Some British hand held binoculars.

For several years I have enjoyed collecting vintage binoculars.
The collection of over 50 mostly vintage binoculars many of them military or with a military history can be viewed at:
Binoculars Arranged Alphabetically - a set on Flickr
I would appreciate any comments, further information or corrections the members of this forum could provide about these binoculars and my descriptions of them.
In particular, I am researching the BOP filter conversion of the Canadian 7X50 REL binocular. If you have any 7X50 REL binoculars or a BOP converted one, I would be most interested in its details such as model #, year of manufacture, number of dry air ports, serial number, presence of coated lenses, presence of yellow Admiralty arrows, and any other information you may have about its history and manufacture.

 

Some B&S ephemera from 1926. Wonder what else you could buy for the money?

 

I got these today again via the God eBay , in reasonable order when all is said and done for a set of 1930's vintage , inside they need to be rebuilt - dirty cement gone and very much in need of TLC.

This set is NP marked for both 1933 and 1935 , why two dates I don't know .
According to Bill Reid's books this is an early model .
The Navy accepted the set for use in 1931 as a "prismatic night glass" .
Uncoated lens and no internal filter system .
Numbered 6547 , this is a very old girl indeed.

Attached show it beside the CF30 ( which replaced "15" in 1932 - this one is a late model "30" ) and alongside an early model CF41 the standard WW2 binocular for the Royal navy which came into service in 1935.

The changes to accomadate the filter system are evident.

When folks think binocular, German sets almost always come to mind , they were certainly the best but we had should not forget or "rubbish" our own optical gear which served us very well.
Had we not contracted Barr and Stroud to supply the Royal Navy and were depending on Zeiss twe would have been well up "sh1t creek" in 1939.

 

Good evening ,James S. Great collection of B & S I must say. I wonder if you can help me ? I have just bought a CF41 set but there are no markings of Barr & Stroud or indeed a Serial Number.

They are marked '1900A' but painted on the top right id 'R/86/AVL437'.

The leather case has a label marked

'AVIMO LIMITED

THESE OPTICS CONFORM TO
NAVY SPECIFICATION DWS/0 SPEC.1
AND HAVE BEEN REPAIRED TO A
SERVICEABLE NOT NEW CONDITION

Serial Number R/86/AVL 440 PASSED BY AV2
(QA STAMP)

Any thoughts please

jontie

 

Jontie,
I will pass the number of the set on to Bill Reid , he may be able to date the set.
Avino refurbished sets post war and the set you have probably came from "stores".
I have sent you a pm , on the set.

 

I sent the "CF15" seen on the left in post 43 to Glasgow Binocular Repairs for a service - when I sent it the set was internally in a bad way - prisms had seperated, cement had totally degraded, dirty and stained prisms with some need of tlc on the exterior.

Got it back today - Dougie repainted some of the exterior surfaces making them look much better - that "worn and aged" look now largely gone.
Where it really counted optically the set is now as good as new - prisms are totally clear and clean not a stain or spec on them , thankfully they had managed to avoid fungal growth.

A set made in 1933 now as good as the day they were made, a 78 year old set good as new !

 

Just picked up these german binoculars and case they look a bit worn but are very good, Just wonderd if anyone knows anything about them if they are correct with the case. Carl Zeiss Jena Telonar 12x40 ?.Also the German mark any ideas please.

 

Hello everyone

I have a pair of Canadian REL 7 x 50 binoculars in near perfect condition.

These have NO military markings at all. No WD broad arrow or the usual stamps and marks the military are fond of covering their equipment with and optics clear of graticules

My question is if anyone can tell me, is did REL produce units for the civilian market and when did the REL company cease trading ?

These binoculars were by the way were acquired by my Father-in-Law when the was in Canada and the US in the late 40's and very early 50's

The only markings is : REL/CANADA on the right rear and the power 7 x50 on the left rear

Many thanks John F