Hi Renze, My dating of the years of production of the 6x24's was based primarily on my collection of consumer catalogues, almost every year from 1963, where there is no mention of the 6x24"s after 1965, and Dennis Laneys book. I have owned 3 pairs of 6x24's (currently own one), and have only ever seen about 4 other pairs. All of the ones I have seen have the round black dot and the stud type strap fastener. If some were produced with a different logo and modern strap lugs, this would certainly suggest later production. I have now checked my Leitz General Catalogues for the Leica System years 1966,1969, 1971,1972 and 1973 (these being the catalogues issued to, and for use by, Leitz authorized dealers) and showing the full lines of binoculars for those years, none include the 6x24. The only reference in these books is in the 1966 version which offers the cowhide flat case and eyepiece shields for the 6x24, but not the binoculars.Renze de Vries said:Hi,
I wonder if the years of production (1963-65) usually given for the Leitz Trinovid 6x24 are correct. Here's why:
During the Trinovid production (1963-1990) Leitz used 4 different company logo's. In chronological order: a handwritten Leitz signature, a black rectangle, a black dot and a red dot. The first two were used in the sixties, the third in the early seventies and the last one for the subsequent years.
The logo's usually seen on a 6x24 are the Leitz signature and the rectangle, however I have seen a few black dot-6x24's as well. Unlike the earlier two types, who come with a clip/stud strap attachment, these 'black dots' are equipped with a bridge (hook) to hold the strap and also feature soft rubber, fold-down eyecups (of a size also used for the non-B Trinovid types of other configurations).
What I mean to say here is, that for the identification of a 6x24 Trinovid it's not only the serial number that counts. It's also the logo and the strap attachment. If nitro270's Trinovid 6x24 has a black dot Leitz logo, a 'modern' strap fitting and short rubber eyecups, he can be pretty sure his binoculars were manufactured in the early 1970's. Now, what was his serial number again? Starting with 77? Well, this serial # dates his binoculars back to round about 1972. So everything fits, except of course the production years given by Dennis Laney and others.
Note: My impression is that the years of production given for the rubber armoured Leitz Trinovid 7x35 (1981-83) are also incorrect, i.e. too limited.
Renze
It is an interesting discussion, it would be so nice to have an authoritative listing to refer to wouldn't it?
Regards, John