Military Optics

The body is very heavy steel and attached to an aircraft cushioned mount.  The shutter release solenoid has the original cord and plug attached. The cover for the motor advance gear mechanism at the top of the body is intact and present. The motor for advancing the film is not present.

These are views of the significant features of these binoculars:

• Lens Close-up
• Top view
• Left Top
• Right Bottom
• Power Plug -- Front and Rear

There is no snowflake or crazing of the lenses apparent.  The camera and optics need general overall cleanup and a tune-up. All screwheads are in fine condition, showing no signs of having been turned since manufacture.  There is some rubber insulation on the cord near the body that exposes the insulated wires underneath.  This should be easily repairable, it needed.

The camera has orange Luftwaffe markings on the back of the body.  The solenoid is RoBoT marked and "kna" marked (DER ROBOT, BERNING & Co., K.G. [photographic equipment] DÜSSELDORF GERMANY) and serial numbered.

The camera is in generally very good to near excellent condition overall, except as detailed above.

The body is very heavy steel and brass armored. These optics date to approximately 1941-1943.

These are views of the significant features of these binoculars:

• Eyepiece End
• Objective End

There is no snowflake or crazing of the lenses apparent.  The glasses need general overall cleanup and a tune-up. All screwheads are in fine condition, showing no signs of having been turned since manufacture.

The Navy Gray (Neve) Paint needs some touching up. The optics need internal cleaning and attention to bring back into totally serviceable condition.  There is a D 231 serial number on the frame.

There is a "spider web" style targeting sight internally, and coarse aiming external sights.

The markings are OK 1x40° Ausf. A. dow (WAFFENWERKE BRUNN A.G. (1943-OPTICOTECHNA GmbH) PRERAU CZECH) 611

These optics are in generally very good condition overall, except as detailed above.

The body and prism covers are heavy aluminum alloys. These glasses have pre-war commercial markings instead of the ordnance code letters.

These are views of the significant features of these binoculars:

• Eyepieces
• Objectives

Collimation and parallax need some adjustment.  There is some minor soiling on the prisms.  There is no snowflake or crazing of the lenses apparent.  The glasses need general overall cleanup and a tune-up.

There is general overall wear to what is left (about 60%) of the pebble grain leather on one tube.  The other has the covering completely missing.  About 60% of the black paint on the aluminum cranes is gone. 95% of the enamel on the prism covers remains.  The right eyepiece is independently focused, and operates smoothly throughout its range. The focus knob and adjustment works smoothly as well.

The markings are PRISMEN-GLASER 8X and OTTO WALTER (Serial number) 12507.

It is in serviceable generally fair to good condition overall, except as detailed above.

The body and prism covers are heavy aluminum alloys. These glasses have pre-war commercial markings instead of the ordnance code letters.

These are views of the significant features of these binoculars:

• Eyepieces
• Objectives

Collimation and parallax need some adjustment.  There is some minor soiling on the prisms.  There is no snowflake or crazing of the lenses apparent.  The glasses need general overall cleanup and a tune-up.

There is general overall wear to the pebble grain leather on the tubes.  About 10% of the black paint on the aluminum cranes is gone. 95% of the enamel on the prism covers remains.  The right eyepiece is independently focused, and operates smoothly throughout its range. The focus knob and adjustment works smoothly as well.  The left eyepiece is a lock for the focus.

The markings are Dr. F. A. WOHLER CASSEL and DECAMAR 10X32

It is in serviceable generally good condition overall, except as detailed above.

The body and prism covers are heavy aluminum alloys. These 1940 dated glasses have early war commercial markings instead of the ordnance code letters.

These are views of the significant features of these binoculars:

• Eyepieces (showing serial number, maker marks, KM marks)
• Objectives
• Prism housing
• Case (Top - Inside - Maker Mark - Front - Back)

Collimation and parallax need some adjustment.  There is some minor soiling on the prisms.  There is no snowflake or crazing of the lenses apparent.  The glasses need general overall cleanup and a tune-up.

The pebble grain leather on the tubes is missing on the long tubes and prisms.  The black paint on the aluminum cranes and over 98% of the enamel on the prism covers remains.  Both eyepieces are independently focused, and operates smoothly throughout its range. The optics need internal cleaning and attention to bring back into totally serviceable condition.  The screwheads are in fine shape.

The case has a torn leather hinge at the back and a piece of the strap closu re missing, as shown in the images.

The markings are 7x50 E. LEITZ WETZLAR 290319 and Kreigmarine Eagle "M" and "7359 N"

These optics are in generally good condition overall, except as detailed above.

This is one of a number of items sent back to the US by Captain Jesse T. Schwidde, a member of the 3rd Medical Battalion of the 3rd Infantry Division who occuppied the Obersalzberg in the early part of May, 1945.  His story and several documents are related on the Bormann and Porcelain China pages.

This is a very robust case, build to withstand military field use.

This is a view of the exterior of the case, closed. This is from the side, showing the locks (there is no key).  And one of the interior, showing the fitted compartments. It measures 19-3/4 by 8 wide by 9-1/4 inches deep.

It is in completely serviceable condition, excepting the missing key.

This set was made by Raumbild-Verlag and has a Ges. Gesch. registration marks.

This is a view of the picture frame side, closed. It measures 6 inches wide by 2-1/2 inches high.  It opens to 4 inches deep and folds to fit in a pocket sleeve in the history book.

We occasionally have the history books available, inquire if interested.

It is in completely serviceable condition.

The body is brass and aluminum alloys.

Emile Bruno MEYROWITZ pioneered the optical field. He opened his first optometry shop in 1875 in Albany, New York prior to establishing the shop in Paris, France.  He held several patents for optics and was an inventor of a single lever focusing mechanism.  He also built telescopes and other high-end optics.  The company still exists in Paris, although they are more aligned to retail current optics today.  Early Meyrowitz binoculars -- especially the long tube models -- are very difficult to locate in decent condition.

These are views of several features of these binoculars:

• Eyepieces
• Objectives
• Prism covers and maker marks
• Crane
• Close-up of prism area

There is a piece of the barrel cover on the left objective tube missing and a chip in the covering of the left side prism housing.

Collimation and parallax are in alignment.  There is some minor spotting on the prisms.  There is no snowflake or crazing of the lenses apparent.  The glasses need general overall cleanup and a tune-up.

There is general overall wear to the armored pebble texture cloth on the tubes.  About 50% of the black paint on the aluminum cranes is gone.95% of the enamel on the brass prism covers remains.  The screws appear to have never been turned, all slots are clean and sharp.  The crane focus knob operates smoothly through its range.  The right eyepiece is independently focused, and operates throughout its range.  The original leather strap is present, and in fair (but fragile) condition.

The markings are 20X and E. B. MEYROWITZ PARIS - NEW YORK - LONDON.

It is in serviceable generally very good condition overall, except as detailed above..

This exact gun camera was described in the Monday, Oct. 26, 1936 issue of TIME Magazine, the relevant portion is shown below.

So advanced are Fairchild's aerial cameras that the company now has the field entirely to itself in the U. S., and its equipment is standard in the civil and military services of no less than 21 for eign lands. Eastman Kodak is quite content to supply film. One growing use for film is in Fairchild's machine-gun camera, an instrument for training combat pilots.

It is built, mounted and operated like a machine gun except that a trigger squeeze shoots a number of frames on a 16 mm. cinema film instead of a burst of bullets. After a sham battle, the pilots can see, precisely, where shots would have gone had they been firing a real gun. If there is any argument as to who "hit" first, the question is instantly settled by the time recorded to a split second on the film. List price [in 1936! Ed.] of a machine-gun camera : $500.

The condition is near excellent throughout, except the usual signs of routine military use and issue markings painted on the body.

Here are a number of views of various pieces:

• Top of the top of the body, showing the data plate and maker marks
• Left side, showing the frame counter and interior lens
• Right side, Right side and barrel
• Main Optic lens.
• Close-up of the Grips and shutter trigger.
• Close-up showing the objectives and clarity of the mirrors
• These are the pintle mount and front and rear sights, shown front and rear.

The applications of photogrammetry are widely spread. Principally, it is utilized for object interpretation (What is it? Type? Quality? Quantity) and object measurement (Where is it? Form? Size?). Aerial photogrammetry is mainly used to produce topographical or thematical maps and digital terrain models

While taking the photographs, the airplane flies over a certain area in a meandering way, so that the whole area is covered by overlapping photographs. The overlapping part of each stereo pair can be viewed in 3D and consequently mapped in 3D

The condition is near excellent throughout, except the leather carry handle is separated at one side and one of the spare small mirrors is not present.

Here are a number of views of various pieces:

• Top of the wood case, showing the handle and data plate
• Case open, showing the instrument stowed
• Case open, the instrument removed. Spare mirrors can be seen in compartments.
• Close-up of the Kershaw optics from the eyepieces, showing part numbers.
• Close-up showing the objectives and clarity of the mirrors
• View from underneath showing large mirrors with protective covers retracted.
• Close-up of data plate on the case.

This design was in use throughout WWII.  This set of optics was made by American Optical under a B&L contract and they are marked on the top of the bridge.

There is a very well made heavy steel reinforced metal clamshell leather case with velvet lining. The instructions are glued to the inside.  The glasses are identified to a sergeant of a US Army Air Force Service squadron.

The earpieces are of the wrap-around variety and the temples are very thin and flat to fit closely to the skin to prevent gas leakage while used with a gas mask.  The glasses are also designed for use without the gas mask as normal eyewear.

The optics are clear, they appear to be in serviceable condition.  The prescription is very mild and appears to be for correcting minor astigmatism.

The condition is near excellent throughout.

This design was in use before WWII for the oval style American Optical Aviator Goggles used by Air Mail pilots and Barnstormers.  This case was made by American Optical Company and they are marked on the top of the case.

It measures 8-3/4 long by 3 inches wide by 2 inches deep. This is shown open.

The condition is near excellent and completely serviceable throughout.

This design was in use before WWII as the oval style American Optical Aviator Goggles used by Air Mail pilots and Barnstormers.  This set was made by American Optical Company and they are marked on the top of the adjustment nut.

They measure about 8-1/2 inches long by 2-3/4 inches wide. This is rear view.

The condition is good to near very good with some typical hardening of the gray rubber gaskets and stretched elastics.