Vintage Binoculars (1 Viewer)

Bencw · Aug 26, 2015

Zeiss Jenna 8x50b Octarem

Really pleased with this find, a mint 8x50B Octarem, I would guess from the mid 80s, totally unmarked body and glass, all perfect, clean inside,even the case and all straps are as new. When I opened the case I got that wonderful smell of new leather from inside. Although heavy and bulky by todays standards, the optics are superb, these must be close to the best binocular the DDR Zeiss outfit ever produced.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/95019762@N07/

Pinewood · Aug 26, 2015

Hello Bencw,

I have been told [by Brock?] that the 10x50 Dekarem is another winner.

Happy bird watching,
Arthur :hi:

henry link · Aug 26, 2015

Bencw,

I ordered a pair of Octarems in July 1987 from Vic Odden's in London (still there?). I still have the binocular and the sales receipt.

The price with VAT £199.95. I didn't have to pay the tax, so my price was £173.86 + £18.14 shipping to my North Carolina address. When it arrived I was unpleasantly surprised to find that there was also a 40% US import duty on East German goods in effect at the time.

Your binocular is clearly later than mine. Mine has "8x50 Octarem" on the right prism cover, enclosed in the the old Zeiss doublet lens shaped logo and the serial number is 6275297.

BTW, you may notice that the prism cover is made of black Bakelite, so you hardly notice if you chip the black paint. Underneath is a cast metal cover.

Henry

Bencw · Aug 26, 2015

Thanks Arthur / Henry, I have not seen many of these for sale, seems people hang on to them.

Henry, Yes, I noticed the bakerlite covers, useful to know a rough date, late 80s I guess then? I have had the same import duty experience with a shipment from surplusshed USA, thought I had bought some parts at a good price only to get £18 duty and handling added when delivered. Sadly Vic Oddens London Bridge, closed in 2005, seems like small specialist outfits just can't survive these days. it's much lamented in the photography community.

LPT · Aug 30, 2015

Additions to Vintage Binocular Collection

The following have been added to my collection since the last posting on
January 26, 2015:

1) Geo Adlam & Sons Pump Desiccator for Telescopes and Binoculars
2) Barr & Stroud CF45s 6X30.5 (Sudanese marked)
3) Bausch & Lomb, U.S. Navy BU-AERO Mk 23 10X50
4) Hartmann Wetzlar, Bernina 8X30
5) Hayward U.S. Navy BUSHIPS Mk 45 7X50 (probable Australian Navy modification)
6) Nedinsco ‘s Gravenhage/Carl Zeiss Jena Deltrentis 8X30 (South African property marked)
7) Nikko "No-Bar" 7X50
8) R.E.L. C.G.B. 57 G.A. 7X50 (R.C.A.F. marked)
9) R.E.L. C.G.B. 41 M.A. 7X50
10) R.E.L. C.G.B. 43 M.A. 6X30
11) Ross, Prism Binocular Power = 8, 8X20 (Royal Navy marked)
12) Wollensak M5 6X30 (South African property marked)

I would appreciate any comments, further information or corrections the members of this forum could provide about these binoculars and my descriptions of them.

Once again, thanks to members of this and other forums who have provided new information about the binoculars in the collection.

The new binoculars can be viewed at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/binocwpg/albums/72157657555948660

The entire collection including additions can be viewed at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/binocwpg/albums/72157623234405689

Happy Collecting - Frank Lagorio
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Foss · Aug 31, 2015

Bencw said:
Really pleased with this find, a mint 8x50B Octarem, I would guess from the mid 80s, totally unmarked body and glass, all perfect, clean inside,even the case and all straps are as new. When I opened the case I got that wonderful smell of new leather from inside. Although heavy and bulky by todays standards, the optics are superb, these must be close to the best binocular the DDR Zeiss outfit ever produced.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/95019762@N07/

Great find! I just had the chance to stare through a friend's 7x50B (marine) glasses for two days doing some offshore fishing in Southern California...we look for birds on the horizon that generally indicate schools of fish...and was amazed at the sharpness, clarity, and contrast. Have fun with your 8x50s, they look very nice.

jring · Sep 9, 2015

Foss said:
Great find! I just had the chance to stare through a friend's 7x50B (marine) glasses for two days doing some offshore fishing in Southern California...we look for birds on the horizon that generally indicate schools of fish...and was amazed at the sharpness, clarity, and contrast. Have fun with your 8x50s, they look very nice.

Although the Octarem 8x50B - aka Nobilem 8x50B is a Carl Zeiss Jena bin while the 7x50B is Zeiss West. Both are quite good and certainly not cheap.

Joachim

Bencw · Sep 13, 2015

Kershaw Vanguard 7x50

I have been after one of these for awhile, always got outbid but finally won one, and one that is in great condition, clean as a whistle inside and nice condition. I don't know a lot about them apart from they are popular, I know Frank has a lot of good information on Kershaw in his gallery. Not much between this and the US pattern 7x50s like my Sard and B&L when viewing to my eye.

Hermann · Sep 13, 2015

jring said:
Although the Octarem 8x50B - aka Nobilem 8x50B is a Carl Zeiss Jena bin while the 7x50B is Zeiss West. Both are quite good and certainly not cheap.

I really like the way you phrased your last sentence: "Both are quite good ..."

I totally agree with that.

Hermann

Foss · Sep 15, 2015

Bencw said:
I have been after one of these for awhile, always got outbid but finally won one, and one that is in great condition, clean as a whistle inside and nice condition. I don't know a lot about them apart from they are popular, I know Frank has a lot of good information on Kershaw in his gallery. Not much between this and the US pattern 7x50s like my Sard and B&L when viewing to my eye.

Your newly acquired Vanguards look rock solid in design, and in excellent condition too.

Bencw · Sep 15, 2015

Thanks Foss, it is in very good condition, be hard to find one better I think, the internal centre focus mechanism works lovely and very smoothly.

Bencw · Oct 17, 2015

Zeiss Dialyt 8x30b - Long Body

Picked up this old long body 8x30B Dialyt, lovely condition, clean inside and there is no seperation of the objectives on this one. I think an early one, serial number 748047. I was surprised how good it is, I have the later P coated BGA and comparing them, the difference is not as great as I imagined it might be. The main difference is the later BGA T with P coatings is a lot brighter, as well as more compact and a tad lighter, but other than that, this old long body dialyt gives almost as good an image in terms of sharpness.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/95019762@N07/with/22068855449/

OPTIC_NUT · Oct 22, 2015

I have to (admiringly) laugh at the Kershaw Vanguard 7x50.
The styling is really wild ... looks like something
Flash Gordon or Grace Jones would use ;-)

Interesting....old roof binoculars that are quite sharp.
Makes you wonder about all the little increments of
marketing dissatisfaction allegedly fixed by 'phase-coating',
whether it "protects your home from tigers" (fixes unlikely issues).

Bencw · Oct 23, 2015

OPTIC_NUT said:
I have to (admiringly) laugh at the Kershaw Vanguard 7x50.
The styling is really wild ... looks like something
Flash Gordon or Grace Jones would use ;-)
).

Yeah, I guess the old Kershaw Vanguard was a bit futuristic for it's time, especially with that internal / enclosed focus mechanism. I think I recall an old WW11 film where the captain had a pair of these around his neck, can't remember the name though.

OPTIC_NUT · Nov 2, 2015

Ah, so that's the reason.....makes perfect sense.
I was hoping it was purely a fashion play. It is cool.

LPT · Nov 7, 2015

I recently acquired a Hartmann Bernina 10x50. The right prism plate is marked BERNINA over 10x50 n.K. . Does anybody know what the n.K. means? Neither of my other two Berninas (7x50 and 8x30) have this marking.

Bencw · Jan 9, 2016

Bushnell Explorer 7x35 Wa - 11*

I picked up this smashing Bushnell Explorere 7x35 for a few pounds from a Charity shop. I don't really like the fast focus bar, prefer a traditional wheel, but that apart it's a gem, the view is comparable to my 7x36 Custom, very sharp, wide 577ft@1000yds FOV, and in great condition, faultless. Of course Japanese made but I can't find a JB mark so not sure which factory may have made these, any idea's anyone?.

Binastro · Jan 9, 2016

Very nice, lucky find, Ben.
Well done.

I got a Swift 8.5x44 with case in very good condition for £15 from the Charity shop some years ago. It works well.

P.S.
At about 7.00 a.m. this morning I saw Venus and Saturn 9 arcminutes apart with 8.5x44 and scope.
From somewhere two or three hours East of Greenwich they were only 5 arcminutes apart.

(Sorry for my earlier mistake when I thought westwards, but the two planets need to have risen at least a bit above the horizon and it also has to be before sunrise to be seen. The minimum separation was about 04.00 UT).
This is really close and impressive either unaided eyes or up to a high power scope.

Bencw · Jan 9, 2016

Binastro said:
Very nice, lucky find, Ben.
Well done.

I got a Swift 8.5x44 with case in very good condition for £15 from the Charity shop some years ago. It works well.
P.S.
At about 7.00 a.m. this morning I saw Venus and Saturn 9 arcminutes apart with 8.5x44 and scope.
From New York yesterday evening at 11 p.m. they were only 5 arcminutes apart.
This is really close and impressive either unaided eyes or up to a high power scope.

Thanks Binastro, your Swift 8.5x44 was a bargain at £15. The audubon? I have one and paid a lot,lot more. I made a note of Jupiter being closest on the 8th Jan, and the dates when the moon is closest this year, then had some things on my mind and forgot. Mind you it's been so cloudy and overcast where I am that a view would be difficult.

Binastro · Jan 9, 2016

Yes, the Audubon.
Excellent condition, except the original owner put his name on it before it was donated to the good charity shop, but this isn't immediately obvious.

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