zeiss telex (1 Viewer)

[blackstan]

hi all i'm a newcomer to the forum. I collect binoculars but still consider myself an amateur , ive just purchased off ebay a pair of carl zeiss 'telex' binos. I cant put pictures up yet as they are supposed to be for xmas. I paid £25 for them, the logo is of the 'lens' type and on the other side it has the same thing but with 'telex' in the top part, there is no serial number where it should be under the 'telex' logo, underneath that it has '6x'. I was wondering if they are zeiss or a fake?, for the price I paid im not too worried but with them not having a serial number that I can see.....im just curious.....any info would be good thanks.

 

[Binastro]

There seem to be various Zeiss Telex binoculars.
6x21 and 6x24 at least.

What is the clear aperture at the front?
(The diameter of the lens).

Likely genuine.

Regards,
B.

 

[galazie1]

I can't answer your question. I have 2 such Telex and they both have serial numbers (mine were made between 1908 and 1910)

But I want to say that these Telexes were jewels. After given a professional cleaning and collimation, the sharpness, crystal clarity and the overall quality of the image were stunning for its size. Top alpha level by today standard.

Could it be because of the small aperture? Because the silvarem/silvamar 6x30 are much inferior.

I am happy to pay $1,500 for that quality.

 

[galazie1]

Mine were also "6x". I measured them to be 21mm

 

[blackstan]

thanks for the prompt replies....I cannot measure them yet as my wife has wrapped them up for xmas…….but I will measure them once I get chance....cheers

 

[LPT]

If it’s a 6x24 Telex and post WW I manufacture then the serial number may be on the hinge end cap (objective end). It was a popular binocular and many were made, but these and other Zeiss binos were sometimes counterfeited usually from cheap French binos and usually crudely so a picture is needed to determine authenticity.

 

[blackstan]

here goes some photos from the original ebay listing, cheers

 

[blackstan]

some more

 

[LPT]

Well, it definitely looks like a Zeiss but odd the way there’s no serial number in the space under the Telex marking and that there isn’t the usual type objective hinge end cap. Right after WW I Zeiss assembled and sold civilian model binoculars made from surplus military parts or reconditioned wartime binoculars. And I think it’s one of these - a WW I DF 6x24 (German army binocular which was a militarized Telex) rebuilt and sold by Zeiss circa 1919-1920 as a Telex. Optically it’s just the same and there should be nothing wrong with it. And the probable provenance is interesting.

 

[blackstan]

hi thanks for that....cant wait to use them...…

 

[Binastro]

Aren't the 64 and 74 IPD marks unusual?

French binoculars had non 60 and 70 marks, but maybe Zeiss also?

B.

 

[LPT]

Aren't the 64 and 74 IPD marks unusual?

French binoculars had non 60 and 70 marks, but maybe Zeiss also?

B.

Yes, I agree that they are unusual for Zeiss but a common French marking. Nonetheless, the build of the binocular looks genuine Zeiss. It could be a French replacement IPD cap or maybe Zeiss did make some looking like this. And the Zeiss markings look correct. See: https://www.flickr.com/photos/binoc...UP8-qzZBmK-8xPcFX-7yS1c1-7zY596-7zYgnz-NvP2P5

 

[LPT]

But, playing the devil’s advocate, note the placement of prism plate screws. They are not correct for a DF 6x24. I suggest doing an internet search for Zeiss Telex to see if there are any Telex having this prism plate screw arrangement.

 

[LPT]

Just did the Telex search and couldn’t find any Telex or WW I 6x24’s with that prism plate screw arrangement. Now I’m starting to wonder...

 

[Gijs van Ginkel]

According to the data we have the first series of Zeiss Telex 6x21 was made between 1907-1912, FOV 120m/1000m, weight 430 g.
From 1912-1940 the Telex 6x24 was made, FOV 120m/1000m, weight 460 g. From 1928 FOV was increased to 150m/1000m. From 1936 also 6x24 Sportur. The 6x24 with central focus were called Telexem.
Gijs van Ginkel

 

[Gijs van Ginkel]

Looking at the pictures of different Telex models in Hans Seegers books about Zeiss Handferngläser, the Telex shown most likely is genuine. The ones with "Zinkdeckel und Stahlschrauben"were made around 1918-1920.
Telex binoculars were not only made in Jena but also at Nedinsco-Zeiss in Venlo, The Netherlands and , because of the restrictions imposed on German companies after WW-1 probably also in other countries and that could explain the 64-74 degree indications on the Telexes shown in posts 7 and 8.
Gijs van Ginkel

 

[John A Roberts]

Some Resources about Older Zeiss Binoculars

For those interested in the vast world of older Zeiss binoculars, a few useful starting points:

A great and easy to use initial resource, is the classic listing of basic information about Zeiss binoculars to 1972, by Kind, Hudemann et al.
at: http://home.europa.com/~telscope/zeissbn2.txt (see the attached copy)


Johann Leichtfreid’s under appreciated site Fernglas-Museum, includes photos and details about a wide variety of binoculars
at: http://www.fernglasmuseum.at
and although the site is in German it’s well organised and very easy to navigate

Johann has an especially extensive collection of Zeiss binoculars:
- Civilian models: http://www.fernglasmuseum.at/administrativ/museum_z_zeissz.html
- Military models: http://www.fernglasmuseum.at/administrativ/museum_z_zeissm.html
(you can Google Translate the details)


There are various other collections of Zeiss images on the net, some with little or no comment - and others much more usefully with detailed observations
Two better examples of the latter, that are strong on early Zeiss binoculars are:
- Fransksbinoculars at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/franksbinoculars/
- Frank/ Wpg (aka LPT on Birdforum) at: https://www.flickr.com/groups/2406977@N24/pool/binocwpg


Anna and Terry Vacani’s site Binocular & Cine Collection also has substantial information about early Zeiss binoculars
at: http://www.binoculars-cinecollectors.com/html/body_binoculars.html
It often requires some delving to get to what you want, but the journey is always interesting
(and as when using a paper copy of a dictionary, you often find out a whole lot more then you initially intended)


Finally, both:
- a set of Zeiss binocular pamphlets in either English or German dating from 1894 to 1905, and
- many issues of the Zeiss Historica Journal
can be found at: https://issuu.com/zeisshistoricasociety/docs

All this material was originally on the defunct Zeiss Historica Society site
And while the journal articles are mainly about Zeiss cameras, there are also articles about binoculars, telescopes and microscopes
However, it does require searching to get to the binocular related material


So for some . . .
Happy Holiday Exploration!


John


p.s. an additional source including very early Zeiss binoculars, along with great pictures and detailed comments is Historica Collectables
at: http://www.historicacollectibles.com/it/binoculars-amp-telescopes

 

[LPT]

Dr. Hans Seeger’s two books, Zeiss Feldstecher Handferngläser von 1894-1919 (blue book) and Zeiss Handferngläser 1919-1946 (green book), are in my opinion the authoritative works on the subject. Both are meticulously researched and scholarly, richly colour illustrated and voluminous. However, they are written almost entirely in German, difficult to find (especially the blue one), and, when available, expensive. But for me they are well worth the cost and my effort to translate.

 

[LPT]

Looking at the pictures of different Telex models in Hans Seegers books about Zeiss Handferngläser, the Telex shown most likely is genuine. The ones with "Zinkdeckel und Stahlschrauben"were made around 1918-1920.
Telex binoculars were not only made in Jena but also at Nedinsco-Zeiss in Venlo, The Netherlands and , because of the restrictions imposed on German companies after WW-1 probably also in other countries and that could explain the 64-74 degree indications on the Telexes shown in posts 7 and 8.
Gijs van Ginkel

Gijs,
I think I’ve seen Zeiss binoculars with 64 and 74 degree graduations on the IPD plate, and the zinc prism plates are characteristic of circa 1918-1920 manufacture. As well, the lack of the usual metal cap on the objective end hinge could be because of the exclusion of the military IPD tension knob. But the location of those prism plate screws still troubles me. I’m away from home now and unable to reference Seeger’s blue and green books, but if you or another reader has them, can you find any pictures of such a prism plate screw arrangement in Zeiss Telex or DF 6x24 binoculars?
Frank L.

 

[Gijs van Ginkel]

LPT, Frank L., post 19,
In Hans Leichtfrieds Fernglass museum Zeiss 6x24's are shown with a similar prism plate screw arrangement, but I hope I can find the opporunity today to search Seegers blue and green books, which contain many many pictures of the Tenexes.
Gijs van Ginkel