Carl Zeiss 7 X 50 B (1 Viewer)

[SteveDean]

Firstly, hello all and apologies my first post is a question like this. Anyway, my grandfather in law(a very interesting man, ex German Tank commander from WW2 on the Eastern front) left a few bits when he passed a few years back. One item of interest was a set of Binoculars. I’ve searched the internet for a suitable forum and this one seemed to have the right sort of specific sub forum.

So, they are a pair of Zeiss 7 x 50B Binoculars. A few other markings on them - WEST GERMANY, T* and a serial number. Firstly, I imagine these are a fairly respectable set, he was a successful kind of guy and bought only quality German products, even though he lived in Essex! I’m loathed to list them on the popular auction website, so does anyone have an idea of value and an appropriate place to sell them? I’ve tried to find a specific binocular forum, this being the closest I can find.

Steve

 

[Pinewood]

Hello Steve,

Welcome to the Forum. Yes, it is definitely first quality German optics. It is of the individual focus type which makes it rather unsuitable for bird watching. It is perfect for your yacht or for looking at the night sky. Is it rubber covered or covered in leatherette? A 7x50BT* has been in production, off and on, for many decades but is now discontinued. Zeiss has called it either the Nautic or Marine, maybe Mariner. It has oversized prisms and is rather bright.
Yes, it is valuable but I could not give a price, even if I knew the condition, which is rather important.

Stay safe,
Arthur Pinewood

 

[SteveDean]

Thanks for the reply Arthur, all very useful information. It’s a grey rubber type material. All good to know, I’ll keep researching.

 

[dries1]

SteveDean,

Can you post a pic of them, that might help out.

Andy W.

 

[John A Roberts]

Hi Steve,

I presume that your binocular looks like the one in the attached image? (it shows the black rubber version, though yours seems to be the alternative grey finish aka Skipper)
The image can be found at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/binocwpg/6167898445/in/album-72157623234405689/ , and the page also has information about the binocular
From Frank Lagorio aka LPT on Bird Forum

It's an individual focus binocular i.e. each eyepiece has to be separately focused. This made it weather resistant, but slow to refocus

The ‘B’ is for brillentragerokular, which is German for ‘eyeglass ocular’. It indicates longer eye relief, so that the binocular can be used by a person wearing spectacles
(there was also an earlier non-B version)

The 'T*' indicates that the lenses have multiple coatings (verses the earlier T single coating), which give a brighter image. The T* coating was introduced on Zeiss binoculars in 1978
And this model was offered until around 2017

As Arthur indicates, it was a specialised binocular of the highest quality (and correspondingly expensive) and was long the benchmark among 7x50 individual focus binoculars

If you Google ‘Zeiss 7X50 B/GA T*’ you can find additional information


John


p.s. and following up on Henry's post below, another image of the two Skipper models; from Kenichi Abe at: https://twitter.com/abe1998/status/890220023406444544

 

[henry link]

If your binocular is grey rubber it would be the unusual variant shown in the 1990 catalogue page below. It appears to have been better sealed than the standard black rubber 7x50 B/GA T* and weighed 60 grams more. I think it was only available for a short time, so ought to be more interesting to collectors than the standard version.

 

[SteveDean]

Here's some pictures for those interested. I know they sat in a cupboard for most of their lives. Overall condition is excellent. There seems to be some degradation of the rubber protective covers at either end. The large single rubber cover seems to of started to turn from black to a slight grey colour, but looks easy to replace if the parts are available. The two rubber covers at the other end have tiny cracks on them, I suspect age related. These seem to be built into the rubber case and I'm not sure how you'd replace them. There seems to be some form for coating on the lenses, they have a red colouring to them. Serial number is 390215.

 

[SteveDean]

Thanks for all the extra information, it would seem then that these are more specifically for the marine environment. Certainly they're a lovely piece of equipment, I perhaps will search for a more specialist marine forum in order to sell them.

 

[Troubador]

Steve

From my experience with the rubber industry the grey colour on the rainguard appears to be wax. This is added to some vulcanised rubber products so that it gradually rises to the surface and acts as a protection, so it does not signify a deterioration unless you have reason to believe it was caused by something else.

Lee

 

[Hermann]

There's some more information, for instance on the UDF 7x50, on Albrecht Köhler's website: http://www.akoehler.de/

Hermann

 

[SteveDean]

That makes sense lee. The two lens covers at the other end are in bad shape though. I suspect they’ve been stored upright on them. I see a pair of rubber lens covers on eBay ,in black, for £65.

 

[Binastro]

Maybe £600.

I see these binoculars on the bridges of warships.

The binocular may still be under warranty, but I don't suppose it covers rubber parts.

B.

 

[SteveDean]

Binastro, would you say Zeiss still hold stock of the rubber parts? And what is your website of choice for selling Binoculars like these?

 

[dries1]

SteveDean,

I would e-mail Zeiss directly to see if they had the accessories. Their service is likely closed for now but you can still correspond with them. It really depends on how much of a rush you are to sell them. These are the gray ones and more rare than the black rubber model. A collector will likely pay more for these than someone looking for a marine 7X50 glass to use on a boat.

Good Luck,

Andy W.

 

[Binastro]

Hi Steve,

East Coast Binocular repairs my have new rubber parts. Zeiss Germany may have also.

I don't use the internet to buy or sell anything, so I can't help here.

Regards,
B.

 

[Troubador]

Definitely contact Gary, the official UK Zeiss repair centre, who has loads of old Zeiss parts: http://binocular-repair.co.uk/


Lee

 

[SteveDean]

Thanks all, exactly the reason why I came to this forum - active and helpful.

 

[Patudo]

Thanks for all the extra information, it would seem then that these are more specifically for the marine environment. Certainly they're a lovely piece of equipment, I perhaps will search for a more specialist marine forum in order to sell them.

"Yachties" are legendarily tight-fisted. To realize the best price for them, you want them to be seen by those who collect binoculars that, for whatever reason, are thought to be desirable. Ebay is probably better for that than internet forums. It also appears that high-quality 7x50s are used by those who look up at the stars more so than us birders. The Cloudy Nights astronomy forum seems to be frequented by more collectors of binoculars than here (although most of these individuals seem to delight in purchases they "thrifted"). It might be worth a visit.

PS. Congratulations on inheriting this fine pair of binoculars.

 

[Sebzwo]

This is a specific marine binocular although not water proof. It is well regarded in the yachting crowd and as it is not made anymore there might be the odd seafarer wanting them specifically. It's not "rare" but still sought after - if in good shape and working nicely.

I have seen a TV report about Her Majesty's armed forces recent aircraft carrier trials and the senior officers on the bridge were wearing Zeiss binoculars. Black colored Hensoldt 7x50 methinks.

 

[garymh]

StèveDean,

I have sent you a PM.

Gary.