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renovation military binoculars

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st thual View Drop Down
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    Posted: September/14/2020 at 13:06
I am new to this site and my knowledge of binoculars is rather limited -  I spent a lot of my professional life working with surveying instruments so I am not a total klutz when it comes to optics.  I am in need of some advice concerning a pair of binoculars that belonged to my Uncle -Taylor and Hobson 1943 binoculars.  Markings as follows

OS 420 OA     Bio prism Mk III    x6 

To be honest, externally they are in very poor condition one eye cup missing and the black rubber covering heavily deteriorated and 50% missing.  It appears that the graticule has been removed. All this said the optics appear to be excellent except for some debris (fluff?) visible on one of the eye pieces.  I received a quote for renovation excluding repair to the external coating. To be honest I can buy a similar pair in reasonable condition for less than the repair cost.

I would like to put the binoculars back in use not for sentimental reasons but because they are good binoculars.

My questions

I see on the web there are many eyecups, are there any universal cups that would fit over the eye piece (total diameter about 30mm)?

Concerning the coating on the body of the binoculars – it would seem best to remove the existing coating and repaint – any suggestions?

Franck

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John A Roberts View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote John A Roberts Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/14/2020 at 18:29
 Hi Franck,


For some information about the binoculars, Google the following string:

Taylor-Hobson os 420 wa


Also try posting your query on Cloudy Nights, as there is a lot of info about / interest in older binoculars, including their restoration



John

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote John A Roberts Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/14/2020 at 18:36

. . . and if you search under ‘Cloudy Nights’ you want to get to: Forums > Equipment Discussion > Binoculars



John

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DPI View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DPI Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/14/2020 at 23:46
These the sort of thing you have?


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote st thual Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/15/2020 at 02:45
DPI - that looks like the binoculars in question.  I will get a few photos to show the extent of the problems
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tahqua Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/15/2020 at 10:14
Those look rough, Don. How is the image when looking through them.
I had never heard of Taylor and Hobson.
Doug
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DPI Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/15/2020 at 11:30
Not mine, they belong to someone else. Could use a clean though
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DPI Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/06/2020 at 08:28
Here is a pair that I now own. Generally in good condition, but with dirty glass throughout.
Also a chunk of the vulcanite is absent.








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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DPI Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/06/2020 at 08:35
So I Took them apart and cleaned the Prisms, Oculars and Doublets and, they were sealed with the normal black sealant, which having dried out had to be rigorously cleaned off and despite that, I had to take them apart, and clean, then put them together only to find another black speck on the glass. So it took awhile, with lots of very colourful and inventive invocations being uttered.

Now they are together again. So next is repairing the damaged vulcanite cover material.

Cleaned the barrel surface and packed the gap with milliput. I have left it proud and deeply patterned the surface, so that when sanded down and polished, it hopefully will match the surround vulcanite, time will tell.

So now to let it fully cure for a couple of days before moving forward.



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