Renze de Vries
Well-known member
+/- 1966 I'd say
Last edited:
+/- 1966 I'd say
Hi Renze,
I have looked at the europa.com site to try to determine the approximate age of my 8x30 BGA IF, # 1372xxx binoculars, but was unable to find the IF's. Could you possibly date them for me?
Thank you, John
1969.
MAK,
According to the one source available to us (http://home.europa.com/~telscope/zeissbn2.txt) the 6.5 deg. Zeiss Oberkochen 8x30B porro - which is the type we're talking about - was made from 1958 through 1968.
When you date the serial number 702969, which is only halfway the sn's assigned to this type, to 1969, does this mean you have information the years of production as mentioned are not correct, i.e. the 6.5 deg. type 8x30B was made for a longer time?
Renze
The information available suggests that the unit in question was constructed in 1969.MAK
Hi,
There is no list available where Zeiss West binoculars' models and serial numbers are linked to years of production (and/or delivery dates). So I made one myself, by collecting data from all kinds of sources, mostly eBay. Took me some years, and while my dbase is not perfect (at one point I decided to slow down a bit of fear to end up in mental hospital) I'm able to predict things pretty accurately. Even more accurate than Zeiss itself, I'd say. What you need, next to sn's, are the years of production of models (and their updates) and certain landmarks, for instance changes in coating or special editions introduced in a specific year.
With respect to the Zeiss West 8x30B Dialyt, in general there are two types, differing in shape and size. The first is the long version, made from 1964 through 1969, the second is the short version, made from 1969 on. See the pictures attached. The short type was modified several times: T-coating, P-coating, black armour. There have been changes in nomenclature also, but these are of minor consequence.
Of great help in dating these early 8x30 Dialyts is a special edition issued in 1971 to commemmorate Zeiss' 125th anniversary. The serial numbers on these types are round about # 898391, so everything higher or lower is newer resp. older.
cheers,
Renze
Thought I'd give you an update and some 'after' pictures, now that the correct-sized eyecups have finally arrived from Zeiss! ...........