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German Binoculars page 9 pages: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (8a) (9)
Binoculars with 10x magnification
10x50 Dienstglas blc prod No 20938; 10x50 Dienstglas rln prod No 100272; 10x50 CZJ prod No 2307297 -1945;
10x50 Dienstglas cxn prod No 397898
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10 x 50 Dienstglas blc - Carl Zeiss Jena 1943 - Production number 20938
The binocular was manufactured in 1943, by Carl Zeiss Jena as the production number indicates. It is marked in the war time code - blc. Later on the CZJ binoculars were marked rln.
The optical design of all 10 x 50 Zeiss models are identical, including models marked blc and rln. Our blc model is uncoated.
This model was produced from 1920s through the WWII and after the war, for short time, from the remaining parts of the war. The model from early 1945 is in our collection and will be described on this page.
The blc Dienstglas uncoated model was produced in large quantity.
It is a military model, but our binocular does not have a reticule, as the majority German military binoculars do not have, at that period.
The binocular is marked with small + (Pict 1), which indicated that the binocular can be used in the temperature from (+) up to -40C. It does mean that grease applied on the binoculars is able to protect it from damages to a temperature up to -40C.
   
Pict 1, 2, 3 ,4 ; 10 x50 Dienstglas blc in our collection; © Anna Vacani
The field of view in linear at a distance of 1000 meters is 128 miters. Diameter of exit pupil is 5 mm.
External Features
The binocular body is made of aluminium alloy with black textured paint.
Pict 5; objectives
Before the WWII the body was covered with leather. As the war time model, the left plate remands without the Carl Zeiss Jena logo. On the right plate is engraved - Dienstglas (Service glass), magnification, production number, war time code of a producer and kind of the grease used on the binocular.
The eyecups in our binocular are from other German binocular model. They should be this type:
 Pict 6; a proper eyecups for 10x50 CZJ models
The binocular does not have a dioptre scale on the ocular tubes, it is only marked “+” and ” - “. It does not have an interocular distance scale on the hinge, as well, and any other markings.
Our binocular is not fitted with an original strap.
Internal Features
The binocular is Porro I optical construction; the eyepiece contains 4 elements, the objectives contains two cemented elements.
The lenses are uncoated.
The binocular dimensions
The binocular - weight 898 grams (115,7 lb). The models produced before the war with brass body are heavier (1200 grams). The lighter model was produced from 1936.
In December 1936 to the Zeiss catalogue was add the leaflet, where was announced: “ By using a light yet strong metal for the bodies, Zeiss succeeded in reducing the weight of their Prism Binoculars considerably. Hunters, sportsmen, yachtsmen, racing enthusiast, travellers welcome this grate progress. The following list shows the reduced weights and other changes that have taken place since the publication of the catalogue T500”
  
The leaflet to the Zeiss catalogues T 500 Zeiss catalogue T 500 E, edition VI 1931 (in our collection), Decaris and Dekarem models, in that cat.
The weight of model 10 x 50 was reduced 30-35%. For instance, model 10x50 Decaris standard weight was 43 oz (1219 grams) but light version was 30,5 oz (864,66 grams)
Height - 170 mm (6,69 in) Width over the prism house (fully extended) - 180 mm (7,08 in), underneath of the objectives - 200 mm (7,87 in).
Other Information
The binocular is in a very good condition. It has an original war time leather case. The case is embossed with Waffenamt control stamps WaA 14 with miniature swastika, year 1944 and unreadable producer mark, begins from letter K. On the metal fastening clip is the producer code - frn 43 - Federn-, Draht- u.Metallwarenfabrik Rudolf Lang, Brandenburg/Havel, Koppehlstr.5-7.
The case is fitted with the leather belt loop for carrying binoculars on the user’s waist belt.
   
Pict 7; 10x50 with the original case; 8; the markings on the case 9; marking on the metal strap 9; belt loop
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10 x 50 Dienstglas rln gray model - Carl Zeiss Jena 1944 - Production number 100272
This model was produced by CZJ, It is marked in the war time code - rln. It is a service binocular.
The binocular is a little different from the model described above. It does not have a texture on the body. The paint color is dark gray, which is hardly ever applied on the military model 10x50. It is smooth and very elegant.
The first models of this binocular - rln, under about 85 000 serial numbers were painted black, and did not have coating on the lenses. Around 88 000 manufacture the color on the body and objective tubes was dark gray and on the top and the bottom plates and objective rings was painted black. It had coated optics, giving superior performance against uncoated models.
The coating applied on the binocular lenses is internal. The eye and objective lenses are coated on the surfaces from inside of the binocular. The coating applied at that time was very soft. Applying a coating on the inner surfaces of the lens, prevented the destruction of the blooming. Other models had coating on external area and often it is seen as visible destruction on the blooming, caused by cleaning of the lenses.
Code rln markings was introduced around November 1944.
We are reading about this model in Dr Stephen Rohan book (page 116) - “A guide to Handheld Military Binoculars 1894-1945” : “ After a short battle American forces of the 80th Infantry Division, Third Army entering the Zeiss factory in Jena in April 1945 found many rln marked binoculars still there awaiting shipment. All of these binoculars were shared as “war trophies” by men of that liberating force”.
The rln gray model was produced in size 6x30 with coated lenses, monocular 6x30, and 7x50 gray model.
In our collection is rln 7x50 Gasmask binocular, but in black paint and coated.
Our binocular has a few accessories; a leather rain cover which is suspended on the binocular strap, in different way than some 7x50 blc model
(look page 3 ). Next equipment is a leather strap as to fixed the binocular to a tunic button on the uniform.
The binocular is marked with small +, it does meant that grease applied on the binoculars is able to protect it from damages to a temperature up to -40C. It is the same kind of grease, which was applied on the 10x50 blc model. This type of grease was applied to the binoculars from 1.11.1942. It was time when Germany invaded Russia. In the winter time the temperature in Russia, at that time was very low - it dropped to below -40C. It was essential to change the grease formula.
  
Pict 1, 2, 3; 10 x50 Dienstglas rln, gray model, in our collection; © Anna Vacani
The field of view in linear at a distance of 1000 meters is 128 miters. Diameter of exit pupil is 5 mm.
External Features
The binocular body is made of aluminium alloy with smooth gray paint.
On the right plate is engraved - Dienstglas (Service glass), magnification, production number, war time code of producer and kind of the grease used on the binocular, similar as on the plate on the 10x50 Dienstglas blc model.
 Pict 4; the right prism cover with description; © Anna Vacani
The binocular has a dioptre scale on the ocular tubes, the oculars can be focused from -5 to +5 diopter. On the edge of the cover plates is a vertical mark for lining up on the dioptre scale. On most binoculars this mark is placed on the eyepiece main tube.
 Pict 5; The dioptre scale; © Anna Vacani
It does not have an interocular distance scale on the hinge, and any other markings. The binocular is fitted with the original strap, rain cover and tunic button fixing leather strap.
Internal Features
The binocular is Porro I optical construction; the eyepiece contains 4 elements, the objectives contains two cemented elements.
The lenses are coated in our model. A reticule is not fitted in our model.
 
Pict 6, 7; The objectives and oculars coated; © Anna Vacani
The binocular dimensions
The binocular - weight 1006 grams (2,37 lb). Height - 170 mm (6,69 in) Width over the prism house (fully extended) - 180 mm (7,08 in), underneath of the objectives - 200 mm (7,87 in). The measurements are exactly the same as above model 10x50 blc.
Other Information
The binocular is in exceptional condition. Probably it was not issued to the army. The binocular is in the leather case, marked Carl Zeiss Jena.
 Pict 8; The 10x50 Dienstglas rln with the CZJ case; © Anna Vacani
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10 x 50 Carl Zeiss Jena 1945 - Production number 2307297
The binocular was manufactured in 1945. In some way it is unusual binocular. It was produced from the parts which was left over from the war time manufacturing.
During the war in a view of bombarding, the Carl Zeiss factory moved their spare production machines, outside of Jena in a safe place. In this way it was possible to assemble the binoculars in such quick time, in 1945.
The design of the binocular is mixed up with two previous models; civilian and military Dienstglas. The body is covered with a very nice leather, as in 1930s (see the pictures in the catalogue above) . The prism plates have description as a civilian models, and it does not have a grease symbol.
The other features are the same like the military models described above - blc and rln. The optic is coated as in rln model.
The production number indicates that it was assembled in October 1945. It was manufactured 1000 pieces from remind pieces.
  
Pict 1, 2, 3; 10 x50 Carl Zeiss Jena 1945, in our collection; © Anna Vacani
External Features
The binocular body is made of aluminium alloy with black leather covering. On the metal parts there is black enamel paint with a finish like o pre-war binoculars. On the right plate is engraved magnification 10x50 and production number- 2307297. On the left plate is logo Carl Zeiss Jena. The company was not partition yet at that time, and the Carl Zeiss Jena logo, is in a design as before the war, was applied (Pict 3).
The binocular has a dioptre scale on the ocular tubes, the oculars can be focused from -5 to +5 diopter. On the edge of the cover plates is a vertical mark for lining up on the dioptre scale, as it was on rln model. The hinge central pin is the same type as war time production models. It does not have a eye width scale.
 Pict 4; The dioptre scale - 10x50 Carl Zeiss Jena 1945; © Anna Vacani
The binocular is fitted with the original leather strap.
Internal Features
The binocular is Porro I optical construction; the eyepiece contains 4 elements, the objectives contains two cemented elements.
The lenses are internally coated, as it is in rln model.
 
Pict 5, 6; The objectives and oculars coated; © Anna Vacani
The binocular dimensions
The binocular - weight 1016 grams (2,21 lb). The height and width are the same as the models blc and rln; Height - 170 mm (6,69 in); Width over the prism house (fully extended) - 180 mm (7,08 in), underneath of the objectives - 200 mm (7,87 in).
Other Information
The binocular is in exceptional condition. Probably it was never used. The binocular is in the leather case, which is much better finished than the case for rln model. The case has embodied logo of Carl Zeiss Jena, on the top edge.
 Pict 7; The 10x50 Carl Zeiss Jena 1945 with the CZJ case; © Anna Vacani
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10 x 50 Dienstglas cxn - Emil Busch 1944 - Production number 397898
The binocular was manufactured in 1944 by Emil Busch Rathenow. It is in some way exceptional. The binoculars’ body is made from aluminium alloy and steel. All manufacturers, at the war time, produced hand binoculars from aluminium alloy. Aluminium was imported from neutral Sweden.
In this way, the question arises - why it was partly produced from such heavy metal and causing a small discomfort in holding binoculars in the hands of the solders.
The binocular weight is 1337 gram (2,151 lb).
Next question come up - was it an influent of Carl Zeiss Jena, which was at that time share holders of Emil Busch company or it was an experiment with new material used to produce the binoculars ?
It is difficult to give a proper answer for these questions, today.
Emil Busch produced from aluminium alloy and steel other models of binoculars: 6x30; 20x120.
   
Pict 1,2,3; 6x30 Dienstglas cxn from Frank Doherty collection; © F. Doherty Pict 4; 20x120 cxn; © Terry Vacani
A 10x50 Dienstglas cxn model was seen with a description on both plates; civilian and with war time code.
  
Pict 5,6,7; 10x50 Dienstglas cxn on the right plate and Busch on the left plate from Salvatore Luparello collection; © Salvatore Luparello
The description on the left plate is a little strange. We have not seen that short description of Emil Busch factory, only word Busch.
It was seen descriptions as: “ Busch - Prisma Binocle on Terlux 18x; or “R Busch” on Terlux 18x46 and 12x35 in our collection;
 Pict 8 ; markings on Terlux 18x46 Emil Busch, and Terlux 12x35 in our collection, described on page 1 German p1
The Solluxon 6x30 model has similar description only below word Busch is added the word Rathenow.
It could be put on, after the war, by a shop for better sale. Particularly, that since November 1940 the war codes were used and follow the production number - 362830, this binocular was manufactured in ca. 1944.
The model 10x50 Dienstglas cxn was manufactured in an economical way.The binocular does not have a dioptre scale on the ocular tubes only a vertical line and mark “+” and ” - “. On the edge of the cover plates is a vertical mark for lining up to the tiny vertical mark on the ocular tube. These markings is difficult to notice.
 Pict 9; 10x50 Dienstglas cxn markings on the tubes and on the cover plates
It does not have an interocular distance scale on the hinge, as well, and any other markings.
  
Pict 10, 11, 12; 10x50 Dienstglas cxn in our collection; © Anna Vacani
External Features
The binocular body is made of aluminium alloy and steel with black texture paint. After dissembling the binocular, we learnt that the still parts are: objective tubes assembly; top and bottom plates; eyepiece assembly; bending bar parts. The main body is made from aluminium alloy. The eye cups are made from Bakelite. The most odd is the central bending bar pin. The bending bar tension is achieved by a screw in plug to a captive nut on the top and on the bottom is the same system. It has a steel rotating tub mounted between the top inner and bottom inner bending bar. Both the top and bottom inner nuts have locating slots on to body protrusions
The same system we can observe on the Bakelite 6x30, produced by Emil Busch, without the space metal tube.
 Pict 13; 6x30 Dienstglas cxn Bakelite, without hinge in Dr Stephen Rohan collection; © Stephen Rohan
On the right plate of our 10x50 is engraved - Dienstglas (Service glass), magnification, production number, a triangle indicated what kind of the grease was used on the binocular, and war time code of producer. On the left plate is no markings.
 Pict 14; The right plate 10x50 Dienstglas cxn, with the description © Anna Vacani
On this binocular was applied different type of grease, than used on blc and rln models. This kind of grease is able to protect binoculars from damages from - 40C to a temperature up to +50C.
The binocular is fitted with Bakelite rain cover.
Internal Features
The binocular is Porro I optical construction; the eyepiece contains 4 or 5 elements, the objectives contains two cemented elements. The prisms are in an usual scolloped, shaped in this way to fit around the internal eye piece metal work. If you need to change the top prism you have to have the correct one to fit the side of the one you are replacing.
Bottom prisms are not shaped in similar way, and are interchangeable from the left or the right side.
You can see these scolloped shaped prisms used in the Carl Zeiss Jena 7x50 Binoctem central focus model (short model - war time). This shape is seen in 8x40 short model light weight - war time, as well. Only the dimensions of the prisms are different.
  
Pict 15 ; left side top prism; 16; bottom right side prism; 17; top left prism and bottom prism; ©Anna Vacani
The lenses are uncoated. In the right eyepiece is fitted a reticule.
The binocular dimensions
The binocular - weight is 1337 gram (2,94 lb). The height and width are the same as the models blc and rln; Height - 170 mm (6,69 in); Width over the prism house (fully extended) - 180 mm (7,08 in), underneath of the objectives - 200 mm (7,87 in).
Other Information
The binocular is in an original war time leather case, with war time code gmk. It was made by Kroymann & Co. G.m.b.H., Schuh- u.Sportartikel-Fabrik, Hamburg 26, Wendenstr. 388-392 . The case is embossed with Waffenamt control stamps WaA 219 with miniature swastika.
  
Pict 18, 19, 20; The binoculars’ case and war time producer code; © Anna Vacani
The case is fitted with the leather belt loop for carrying binoculars on the user’s waist belt.
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Page Back pages: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (8a) (9)
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