only the other day: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/A-Kershaw-Son-World-War-1-binoculars-Dated-1917-Royal-Garison-Artillery-/221283685207?pt=UK_Collectables_Militaria_LE&hash=item3385891357#ht_76wt_1281 And whilst not a pair of binoculars, there is this combined periscope/rangefinder dated 1918 by them with a few days still to go: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BRITISH-WW1-KERSHAW-No31-ALL-BRASS-PERISCOPE-TRANSIT-BOX-VERY-RARE-/281170484909?pt=UK_Collectables_Militaria_LE&hash=item4177111ead#ht_686wt_1251 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancashire Fusilier Posted 26 September , 2013 Share Posted 26 September , 2013 A strange rumour to have developed, seeing it is so easily disproved. There was a 1917 dated pair that ended on Ebay only the other day: Andrew, It was not a rumour, but rather inaccurate reports contained in Kershaw Company histories, and details of the products Kershaw made. It is obvious, that Kershaw were making binoculars during WW1. Regards, LF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulboll Posted 26 September , 2013 Author Share Posted 26 September , 2013 Thanks very much for your help LF, Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikB Posted 26 September , 2013 Share Posted 26 September , 2013 Andrew, It was not a rumour, but rather inaccurate reports contained in Kershaw Company histories, and details of the products Kershaw made. It is obvious, that Kershaw were making binoculars during WW1. Regards, LF Not unusual, unfortunately. One website for a famous British instrument maker casually denied that they ever made telescopes except possibly assembling components under subcontract, when I have a 1921 catalogue displaying a bewildering range of military, nautical and civilian scopes (some clearly in use in WW1), prefaced with the proud assertion that every component was manufactured in their own workshops. Factory moves, partial company collapses and sometimes deliberate destruction on takeover make records very patchy, chaotic and often impossible to track down. Regards, MikB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulboll Posted 26 September , 2013 Author Share Posted 26 September , 2013 (edited) Thanks Mikb, LF re S4 / m43 binoculars i think your right they are probably John Cripps. Edited 26 September , 2013 by Paulboll Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulboll Posted 26 September , 2013 Author Share Posted 26 September , 2013 (edited) Here's are another A Kershaw and son date 1917 see photo. Regards Paul Edited 26 September , 2013 by Paulboll Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulboll Posted 27 September , 2013 Author Share Posted 27 September , 2013 (edited) Another photo of my s4 /m43 with shot of case J Cripps 1916 Paul Edited 27 September , 2013 by Paulboll Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulboll Posted 30 September , 2013 Author Share Posted 30 September , 2013 Hi Does anyone have any info on BINOCULARS ( made by L. PETIT FABT PARIS ) WW1 Thanks Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulboll Posted 9 October , 2013 Author Share Posted 9 October , 2013 (edited) Photos of PETIT FABT PARIS any info on when they were made? Edited 9 October , 2013 by Paulboll Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulboll Posted 9 October , 2013 Author Share Posted 9 October , 2013 (edited) Hi I have also have an old Binoculars ww1 Ross of London any info on these would be great. Paul Edited 9 October , 2013 by Paulboll Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulboll Posted 9 October , 2013 Author Share Posted 9 October , 2013 (edited) Hi all, these are tiny, compare with the others. WW1 C.P.GOERZ BERLIN TRIEDER BINOCLE GERMAN Binoculars,any info on these would be great. Edited 9 October , 2013 by Paulboll Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikB Posted 9 October , 2013 Share Posted 9 October , 2013 Photos of PETIT FABT PARIS any info on when they were made? So far as I know, it's only possible to infer that these date from around or shortly before 1907, when the British Prismatic Mk.I was introduced. The fact that it's been accepted by WD as a 'Mk.V Special' means that it met the general specification of the Mk.V Galileans but wasn't manufactured originally to prime WD contract, as the Ross in the next pictures was. Mk.Vs were a 4.5x mag glass, quite high for a Galilean. The adoption of 'Specials' shows that there was already an awareness of the shortage of 'optical munitions', even before the war made this critical and brought about the introduction on the 'S.<n>' grading system under which either glass would have made an S.3. But this is really educated guesswork, derived from circumstantial knowledge. If anybody's got any relevant primary source purchasing documentation, they could prove me wrong. Regards, MikB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulboll Posted 9 October , 2013 Author Share Posted 9 October , 2013 Thanks MikB Regards Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikB Posted 10 October , 2013 Share Posted 10 October , 2013 The Goertz Trieders are almost certainly a pre-WW1 private purchase - very skilfully engraved, I see. They may be the 1904 model with that hinged bridge. I have an example of the 1899 model with rack and pinion interpupilary adjustment. They were considered a top-quality glass at the time, but those I've examined have sadly not aged well. They are difficult to clean internally, have a limited field of view, and seem to suffer more mechanical wear than other types. According to Fred Watson's booklet, the prism arrangement was designed to circumvent Zeiss' patent, still in force at the time, but also defeated the enhanced stereoscopic vision provided by the Zeiss' more widely-spaced objectives. Some current compact binos do the same or worse, for the sake of pocketability. Regards, MikB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulboll Posted 11 October , 2013 Author Share Posted 11 October , 2013 A.KERSHAW AND SON(S) LTD. 76 Woodhouse Lane, Leeds. Kershaw was a well established maker of photography equipment During the War they were appointed to manufacture prismatic binoculars, ( and also clinometers ). They recruited three key workers from Carl Zeiss ( London ) Ltd. at Mill Hill. One of the sons attended an intensive course on lens design at Imperial College. On 15 June 1916 the Company received an order for 25000 No 3 Mk I binoculars. The prisms were supplied by Barr and Stroud and the lens sets by Thomas Cooke and Son Ltd and Taylor, Taylor Hobson Ltd. Later Kershaw started manufacturing its own lenses. The Ministry considered they were generally better than those supplied by the other companies. By 29 December 1917 5798 had been delivered. From 4 February 1918 not less than 50% of production was to be of Mk II specification, ( with graticule ). Kershaw made binoculars of both Ross and Zeiss pattern construction. After the War Kershaw continued to manufacture binoculars for occasional military orders and for the commercial market. By 1930 their catalogue listed 26 models. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulboll Posted 11 October , 2013 Author Share Posted 11 October , 2013 W.WATSON AND SONS LTD. 313 High Holborn, London WC1. (The manufacturing works were situated in Barnet ) Watson started business in 1827 and were well known makers of optical and photographic equipment. They had also assisted Marconi in his wireless ventures and were developing X-Ray equipment. Prior to the outbreak of the War Watson had supplied 2600 prismatic binoculars to the Army. On 22 June 1915 Watson obtained an order for 2000 No 3 (Mk unspecified ), which was completed by 31 March 1917. On 12 November 1915 there was an order for 500 No 2 Mk I’s with 427 delivered by 31 March 1917 and one for 5000 No 3 Mk I’s, less than 300 had been delivered by 31 March 1917. On 12 October 1916 there were orders for 2500 No 3 Mk I’s and 300 No 2 Mk I’s. Deliveries by 31 March 1917 were 303 and 220 respectively. On 12 November 1917 2000 Admiralty Pattern 343 binoculars ( 6 X 30 ) were ordered, none had been delivered by 29 December 1917. By 25 March 1919 1056 had been delivered permission was given to complete a further 90. The balance of 854 was to be ‘Liquidated ‘. Of the 800 No 2 Mk I’s ordered 772 had been delivered by 29 December 1917. On 29 May 1917 Watson received a ‘running’ contract for No 3 Mk I’s, 2488 were delivered by 29 December 1917, over 3000 were still due. 12 November 1918 the contract was terminated although the factory had material for another 1000. On 21 June 1917 there was a ’running’ contract for No 3 Mk II’s. By 29 December 1917 55 had been delivered and 830 were shown as being due. On 2 July 1918 there was a contract for 2000 binoculars, probably Admiralty Pattern 343’s. By 4 December 1918 760 had been delivered. On 6 December 1918 Watson was instructed to complete another 500. £1300 compensation was paid. It is possible there were other contracts as after the War Watson in its advertising claimed to have supplied 35000 binoculars. Watson developed a brass bodied binocular but it was not put into production. British patent No. 117847 refers. Some of their lenses were provided by the Guaranteed Lens Co. They had problems with fitting graticules. They also suffered a high rate of rejection from Woolwich mainly with faults with the glass. Like Kershaw Watson made binoculars in both Ross and Zeiss pattern construction. After the War Watson continued to manufacture binoculars. In 1922 Mr Watson-Baker represented the British binocular trade giving evidence to get the Government to further restrict German imports of optical and scientific instruments. They failed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikB Posted 11 October , 2013 Share Posted 11 October , 2013 That was interesting data, Paul. It's surprising that Kershaw had delivered only about 20% of a not-especially-large order by the end of 1917 - I wonder how long it took them to complete the rest? Considering how few were made, and how many have survived in good condition to the present, I think the misgivings on the construction of this glass must have been somewhat misplaced. Regards, MikB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulboll Posted 11 October , 2013 Author Share Posted 11 October , 2013 (edited) W Watson London photo, any idea how i can take apart to clean inside of lenses? Paul Edited 11 October , 2013 by Paulboll Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulboll Posted 12 October , 2013 Author Share Posted 12 October , 2013 All Sorted Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulboll Posted 13 October , 2013 Author Share Posted 13 October , 2013 (edited) Hi Can anyone id these Binoculars year not sure if ww1 or ww2 era or just old ??? they don't have crows feet so private purchase. they are German Carl Zeiss Jena, Telonar 12x 40. no 1409573 see photos Paul Edited 13 October , 2013 by Paulboll Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Filsell Posted 13 October , 2013 Share Posted 13 October , 2013 Why on arth were binoculars used in a Smarties advert? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now