HOLY GRAIL: 1927 CARL ZEISS JENA 8X60 DECK MOUNTED - KRIEGSMARINE WW2 BINOCULARS
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:249023 | Modified Item: No |
| Featured Refinements: WW2 Binoculars | Country/Region of Manufacture: Germany |
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is my sincere privilege to be able to offer you the Holy Grail for collectors: an extraordinarily rare Kriegsmarine 8x60 Deck Mounted binoculars produced in 1927 by Carl Zeiss, Jena in Germany. Serial number: 1410438. It is engraved with the Imperial Eagle and assigned to a searchlight unit #4378 and has 2 storage pockets for dedicated filters(!) fixed to the prism plates. Fully complete (except filters), fully functional and collimated, fantastic... patina.
After the end of WW1 and signing the Treaty of Versailles in 1919, resulting in complete humiliation of Germany (or what was left of it at the time), there was a whole new generation of Germans growing up in a country that was severely disabled and filled with hatred and a grave feeling of inequality. Hitler tapped into this hatred and gave it direction and thus gained power over time as we all know it. You could say that Germany wanted revenge, badly. Basically they were breaking the Treaty of Versailles which said Germany was not allowed to have an army as they were producing instruments of war faster and faster to the ultimate preparation leading up to the start of WW2 in 1939. This binocular was produced in 1927 and was destined for use within the, soon to be fully reborn Kriegsmarine with Searchlight department aboard of Warships at sea or ashore. The searchlight units were responsible for spotting enemy aircraft at day or night and were then tracking and relaying this information towards the FLAK batteries and then guiding the firing barrages like artillery spotters would.
Being almost 93 years old this particular binocular is in outstanding condition and the visual quality is 99, 8% and considered as Crystal Clear view with just 1 tiny spot in actual view. Prisms in left monocular have no imperfections. One prism in right monocular does have an imperfection, but the view remains uninterrupted and absolutely pristine as can be seen in the carefully prepared photos. The prism plates and internals are cleaned and serviced by OpticalRepair UK and the engravings' "double stamp" is 100% original as the presses as those times were not as good as they were later in WW2. It still has its original circle reticle/strichplatte and comes complete with its original lens caps with leather straps and original screws(!). One strap is detached from one of the caps, but it is surely possible to re-attach it with a new rivet. The leather on the binocular housing is all original and everything you see still connects firmly to the housing, so nothing is coming off. The sunshade slides work smoothly and are functional as well. This binocular has 2 storage pockets for dedicated filters(!) fixed to the prism plates and this addition does not come on any of this type I have seen before until this one. Although it is big and heavy it is definitely possible to hand-held this binocular. There are also photos of soldiers holding and using this by hand effectively, making the certainly one of the largest hand held binoculars from at least WW2 as it is also much bigger than the BLC 8x60 FAT BOY(!).
This binocular is so rare you will most certainly not see it again coming up for auction in many many years to come. When you do it will not be in this condition, but far far worse! In the special event you find this type in high end antique stores, be prepared to pay up to 18.000 GBP to 20.000 GBP if you want it then and then. It's just this rare, especially this complete and clean as is. This binocular will be sold at no reserve so you can bid with 100% confidence. This binocular will be packed very well and will be shipped worldwide with UPS to prevent damages as much as possible. As such the price for shipping is higher than usual. If you want to pick it up in person of course this is no problem at all.
The binocular and its accessories at this auction has extensive description and photo documentation as part of the description. Should you have additional photo requests or questions by all means ask it.
On May-13-19 at 03:13:43 PDT, seller added the following information:UPDATE: 05-13-2019: CLARIFICATION REQUESTS FROM BIDDERS:
On May-13-19 at 11:36:33 PDT, seller added the following information:
On May-15-19 at 10:50:12 PDT, seller added the following information:
On May-19-19 at 13:59:46 PDT, seller added the following information:At the time of writing this is just around the 12 hours left mark. - 154 Watchers - 1241 Views
There is an unusual high traffic around this item. A lot of questions, watchers and views up until this point.
There will be a huge explosion of bidding going on in the final minute. Due to the high traffic Ebay may not be able to accept all bids in the last 10 seconds. Please make sure you leave enough time for your best and final bid to actually register!
Good luck in the bidding war people. Make your best and final bid count!
It is my sincere privilege to be able to offer you the Holy Grail for collectors: an extraordinarily rare Kriegsmarine 8x60 Deck Mounted binoculars produced in 1927 by Carl Zeiss, Jena in Germany. Serial number: 1410438. It is engraved with the Imperial Eagle and assigned to a searchlight unit #4378 and has 2 storage pockets for dedicated filters(!) fixed to the prism plates. Fully complete (except filters), fully functional and collimated, fantastic... patina.
After the end of WW1 and signing the Treaty of Versailles in 1919, resulting in complete humiliation of Germany (or what was left of it at the time), there was a whole new generation of Germans growing up in a country that was severely disabled and filled with hatred and a grave feeling of inequality. Hitler tapped into this hatred and gave it direction and thus gained power over time as we all know it. You could say that Germany wanted revenge, badly. Basically they were breaking the Treaty of Versailles which said Germany was not allowed to have an army as they were producing instruments of war faster and faster to the ultimate preparation leading up to the start of WW2 in 1939. This binocular was produced in 1927 and was destined for use within the, soon to be fully reborn Kriegsmarine with Searchlight department aboard of Warships at sea or ashore. The searchlight units were responsible for spotting enemy aircraft at day or night and were then tracking and relaying this information towards the FLAK batteries and then guiding the firing barrages like artillery spotters would.
Being almost 93 years old this particular binocular is in outstanding condition and the visual quality is 99, 8% and considered as Crystal Clear view with just 1 tiny spot in actual view. Prisms in left monocular have no imperfections. One prism in right monocular does have an imperfection, but the view remains uninterrupted and absolutely pristine as can be seen in the carefully prepared photos. The prism plates and internals are cleaned and serviced by OpticalRepair UK and the engravings' "double stamp" is 100% original as the presses as those times were not as good as they were later in WW2. It still has its original circle reticle/strichplatte and comes complete with its original lens caps with leather straps and original screws(!). One strap is detached from one of the caps, but it is surely possible to re-attach it with a new rivet. The leather on the binocular housing is all original and everything you see still connects firmly to the housing, so nothing is coming off. The sunshade slides work smoothly and are functional as well. This binocular has 2 storage pockets for dedicated filters(!) fixed to the prism plates and this addition does not come on any of this type I have seen before until this one. Although it is big and heavy it is definitely possible to hand-held this binocular. There are also photos of soldiers holding and using this by hand effectively, making the certainly one of the largest hand held binoculars from at least WW2 as it is also much bigger than the BLC 8x60 FAT BOY(!).
This binocular is so rare you will most certainly not see it again coming up for auction in many many years to come. When you do it will not be in this condition, but far far worse! In the special event you find this type in high end antique stores, be prepared to pay up to 18.000 GBP to 20.000 GBP if you want it then and then. It's just this rare, especially this complete and clean as is. This binocular will be sold at no reserve so you can bid with 100% confidence. This binocular will be packed very well and will be shipped worldwide with UPS to prevent damages as much as possible. As such the price for shipping is higher than usual. If you want to pick it up in person of course this is no problem at all.
The binocular and its accessories at this auction has extensive description and photo documentation as part of the description. Should you have additional photo requests or questions by all means ask it.
On May-13-19 at 03:13:43 PDT, seller added the following information:UPDATE: 05-13-2019: CLARIFICATION REQUESTS FROM BIDDERS:
On May-13-19 at 11:36:33 PDT, seller added the following information:
On May-15-19 at 10:50:12 PDT, seller added the following information:
On May-19-19 at 13:59:46 PDT, seller added the following information:At the time of writing this is just around the 12 hours left mark. - 154 Watchers - 1241 Views
There is an unusual high traffic around this item. A lot of questions, watchers and views up until this point.
There will be a huge explosion of bidding going on in the final minute. Due to the high traffic Ebay may not be able to accept all bids in the last 10 seconds. Please make sure you leave enough time for your best and final bid to actually register!
Good luck in the bidding war people. Make your best and final bid count!
