WWII Kriesgmarine 7x50 in my local auction (1 Viewer)

Jane Turner

Well-known member

• Jun 9, 2012

• #1

I'm trying to find out if they are worth buying (to sell on) and a bit more about their history. While I'm doing my own research, I thought it would be worth asking here - since there is usually someone on BF who already knows the answer.

What is the T for, what is the year of manufacture?

They are in an original case and the collimation is fine, though they could do with a clean.

Of course if anyone wants me to get them on their behalf, just let me know.

 

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Last edited: Jun 9, 2012

Jane Turner

Well-known member

• Jun 9, 2012

• #2

So to answer my own questions.

T is Coated optics, 1939 looks to be the production year, and ARTL means they were issued to marine artillery.

 

Jane Turner

Well-known member

• Jun 9, 2012

• #3

Now with photos Doh!

 

N

normjackson

Well-known member

• Jun 9, 2012

• #4

I see South West Optics have a similar model asking £399 :
http://www.swoptics.co.uk/view.asp?KEY=3714
(I'm a philistine so I'd probably have gone for the mint- Kowa Genesis 8x33 at that price |:$|).

I'm sure someone here has a copy of Seeger who'll be able to help out.

 

Jane Turner

Well-known member

• Jun 9, 2012

• #5

Cheers Norm.

 

E

etudiant

Registered User

Supporter

• Jun 10, 2012

• #6

Would be useful to see the underside of the glass. The ocean going versions usually had ports for dessicant cartridges there. Absent such, these may have been for coastal artillery.
The glass is unfortunately not an Uboat model, which fetch much more.
The book on these is the monograph by Dr Hans T Seeger, 'Military Binoculars and Telescopes'. The Zeiss 7x50 gets a lot of coverage in that text.

 

Jane Turner

Well-known member

• Jun 10, 2012

• #7

I didn't notice anything out of the ordinary on the body - and I think the Artl. means it was marine Artillery

 

garymh

Binocular Engineer

• Jun 10, 2012

• #8

The "Artl." marking was used for both shipboard or land based coastal artillery.

Picture 1 shows the dessicant cartridge ports and picture 2 shows where they would be situated on the binocular being discussed.

 

Last edited: Jun 10, 2012

E

etudiant

Registered User

Supporter

• Jun 10, 2012

• #9

The cartridge ports would be covered openings on the flat prism housings, to either side of the hinge pin.
Seeger has some photos of Zeiss glass with an Artl. marking very similar to that on your glass.
There was considerable variety of the inscriptions on military binoculars and yours come close to the prize for 'most inscribed', with the nazi eagle, the Zeiss logo, the T for coated lenses ( a process that had only been invented a few years prior), the M for navy property and the Artl. for artillery.

 

Jane Turner

Well-known member

• Jun 10, 2012

• #10

Cheers Guys. I'm fairly sure that I'd have seen that sort of modification. I can check again prior to the auction.

 

Jane Turner

Well-known member

• Jun 12, 2012

• #11

Definitely without dessicant. They sold for £270 (not to me)