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Swift & Anderson 1949 Catalog #50 (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter elkcub
- Start date
John A Roberts
Well-known member
For those wanting to see more Swift material, there's a variety of flyers and catalogues dating from the 1930's through to 1980's at:
https://www.miniaturebinoculars.com/part8/Page21529.htm
The Miniature Binoculars site has the largest collection of old binocular flyers, brochures and catalogues.
So always a good starting point when searching for old publications.
The home page is at: https://www.miniaturebinoculars.com/part1/Page304.htm
And the material can be found by going down the right hand panel to Binocular Catalogues (they are in alphabetic order by brand).
John
https://www.miniaturebinoculars.com/part8/Page21529.htm
The Miniature Binoculars site has the largest collection of old binocular flyers, brochures and catalogues.
So always a good starting point when searching for old publications.
The home page is at: https://www.miniaturebinoculars.com/part1/Page304.htm
And the material can be found by going down the right hand panel to Binocular Catalogues (they are in alphabetic order by brand).
John
elkcub
Silicon Valley, California
Thanks, John.
I've been to that site several times, but it's sadly deficient on Swift Binoculars. For comparison, I own 16 full catalogs, many with price lists, spanning the years from 1930 to 2006, (including the S&A posted here and the 1932 they have. In 16 months I'll be 90, so I think it's time for me to contact them about adding my collection. Otherwise, a historical trace of S&A or Swift Instruments will most likely be lost. Comments?
Ed
Last edited:
John A Roberts
Well-known member
Hi Ed,
Yes, I think that contacting Mark at Miniature Binoculars would be the best solution, both in terms of preserving
and propagating the information.
The only other option would be finding someone with enough interest and capacity, to establish and maintain a stand alone site
for S&A binoculars (!)
It's possible that there may be someone here or at Cloudy Nights or Binopedia (the forum of the Binocular History Society)
that has the wherewithal, so perhaps worth a thread raising the query on each site (?)
However, in terms of what's likely along with longevity, Mark’s site would seem to be the way to go.
The problem of stand alone sites can be seen with that of the Zeiss Historica Society. Among other things, it published a journal
comprising 73 issues, including much little known information.
But once the site ceased to be maintained, the information was lost until Mike Eckman took on the huge task of loading all the issues
onto his site! See at: Zeiss Historica (1979 - 2016)
John
Yes, I think that contacting Mark at Miniature Binoculars would be the best solution, both in terms of preserving
and propagating the information.
The only other option would be finding someone with enough interest and capacity, to establish and maintain a stand alone site
for S&A binoculars (!)
It's possible that there may be someone here or at Cloudy Nights or Binopedia (the forum of the Binocular History Society)
that has the wherewithal, so perhaps worth a thread raising the query on each site (?)
However, in terms of what's likely along with longevity, Mark’s site would seem to be the way to go.
The problem of stand alone sites can be seen with that of the Zeiss Historica Society. Among other things, it published a journal
comprising 73 issues, including much little known information.
But once the site ceased to be maintained, the information was lost until Mike Eckman took on the huge task of loading all the issues
onto his site! See at: Zeiss Historica (1979 - 2016)
John
elkcub
Silicon Valley, California
Hi John,
I'm currently in discussion with Mark Ohno, but unfortunately there's a major snag. He doesn't accept catalog materials after 1980, which is the exact center of Swift Instrument's lifespan. The company was established in 1960 and their last catalog was in 2000. Moreover, I'm having second thoughts about including the collection on a "Miniature Binoculars" website. Whatever else, though, I do want them all together.
If I weren't so lazy I'd just make one big .pdf file and post it on BF for distribution. But, the thought of scanning that much material is pretty daunting.
More later if anything changes. Thanks,
Ed
I'm currently in discussion with Mark Ohno, but unfortunately there's a major snag. He doesn't accept catalog materials after 1980, which is the exact center of Swift Instrument's lifespan. The company was established in 1960 and their last catalog was in 2000. Moreover, I'm having second thoughts about including the collection on a "Miniature Binoculars" website. Whatever else, though, I do want them all together.
If I weren't so lazy I'd just make one big .pdf file and post it on BF for distribution. But, the thought of scanning that much material is pretty daunting.
More later if anything changes. Thanks,
Ed
Paultricounty
Well-known member
Very cool 👍
Paultricounty
Well-known member
Fascinating, the 6x42 SARD in 1947 for $262 calculating for inflation today would cost over $3600. Very few had that kind of money back in the day.
