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Ww1 /ww2 voigtlander &sohn binoculars with General lumsden inscription


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Hello . I have a pair of very old binoculars made by voigtlander &sohn . found in my aunts attic .After looking at them closely  I found the inscription General lumsden on them . I wondered then if they were military and if they belonged to this person.other inscription is new bond street London and another inscription reads callaghan sole agent by appointment. 

I would very much appreciate any information you military buffs could provide as I find them fascinating. Kind regards 

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According to Webster's database, Callaghan was operating from that address around 1860.

 

The binos are Galilean, and would be appropriate to that period or a little later.

Voigtlander may have made them and distributed them via Callaghan as agents, but the style looks French rather than German, so it's just possible that Voigtlander had them made in France and sold them on to Callaghan, who retailed them.

 

Galileans like this were still used in WW1, but were obsolescent for most purposes due to the appearance of prismatics.

 

If they did belong to a General Lumsden, Sir Harry Burnett Lumsden or Sir Peter Stark Lumsden seem the most likely candidates. HB served in India, retiring in 1875 to Scotland. I'd think it also possible that Callaghan called them the 'General Lumsden' model for advertising purposes - I don't know if he'd even have needed that officer's permission to do so. If they did belong to the individual it would have been more usual to include the initials.

Edited by MikB
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