Carl Zeiss, Jena Feldstecher 6X18 (View 1)
Manufacturer/Model: Carl Zeiss, Jena Feldstecher 6X18
Field of View: 6.8 deg = 120 m/1,000 m; APFOV 41.4 deg
Weight: 412 gr
Exit Pupil: 3 mm
Serial #/Year of Manufacture: 3194 = 1901
Notes: Carl Zeiss Jena’s Feldstecher binoculars which were introduced in 1894 and made until 1907 were the world’s first commercially manufactured prismatic binoculars. They were made in 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 powers together with a similarly built Jagdglas in 5 and 7.5 powers and several military (designated D.F. and O.D.F.) models. During this period they underwent numerous modifications resulting in variations some of which are - 1) Font: From 1894 to 1904 all markings were in cursive script whereas afterward most models were marked in Roman font. 2) Eyepieces: The earliest models had a one-piece vulcanite eyecup/focus ring/ dioptre scale (the very earliest had no dioptre scale); intermediate models had a one-piece vulcanite eyecup/focus ring plus a separate metal dioptre scale; and later models had a vulcanite eyecup plus a separate metal focus ring and metal diopter scale. 3) Interpupillary distance (IPD) scale: Until 1900 the ocular hinge end was covered with an unmarked flat metal cap (on earliest examples the magnification was written on the cap) when it was replaced by a marked IPD plate. 4) Prism plate metals: The prism plates were usually made of brass although aluminum ones were not uncommon. 5) Objective lens diameter: The earliest 4x and 6x Feldstechers had respectively 11 mm and 15mm diameter objective lenses which within several years were enlarged to 14 mm and 18 mm ones. 6) Strap lugs: The neck strap lugs were at the end of a metal strip screwed onto the bottom of the binocular and can vary in length depending on the model of the binocular and the year manufactured. This information about the variations in early Zeiss binoculars is taken from Thomas Antoniades’ superb article, “Notes on the identification, numbering and annual and individual production of early Carl Zeiss Binoculars (1894-1907) 5th Edition” 2011, which is available at this site: www.europa.com/~telscope/binotele.htm (see the articles titled Production of Carl Zeiss Binoculars 1894-1908. By Thomas Antoniades. --(Word doc) and ...Production of Carl Zeiss Binoculars 1894-1908, Dates and Numbers. By Thomas Antoniades --(Excel file)).
The original markings on this binocular have been badly worn or intentionally removed. Some portions appear to have been either expertly re-engraved or else left intact if the other markings were intentionally removed. The original markings on the left prism plate were: Carl Zeiss, Jena over D.R.P. [Deutsche Reichs Patent] and on the right prism plate Feldstecher over Vergr. [Vergrößerung= magnification] = 6. The original Zeiss serial number, 3194, is marked on the bottom edge of the right hinge plate. As detailed by Mr. Antoniades, Zeiss binoculars manufactured between 1896-1907 were serial numbered according to model and magnification, and Zeiss serial numbers did not become generally sequential for all binoculars until 1908. Thus, although according to a generally sequential serial number table the binocular appears to have been manufactured in 1896, it was actually made in 1901. The No. 3 Mk. II marking atop the left prism plate is a British Army designation for a 6x24 prismatic binocular with graticule (curious because the binocular has no graticule with no internal evidence of one ever being installed nor does it have a 24 mm objective), and the IM 4205 atop the right plate is believed (based on other examples) to be an Australian Army serial/inventory number for a civilian binocular utilized for military service. The D/|\D marking on each objective plate (see View 2: www.flickr.com/photos/binocwpg/31304121986/in/photostream/ ) is an Australian Army property marking. There are also D/|\D markings stamped at each end of the leather neck strap, but these are faint and could not be well photographed.
Considering this Feldstecher was manufactured in 1901 and has Australian Army markings, one would think it was used in WW I. But if the Lithgow Small Arms Factory Museum is correct in stating that on Australian SMLE rifles the D/|\D marking was used only “pre WW I, then 1920’s to 1960’s” (see “FS-001 Markings on Australian SMLE Rifles” at: www.lithgowsafmuseum.org.au/ ) , it may be that the binocular was impressed for service during WW II. This seems even more likely when one considers that in the first years of the war the Australian military experienced a severe shortage of binoculars: “In the middle of the war there was still a need for binoculars for the Services, and in 1941 the Australian Government decided to impress all civilian binoculars with optical properties similar to the services specifications... Some 18,500 binoculars were impressed of which 8,000 were of good enough quality to be used... The effort of testing and reconditioning the binoculars was formidable. Had they been all of one type then some kind of mass production could have been organized...the Physics Laboratory of the University of Sydney... reconditioned about half the instruments and reported that there were 400 types of binoculars.”( taken from “Optical instruments in Australia in the 1939-45 war: successes and lost opportunities” by H.C. Bolton at: www.asap.unimelb.edu.au/bsparcs/exhib/papers/bolton2.htm )
Note: If you have a vintage binocular you either wish to sell or would just like some information about, I can be contacted at flagorio12@gmail.com
Carl Zeiss, Jena Feldstecher 6X18 (View 1)
Manufacturer/Model: Carl Zeiss, Jena Feldstecher 6X18
Field of View: 6.8 deg = 120 m/1,000 m; APFOV 41.4 deg
Weight: 412 gr
Exit Pupil: 3 mm
Serial #/Year of Manufacture: 3194 = 1901
Notes: Carl Zeiss Jena’s Feldstecher binoculars which were introduced in 1894 and made until 1907 were the world’s first commercially manufactured prismatic binoculars. They were made in 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 powers together with a similarly built Jagdglas in 5 and 7.5 powers and several military (designated D.F. and O.D.F.) models. During this period they underwent numerous modifications resulting in variations some of which are - 1) Font: From 1894 to 1904 all markings were in cursive script whereas afterward most models were marked in Roman font. 2) Eyepieces: The earliest models had a one-piece vulcanite eyecup/focus ring/ dioptre scale (the very earliest had no dioptre scale); intermediate models had a one-piece vulcanite eyecup/focus ring plus a separate metal dioptre scale; and later models had a vulcanite eyecup plus a separate metal focus ring and metal diopter scale. 3) Interpupillary distance (IPD) scale: Until 1900 the ocular hinge end was covered with an unmarked flat metal cap (on earliest examples the magnification was written on the cap) when it was replaced by a marked IPD plate. 4) Prism plate metals: The prism plates were usually made of brass although aluminum ones were not uncommon. 5) Objective lens diameter: The earliest 4x and 6x Feldstechers had respectively 11 mm and 15mm diameter objective lenses which within several years were enlarged to 14 mm and 18 mm ones. 6) Strap lugs: The neck strap lugs were at the end of a metal strip screwed onto the bottom of the binocular and can vary in length depending on the model of the binocular and the year manufactured. This information about the variations in early Zeiss binoculars is taken from Thomas Antoniades’ superb article, “Notes on the identification, numbering and annual and individual production of early Carl Zeiss Binoculars (1894-1907) 5th Edition” 2011, which is available at this site: www.europa.com/~telscope/binotele.htm (see the articles titled Production of Carl Zeiss Binoculars 1894-1908. By Thomas Antoniades. --(Word doc) and ...Production of Carl Zeiss Binoculars 1894-1908, Dates and Numbers. By Thomas Antoniades --(Excel file)).
The original markings on this binocular have been badly worn or intentionally removed. Some portions appear to have been either expertly re-engraved or else left intact if the other markings were intentionally removed. The original markings on the left prism plate were: Carl Zeiss, Jena over D.R.P. [Deutsche Reichs Patent] and on the right prism plate Feldstecher over Vergr. [Vergrößerung= magnification] = 6. The original Zeiss serial number, 3194, is marked on the bottom edge of the right hinge plate. As detailed by Mr. Antoniades, Zeiss binoculars manufactured between 1896-1907 were serial numbered according to model and magnification, and Zeiss serial numbers did not become generally sequential for all binoculars until 1908. Thus, although according to a generally sequential serial number table the binocular appears to have been manufactured in 1896, it was actually made in 1901. The No. 3 Mk. II marking atop the left prism plate is a British Army designation for a 6x24 prismatic binocular with graticule (curious because the binocular has no graticule with no internal evidence of one ever being installed nor does it have a 24 mm objective), and the IM 4205 atop the right plate is believed (based on other examples) to be an Australian Army serial/inventory number for a civilian binocular utilized for military service. The D/|\D marking on each objective plate (see View 2: www.flickr.com/photos/binocwpg/31304121986/in/photostream/ ) is an Australian Army property marking. There are also D/|\D markings stamped at each end of the leather neck strap, but these are faint and could not be well photographed.
Considering this Feldstecher was manufactured in 1901 and has Australian Army markings, one would think it was used in WW I. But if the Lithgow Small Arms Factory Museum is correct in stating that on Australian SMLE rifles the D/|\D marking was used only “pre WW I, then 1920’s to 1960’s” (see “FS-001 Markings on Australian SMLE Rifles” at: www.lithgowsafmuseum.org.au/ ) , it may be that the binocular was impressed for service during WW II. This seems even more likely when one considers that in the first years of the war the Australian military experienced a severe shortage of binoculars: “In the middle of the war there was still a need for binoculars for the Services, and in 1941 the Australian Government decided to impress all civilian binoculars with optical properties similar to the services specifications... Some 18,500 binoculars were impressed of which 8,000 were of good enough quality to be used... The effort of testing and reconditioning the binoculars was formidable. Had they been all of one type then some kind of mass production could have been organized...the Physics Laboratory of the University of Sydney... reconditioned about half the instruments and reported that there were 400 types of binoculars.”( taken from “Optical instruments in Australia in the 1939-45 war: successes and lost opportunities” by H.C. Bolton at: www.asap.unimelb.edu.au/bsparcs/exhib/papers/bolton2.htm )
Note: If you have a vintage binocular you either wish to sell or would just like some information about, I can be contacted at flagorio12@gmail.com