Is This the First Swift Binocular? (1 Viewer)

H

henry link

Well-known member

• Jul 5, 2010

• #1

I found this 8x30 IF binocular sitting on a shelf at a friend's vacation cabin. It was bought by her father long ago. The most primitive traits are uncoated optics and the "made in occupied Japan" label. The lettering inside the triangular logo appears to spell "kogo". I would guess this binocular was produced for the military during the war, then post-war simply put back into production unchanged for export.

I noticed Simon also has a very early Swift 7x50 in his collection, but that appears to be a little later production with "coated optics".

Unfortunately, the condition is terrible. Collimation is shot and there is a luxuriant garden of fungi growing inside.

 

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Simon S

Well-known member

• Jul 5, 2010

• #2

Could be an early model.
Like mine....
http://www.flickr.com/photos/binoculars/3990000691/in/set-72157623273111441/

 

S

spyglass

Djoo c it? Wut wuzit?

• Jul 7, 2010

• #3

Henry, from what I can recall from a conversation about 8-9 yrs ago with Bruce (DRHLN), who was Swift's East Coast Sales Mgr (and unofficial company historian), the first Anderson & Swift binos were imported from Japan in the late 20's. I think he said he wasn't sure of the exact model, but believed it was a 6x25 Zeiss-style IF, almost certainly uncoated.

 

elkcub

Silicon Valley, California

• Jul 8, 2010

• #4

Spyglass/Henry,

I have a 1931-2 S&A catalog. At that time, all their binoculars were German or French made. Depending on one's definition, therefore, those given the S&A logo might be considered the "First Swift Binoculars."

This was probably one of S&A's first Japanese made imports, (unless recollections prove to be accurate about Japanese imports during the late 1920s.) I find it interesting that during the post-war period (1945-51) the company was already using the registered reticle or "bullseye" mark, which can be seen at the bottom of the 1959 catalog.

In any case, it's a very nice collector's item. :t:

Ed

 

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R

rdmadison

Well-known member

• Aug 1, 2010

• #5

They deserve to be cleaned and collimated.
I had my beat-up pair of successor-generation Swift/Vega 8x30 restored by NRC and they are a sweet, useful optic--and this from a guy who doesn't normally like 8x.

 

Simon S

Well-known member

• Sep 22, 2010

• #6

Yes give them a good clean Henry, they are history!

 

R

rdmadison

Well-known member

• Oct 10, 2010

• #7

See the 1957 logo for Katsuma on Peter Abrahams's binocular site. Not quite the same--KOC instead of KOCo--but close, very close.

 

H

henry link

Well-known member

• Oct 10, 2010

• #8

Looks too close to be coincidental doesn't it?

 

J

John Dracon

John Dracon

• Oct 10, 2010

• #9

My experience and reading about fungus(or fungi) on optical glass suggests that the growth can be stopped from spreading, but the organism actually etches or eats the glass on the surface and renders the glass under it useless for optics. I have attempted to remove fungus several times from both lens and prisms. Waste of my time.

The U.S. Military during WWII studied ways to keep so-called waterproof binoculars from becoming "infected" with fungi without much success. Evidently, microscopic spoors are the culprit. Interestingly, Borneo, the home of one of our frequently contributors, is a real hot spot for fungi afflicted binoculars. The spoors can grow in air tight containers.
John

 

Simon S

Well-known member

• Dec 28, 2010

• #10

FWIW I have removed the spiderweb type without any damage to the glass or coatings.
The other types often destroy coatings and less often glass.