Old binoculars, 7x50, Navy Bureau of Ships
Chris O'Connor
at a thrift shop with a nice (but old) leather case.
They're engraved "Spencer Lens Co., Buffalo NY" and
US NAVY BU. of SHIPS
I want to know if these were special purpose; used in
the war or ?
Someone told me they are probably from the 1940s.
My birdwatcher friends are laughing, saying they are too
heavy. But the optics are really great. I probably should
get them totally cleaned somehow. It looks like there are tiny
screws you could open to get inside. I would have to get
an expert to do that.
Christine O'Connor
=====
Moderator's Note: If, indeed, these are pre-1918 or post-1950
binoculars, then WE CANNOT POST THE REPLY BECAUSE IT WOULD BE OFF
TOPIC!
Have some consideration for the Moderator's workload -- if they *are*
off topic, then PLEASE reply DIRECTLY TO THE POSTER.
Bill Shatzer
On Sun, 28 Jul 2002, Chris O'Connor wrote:
> I just bought some very hefty and well-made old binoculars
> at a thrift shop with a nice (but old) leather case.
> They're engraved "Spencer Lens Co., Buffalo NY" and
> US NAVY BU. of SHIPS
> I want to know if these were special purpose; used in
> the war or ?
The Spencer Lens Company was a manufacturer of microscopes
and similar scientific instruments but like many companies
was drafted into the war effort post December 7, 1941. They
produced a variety of optical instruments for the military
including several models of binoculars.
At least the Spencer Lens Company ended up making products
fairly closely akin to their civilian business - unlike, for
instance, Rockola, the juke box maker, or the Underwood
Typewriter Company which ended up making M1 carbines.
A listing (circa 1944) of US Navy WWII binoculars is available at:
http://home.europa.com/~telscope/us44bnoc.txt
You're on your own to try and match your binoculars with
any of the various 7x50 Spencer marks listed - although
from your description, it almost certainly is not the
Mk.30 which is listed as "waterproof".
> Someone told me they are probably from the 1940s.
> My birdwatcher friends are laughing, saying they are too
> heavy.
Weight is a consideration for Army binoculars which are
often carried considerable distances on foot. Weight is less
a consideration with Navy binoculars which are seldom carried
any greater distance than from the starboard side of the bridge
to the port side.
The binoculars almost certainly date between 1942 and 1944.
> Moderator's Note: If, indeed, these are pre-1918 or post-1950
> binoculars, then WE CANNOT POST THE REPLY BECAUSE IT WOULD BE OFF
> TOPIC!
Not to worry - the Spencer Lens Company changed its name to
the Instrument Division of American Optical in 1945 so the
binoculars are pre-1945. And the Bureau of Ships was created
in 1940 so the "US NAVY BU. of SHIPS" inscription would indicate
procurment after that date.
The things you can learn with a google search! :-)
Cheers and all,
Cub Driver
>They're engraved "Spencer Lens Co., Buffalo NY" and
>US NAVY BU. of SHIPS
>
>I want to know if these were special purpose; used in
>the war or ?
>
7x50 glasses were the standard in the U.S. military (and may still be,
for all I know). They are excellent for low-light conditions, and
seven power is about all a normal person can handle without shaking
the image (your bird watching friends routinely use up to 10 power
glasses, but they are not normal, or at least are not in combat). A
platoon leader generally had a pair of 7x50s dangling on his chest,
and your example shows that the navy used them also. (A civilian
sailor usually goes for 7x30 because they are lighter.)
all the best -- Dan Ford (email: in...@danford.net)
see the Warbird's Forum at http://www.danford.net
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