Any idea of PLDS binoculars Model 70650? (1 Viewer)

tviano · Oct 15, 2020

Hi,
I've had this pair of binoculars for well over 30 years (there are ticket stubs in the case from 1989!).

They were my grandfathers, and I started wondering how old they are. I've found similar looking on the web, but not the same. They have these markings:

P.L.D.S
Coated Optics

7X50
7.1 degrees
No 70650

The cap on the hinge (spine?) says Made in Japan and what appears to be the letters KM.

Any info or other ideas of where to look find out more would be great. Thanks!

Pinewood · Oct 15, 2020

Hello,

Here is a wild guess. It was a store label from P.... L... Department Stores.

Stay safe,
Arthur Pinewood :hi:

KC Foggin · Oct 15, 2020

I can't help you with your bins but I did want to wish you a warm welcome from those of us on staff here at BF

Binastro · Oct 15, 2020

A standard 7x50 Porroprism binocular.

KM might be Kamakura Japan?

Regards,
B.

WJC · Oct 15, 2020

Binastro said:
A standard 7x50 Porroprism binocular.

KM might be Kamakura Japan?

Regards,
B.

It is probably a store or company brand. The JB number near the axle on the objective end of most Japanese binos would say much. JB-133 is Kamakura. The photo you attached is too small and dark to make out. :cat:

Bill

tviano · Oct 16, 2020

KC Foggin said:
I can't help you with your bins but I did want to wish you a warm welcome from those of us on staff here at BF

Why thank you very much!

tviano · Oct 16, 2020

WJC said:
It is probably a store or company brand. The JB number near the axle on the objective end of most Japanese binos would say much. JB-133 is Kamakura. The photo you attached is too small and dark to make out. :cat:

Bill

Yes. I was having problems getting a decent photo that I could upload. I tried another pic. What's a "JB" number?

John A Roberts · Oct 16, 2020

Hi tviano,

The 'JB' markings were part of a Japanese optical industry export marketing programme that started in 1959

See the attached advertisement, along with some more detail from the introduction to a list of the codes and manufacturers (which is also attached),
from Peter Abraham’s europa website at: http://www.europa.com/~telscope/binotele.htm

John

Troubador · Oct 16, 2020

I have edited the image below to improve visibility of the printing a little.

On the left cover we have PLDS and Coated Optics, while on the right, 7x50, 7.1deg and what appears to be a serial nmber, 70650.

Lee

tviano · Oct 20, 2020

Troubador said:
I have edited the image below to improve visibility of the printing a little.

On the left cover we have PLDS and Coated Optics, while on the right, 7x50, 7.1deg and what appears to be a serial nmber, 70650.

Lee

Thanks for doing that. That is exactly what it says.

tviano · Oct 20, 2020

John A Roberts said:
Hi tviano,

The 'JB' markings were part of a Japanese optical industry export marketing programme that started in 1959

See the attached advertisement, along with some more detail from the introduction to a list of the codes and manufacturers (which is also attached),
from Peter Abraham’s europa website at: http://www.europa.com/~telscope/binotele.htm

John

The more I get into this, the more it's like an onion. I really appreciate the info. There are so many layers of info on this. It's kind of like a detective story.

Any idea of PLDS binoculars Model 70650? (1 Viewer)

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