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                                                    Kriegsmarine binoculars  

 Carl Zeiss 10 x 50 T model
 Carl Zeiss 7 x 50 T model “N”
 7 x 50 H blc T - with letter “N”

The binoculars used in the navy, we can divided into three parts.

1. Binoculars used on the Kriegsmarine navy ships. Into this group we can include binoculars as: U-boat, UDF, deck mounted 8x60, 7 x 50 for signalling lamp, 10 x 80 - 20⁰, or 18 x 80 - 20⁰ and 12 x 60 blc.

2. Other binoculars used on ships are handheld like gas-mask 7 x 50, 7 x 50 H, 7 x 50 blc (all models), 7 x 50 beh, and 8 x 60s’.

3. The third part of Kriegsmarine binoculars contains the binoculars used by coast artillery, which were under control of Kriegsmarine. In this group we can include: 7 x 50 gas mask models, 7 x 50 beh, Carl Zeiss 10 x50 T, 8 x 60s’, 10 x 80 - 80⁰.

Carl Zeiss 10 x 50 T model

We would like to introduce you, in some way, unusual binocular Carl Zeiss 10 x 50 T model. The pictures of the binocular sent us by a Polish collector Piotr. 
The binocular was caused dispute among collectors. The discussion refers to the description on the binoculars’ plate.
On the plate description, we can see marks of: Carl Zeiss Jena, early Kriegsmarine swastika and letter ‘T’- indicated coated optics.
The production number of those binoculars started from 1904201. The number on the presented binocular specifies that the binocular could be produced at the very beginning.  

 

The words on the right plate: ‘Scheinwerfer’ - Searchlights, and ‘u.Fluwa.’ was issued to searchlight and sound locator units. On the hinge bar is the Waffenamt control stamp - WaA 202 with miniature swastika. The same stamp is visible on the bottom hinge bar.
 

The binoculars were produced in December 1938, and were made only 500.

The optical design of all 10 x 50 Zeiss Porro I models are identical: blc and rln. Only difference is that a few are coated.
We have just received another picture of 10 x 50 Carl Zeiss Jena coated, Kriegsmarine model from the same production batch of 500 pieces, as previous pictures. The picture is from the USA collector Frank Doherty.

Carl Zeiss 7 x 50 T model “N”

Additional picture of the binocular from Kriegsmarine family, we have just received. I t is very unusual binocular because of description. It it D.F 7 x 50 Carl Zeiss Jena with the letter “N”. The picture is from collector Per Carlson - Sweden.

                                    
           D.F. 7x50 Carl Zeiss  production number 2075456 from Per Carlson collection. Copyrights picture Per Carlson

The binocular was produced in 1940.

     
             D.F. 7x50 Carl Zeiss  production number 2075456 from Per Carlson collection. Copyrights pictures Per Carlson

The letter “N” on the right plate is unusual on the Kriegsmarine binocular. It has been heard that it was planned to produce some binoculars  for Kriegsmarine, among them with letter “N” - Northern Sea Fleet marking. As far as today it was not seen any document to confirm that information.
The binoculars: 7x50 -  look “German binoculars” page 2and 8x60 with letter “N” produced Ernst Leitz (beh) as well.
Originally the binocular had the the Bakelite or leather rain cover held by spring cord. The rain cover is missing.



                 D.F. 7x50 Carl Zeiss  production number 2075456 from Per Carlson collection. Copyrights picture Per Carlson

It is model with adjustable eyepieces focus. A similar Zeiss binoculars with letter “N” are sometimes with totally fixed focus eyepieces.
It has test department stamp of Carl Zeiss Jena - IV/1. The binocular is fitted with the rebind ocular housings. It was built other unique model with the smooth ocular housing and letter “N”.
The binocular is coated - “T” - Trnasparenzbelag (coated optics).

The binocular does not have air desiccant cartridge, which on the Kriegsmarine binoculars you often can find:

                                           
           D.F. 7x50 Carl Zeiss  production number 2075456 from Per Carlson collection. Copyrights picture Per Carlson

The binocular is well used and if someone wont to use glass, it needs a complete service. It looks as objectives cement needs replacing.

7 x 50 H blc T - with letter “N”
It is not possible to miss out on the Kriegsmarine binoculars list another binocular  - 7 x 50 H blc with letter “N” as well. The binocular is in our collection:
                                   7x50 H blc T; Production number 969 from our collection. Copyright picture Anna Vacani

This model was produced by Carl Zeiss Jena from 1935, with imperial eagle not coated. This model was discontinued in 1938, when the coating of lenses  where invented by Carl Zeiss.
It is Porro II model, the first German 7x50 model with Porro II prisms and cemented field lenses built in Jena in 1935. The prisms are identical  to the prisms fitted in UDF’ s model, except that in 7x50 H model it has a field lens cemented on the top of the prism.
Our binocular 7x50 H with blc marking is very rare. After 1942 only a few were produced. In the pictures from the war it is seen that this model of the binoculars were used by high rank officers - “Signal “  Magazine October 1942 Dutch edition.
The letter “H” indicates an increased brightness (Helligkeit).
The binoculars design is as a technical art. The binoculars have a very well calculated center gravity. It is a pleasure to hold the binoculars in hands, you do not feel its weight (998 grams). It is built up from aluminium and covered with leather upholstery.
The letter “T” indicates that the optic is coated.
The glasses are extremely soft and on the outside of the objectives and outside of the eye lenses have micro-scratches. Our binocular does not have these scratches.

                                         
                                        7x50 H blc T; Production number 969 from our collection. Copyright pictures Anna Vacani

The binocular is fitted with the leather rain cover held by spring cord, it is original.
Unfortunately the original washer was replaced, which carry in the serial number. It is very common that this washer is missing in this model.

    
The binocular is in fantastic condition.


If other collectors have additional knowledge of these binoculars, please send to us and we will share that knowledge with others.
 

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