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Older Binocular Identification |
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BigT
Optics GrassHopper Joined: May/17/2020 Location: Idaho United St Status: Offline Points: 4 |
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Posted: May/17/2020 at 23:42 |
I recently acquired a set of older binoculars. I've looked for them on the Internet and haven't been able to find anything. When they were given to me they were represented as World War II vintage and Zeiss brand. Pretty sure they were misrepresented for a couple reasons. 1. They say made in Romania. 2. They don't have a manufacturer's name on them just a maker's mark and a model number which doesn't bring anything up. If anyone could give me an idea of who the manufacturer is or where I could go to start looking I would definitely appreciate it. I wish I knew how to add a photo for you guys. I'm going to try to describe it. The maker's mark looks like a sideview of a hamburger with a couple curved lines in it going opposite directions and right to left. Underneath the mark it says capital Sr. 0167-96 10×50. On the adjusting hinge it says made in Romania on upper part and 10R-SA on bottom part. Thank you for any help you may be able to give me.
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Gerry Atric
Optics Journeyman Joined: April/21/2011 Location: Sweden Status: Offline Points: 340 |
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Here you have some info: Gerry Atric
Edited by Gerry Atric - May/18/2020 at 01:01 |
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BigT
Optics GrassHopper Joined: May/17/2020 Location: Idaho United St Status: Offline Points: 4 |
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Thank you sir
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WJC
Optics Journeyman Joined: May/28/2014 Location: Twin Falls, ID Status: Offline Points: 328 |
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200518 You are right on saying they were misrepresented. “WWII,” “vintage,” and “Zeiss represent the Triple Crown for clueless or unscrupulous people who want to unload a binocular. Had it been made in Romania during the war, it probably would have been made during German occupation. If that had been the case, it would have had a 3 alpha character code, beh, blc, and the like. The Germans did this so that captured binoculars wouldn’t betray their point of origin and the codes were used from 1939 to 1945. That “side view” of a hamburger is a side view of a triplet eyelens. In one of the links, the fellow says his binocular is as rugged as the Fujinon FMTR-SX. I would certainly like to agree with this fellow. However, since it’s not so ... I can’t. It should be understood that even the best manufacturers buy some of their inventory from lesser manufacturers and rebrand them. That’s called, “meeting the needs of the thrifty and keeping our lights on.” So many people ask, “What is the best brand?” That, however, is a question that can’t be answered, honestly. What part of Idaho do you live in? Bill |
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BigT
Optics GrassHopper Joined: May/17/2020 Location: Idaho United St Status: Offline Points: 4 |
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Bill thanks for sharing that bit of knowledge with me. I'm down here in Southeast Idaho, Pocatello to be exact. Even though the gentlemen misrepresented them I kind of like them, being new at this I'm going to call them my starter set.
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Alp1
Optics GrassHopper Joined: May/15/2020 Status: Offline Points: 5 |
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Hi These are a very nice set from a reputable manufacturer. IOR had access to Zeiss Jena technology during the cold war and produced top quality binoculars for the military. I have a pair of 7x40 (they are basically the same body than your 10x50 with shorter objective tubes) I bought in the 90s and removed the reticle. The image has a yellow tone, which is usual with eastern bloc optics. They are no rebranding of lesser quality goods. These have seen years of harsh outdoor use, have been banged around, dunked a dozen times during river crossings, and seen countless freezing nights and hot days. I am happy to say they are still clean, dry, and aligned. That makes them a plenty rugged pair of binoculars and where I come from we don't disregard quality. Cheers,
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