Friday, 29 August 2025

Binoculars of Unusual Design


Here, I will take a look at some of the binoculars in my collection that don't conform to the norms of traditional binocular design. Classic binoculars of Galilean, Porro-prism, or roof-prism design, have for much of their history conformed to certain aesthetic and functional design traditions that we're all familiar with. From time to time, however, makers have come up with interesting and unusual deviations from this, some of which are a disaster, and some of which work pretty well. Here are just a few of them:

Here are two pairs of triple-optic Galilean binoculars by Lemaire of Paris. These were manufactured for international sale, frequently bearing a brand-name of the retailer. They have a small knob on the side which, when turned, selects one of three pairs of eyepiece lenses. These are Theatre for closer observation, Field for medium distances, and Marine for long distances. The knob has the Lemaire bee symbol on it.


 

The larger pair shown here has the classic Lemaire bee symbol on the knob, but no maker's or retailer's name. The three lens positions on this are marked Teatro, Campo, and Marina, suggesting they were exported for sale in Italy.


The smaller pair has the retailer's name W. Heath, Plymouth, on the eyepieces, along with the bee symbol. William Heath was an optician and scientific instrument maker trading in Plymouth, England during the late 19th century.

This next pair is also from Lemaire. It is a pair of clam-shell style folding opera glasses, made during the late 19th century. It came in a pigskin pouch with a clasp, which was probably original.  

Although this is a little awkward to hold to the eyes, it works perfectly, and is a superb little opera glass. The clam-shell is covered in dark brown leather, and the eyepieces are marked Lemaire Fabt Paris, along with the bee symbol. The bee symbol also appears on the end-plate for the central focusing bar.

 

This is a pair of miniature Porro prism binoculars, perhaps designed as an opera glss. They are only 85mm wide at the widest point With no maker's name, this pair is a bit of a mystery.


 

With 3x magnification, 12.5mm objective, and adjustable interocular distance of approximately 58mm to 68mm, this is a surprisingly useable and fun little pair of binoculars.

Back with the folding binocular concept, here we have a pair by Mars, inscribed:

Jumelle "Mars"
Brevetée France Étranger
Modèle Militaire.

 

Brevetée France Étranger is French for Patented in France and abroad. Whether this was genuinely used as a military binocular, I do not know.


This next folding binocular is by Zenith, marked as Super Zenith.

This is very similar to the Tasco binoculars used by Timothy Dalton in an early scene of the Bond film, The Living Daylights. Fun as these binoculars are, I cannot believe that this kind has ever been used by the Secret Service.

Here we have another concept that works far better than you might imagine. This is the Kershaw Sportsman, designed to be worn like a pair of glasses. Once again we come back to Timothy Dalton as Bond, who wore a pair similar to these in - you guessed - The Living Daylights.

With a relatively low magnification of about 2 or 2½, these Kershaw binoculars give a surprisingly useful view, for example, at a sporting event such as horse-racing, where too much magnification narrows the field-of-view too far. Each barrel focuses individually, and the interocular distance can be adjusted.


This next one is a humdinger. It is Aitchison's Patent Pocket Binocular Field Glasses.


There is a lot to say about this very special pair of binoculars, which is why I've given it a blog post of its own, which you can see here.


For more information about binoculars, the makers mentioned here, and a great deal more, refer to Brass and Glass: Optical Instruments and Their Makers. Please click here, or on the cover image to the right, to find out more. 


All photos and text © Tony Benson 2025

Wednesday, 20 August 2025

Index by Location - Brass and Glass: Optical Instruments and Their Makers


 Brass and Glass: Optical Instruments and Their Makers contains over three thousand alphabetically listed entries, many of which are for companies or people who were makers of optical instruments.

So, how do you find who the instrument makers were from the USA, or Germany, or London, or another country of interest?

In this post, you will find an index of the makers ordered by country and region. Since this is quite large, I have also provided indices for some countries as separate lists. Each is provided here as a link to a PDF file in Dropbox. You don't need to log on to Dropbox - just click on the link to view the file, and use the download feature if you wish to keep a copy of the file.

    

Firstly the full index: 

Makers by Country and Region

Smaller indices for frequently mentioned countries, indexed by region:

Austria 

England - London

England - Outside London

France

Germany - Alphabetical 

Germany - By Location 

Ireland

Italy

Japan

Netherlands

Russia, USSR, and GDR 

Scotland

Switzerland

USA - Alphabetical

USA - By State

If you don't see the maker you were looking for, please check with the full listing of entries in the book, which you can find here

These indices were prepared by hand. If you spot any typographical errors, ommissions, or errors, please let me know. 

 For full details about the book, and a complete contents list, see here.
 

Sunday, 16 February 2025

Newbold & Bulford Binoculars and Telescopes

N&B Cub 18x

Newbold & Bulford of London, England, were makers of telescopes and binoculars during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

N&B Cub 18x

Most of their telescope models were terrestrial telescopes, sometimes known as spyglasses. These show an erect image, wheras an astronomical telescope usually shows an image inverted either vertically or horizontally (depending on the optical design).


N&B Petrel 30x

They began to use the trade name Enbeeco and, after the second World War, by 1951 or earlier, the name Enbeeco was used extensively on their products.

Enbeeco Merlin 20-40x

In 1960 Newbold & Bulford collaborated with Ross Ltd. to produce the Ross Enbeeco 13x60 binoculars. In 1975 Newbold & Bulford bought the stock and goodwill of the company J.H. Steward.

Enbeeco Merlin 20-40x

In October 1991 the company, then trading in Edenbridge, Kent, became Pyser NB (Trading) Ltd., This became part of Pyser-SGI trading at the same address.


Below is listed the various models of telescope and binocular made and sold by Newbold & Bulford


Telescope Models
Binocular Models

Telescope Models


Comet

The Enbeeco Comet (C & S) is 2 draws, 20x magnification with a 35mm objective. It measures 10” closed and 24” extended. It is of brass construction with a leather cover on the main barrel. It has a sliding sunshade, also covered in leather, and two end-caps with a strap attached to leather tabs on the main barrel.

The Enbeeco Comet No. 2 is 2 draws, 25x magnification with a 30mm objective. It measures 10¼” closed and 24½” extended. It is of blackened metal construction with a leather cover on the main barrel. It has a sliding sunshade, also covered in leather, and two end-caps with a strap attached to leather tabs on the main barrel.


Commadore

The Enbeeco Commadore 18x has a single draw with 18x magnification. It measures 17” closed, and 23½” extended. It is of chromium plated metal construction with leather covering on the main barrel.

The Enbeeco Commadore 20x has a single draw with 20x magnification. It has a 30mm objective, and measures 17” closed, and 23½” extended. It is of chromium plated metal construction with leather covering on the main barrel.

Cub

The Newbold & Bulford Cub is 3 draws, 18x magnification with a 24mm objective. It measures 7” closed and extends to 18¼”. It is made of brass, and has a leather cover on the main barrel. It has a press-fit brass cover on the objective.


Curlew

The Enbeeco Curlew is a 2-draw pancratic telescope with a magnification of 25x-40x. It has a 40mm objective. It is of brass construction with a leather cover on the main barrel. It has a sliding sunshade, also covered in leather, and two end-caps with a strap attached to leather tabs on the main barrel.


Do-it-yourself Kit

The Enbeeco Do-it-yourself Kit was sold as a boxed set of parts for the construction of a small astronomical refractor.


Falcon

The Falcon telescope was sold branded both as Newbold & Bulford and Enbeeco. It has 3 draws, and 22x magnification, with a 30mm objective. It measures 6¾” closed, and 17¾” extended. It is made of brass, with a faux-shagreen cover on the main barrel. It has a press-fit brass cover for the objective.


Heron

The Enbeeco Heron is a 2-draw pancratic telescope with a magnification of 12-20x. It measures 5½” closed, and 14” extended. It is of brass construction with a painted main barrel. It was supplied in a canvas pouch.


Hillary-Everest

The Newbold & Bulford Hilary-Everest is a 2-draw pancratic telescope with magnification 25x-40x. It has a 40mm objective, and measures 10¼” closed and 28½” extended. It is made of brass, with a leather cover on the main barrel. It has an extendable sun-shade which is also leather covered. It was produced to commemorate Edmund Hillary’s expedition to Everest in 1953 during which, accompanied by Tenzing Norgay, he was the first person to reach the summit of Everest.


Kestrel

The Enbeeco Kestrel is 3 draws, magnification 25x. It has a 35mm objective, and measures 8” closed, and 20¾” extended. It is of blackened metal construction with faux-shagreen cover on the main barrel.


Lookout

The Newbold & Bulford Lookout was a 3” brass refractor on a wooden tripod.

Merlin

The Enbeeco Merlin is a 2-draw pancratic telescope with a magnification of 20x-40x. It has a 30mm objective, and extends to 22”. It is made of aluminium, with a leather cover on the main barrel, and was sold in a canvas pouch.


Officer of the Watch

The Enbeeco Officer of the Watch x18 is a marine telescope. It has an objective of 30mm and measures 18” closed and 25½” extended. It is of chromium-plated metal construction with leather covering on the main barrel. It has a chromium-plated sliding sun-shade, and an attached leather end-cap.

The Enbeeco Officer of the Watch Mk5 is a single-draw pancratic marine telescope with magnification 18x-30x. It has an objective of 40mm and measures 18” closed and 30” extended. It is of chromium-plated metal construction with leather covering on the main barrel. It has a chromium-plated sliding sun-shade.


Orbit

The Enbeeco Orbit is a spotting scope with 20x magnification and a 30mm objective. It has a tripod mount threaded screw-hole.

Petrel

The Newbold & Bulford Petrel has 2 draws, 30x magnification, with a 35mm objective. It measures 11½” closed, and 25¾” extended. It is made of black painted aluminium, with a faux shagreen cover on the main barrel.


Ranger

The Enbeeco Ranger 30x has 2 draws, 30x magnification, with a 40mm objective. It measures 10¼” closed, and 24” extended. It is made of brass, and has a leather cover on the main barrel.

The Enbeeco Ranger Major is a 2-draw pancratic telescope with magnification 30x-55x. It is of chromium-plated metal construction with a leather cover on the main barrel, and leather end-caps attached to a strap.

The Enbeeco Ranger Pan 25-40x is a 3-draw pancratic telescope with magnification 25x-40x. It has a 40mm objective, and measures 10¾” closed, and 27¼” extended. It is made of brass, with a leather cover on the main barrel.

The Enbeeco Ranger 55 is a 2-draw pancratic telescope with magnification 30X-50x. It has a 40mm objective, and measures 10½” closed, and 27¼” extended. It is made of brass, with a leather cover on the main barrel, and was sold in a canvas pouch.


Vixen

The Enbeeco Vixen is as 3-draw telescope with 30x magnification.


30x30

The Enbeeco 30x30 has 2 draws, 30x magnification, with a 30mm objective. It measures 6¾” closed and 15” extended. It is of chromium plated metal construction with a black-painted main barrel. It was supplied in a leather carrying case.


12-40x40

The Enbeeco 12-40x40 is a pancratic spotting scope with magnification 12x-40x. It has a 40mm objective, and a tripod mount threaded screw-hole.


Binocular Models


 Newbold & Bulford

Viking Minor 8x25; Viking Major 8x30; Imperia 10x35; Britannia 8x43; Britannia 10x50

Enbeeco 

7x50; Night Hawk Minor (Galilean, fixed IPD); Ornithologist 8x30; Navigon 8x50; 10x35; Concord 8x40

Ross Enbeeco 

13x60


If you have information about Newbold & Bulford binocular or telescope models not shown here, please let me know, and I will add them to this post.
 



For more information about Newbold & Bulford, Ross Ltd., telescopes, and binoculars, and other related topics, refer to Brass and Glass: Optical Instruments and Their Makers by Tony Benson

All photos and text © Tony Benson 2025

Wednesday, 4 September 2024

Aitchison's Patent Pocket Binocular Field Glasses


Aitchison's Patent Pocket Binocular Field Glasses, much sought after by collectors, are of a novel folding design, with each tube consisting of an aluminium spiral which folds concertina-style. As the frame folds closed, the barrels close into a puck-shape within the frame. (Note: Please click on the images to enlarge them).

Aitchison & Co. was founded by James Aitchison (1860-1911), who served an apprenticeship with a firm of opticians in High Holborn, London, England.

He established his business at 47 Fleet Street, London, as a practicing optician in 1889. He began to work in partnership with Alexander Thomas Clarkson, trading as Aitchison & Co., but the partnership was terminated in 1891, following which James Aitchison continued the business under the same name.

London addresses that appear on Aitchison's advertisements are: 47 Fleet Street (from 1889); 42 Bishopsgate Street (from 1889); 6 Poultry, Cheapside (from 1893); 428 Strand (from 1895); 167 & 168 Fleet Street; 281 Oxford Street; 12 Cheapside. 

In 1908 they merged with Wray Optical Works Ltd., and in 1927 they acquired Dollond & Co., and began to trade under the name Dollond & Aitchison. They continued in business until 2009 when they merged with the high-street chain Boots, and the name Dollond & Aitchison ceased to be used.


On January 20th 1891, the same year the partnership with Alexander Clarkson was terminated, James Aitchison was awarded UK patent no. 1016 for the folding Field glasses shown here, and on July 4th 1893 he was awarded US patent 500,835, jointly with Thomas Bradley.

The binoculars were made from aluminium, and came in two different specifications:  

  • No. 1. Achromatic Lenses (a first class Race Glass), with 4x magnification, which sold for £3 3s (about £325 in today's money), and 
  • No. 2. Achromatic, 12 Lenses (Superior Quality, Higher Power), with 6x magnification, which sold for £5 5s (about £540 in today's money). 

 


The Patent Pocket Binocular Field Glasses were supplied with a soft leather purse-case or, for 5s extra, a hard leather sling-case, as shown in the headline photo.


These binoculars were issued to British officers during the second Boer War (1899-1902). They were also exported to, among other countries, the USA. 

Captain Craig of the War Depatment in Washington, USA, wrote (according to an Aitchison advertisement): I am directed by Chief Signal Officer of U.S. Army that Aitchison's Patent Pocket Binoculars are found to be extremely convenient and portable, and of good service.


The binoculars pictured in this article are of type No. 2. with 6x magnification. In use, because of the shape of the eyepiece lens-plate, the eyepieces are not particularly convenient to bring close to the eye (although that may simply be because I have a big nose). Also, due to the nature of the construction, the binoculars are prone to collimation errors, giving rise to double image.


They are marked on the inside of the eyepiece lens-plate with serial number 6223, and on both lens end-plates they are marked 5/8.

These Patent Pocket Binoculars were widely advertised. Some scans of original advertisements follow:


Advertisement in The Graphic, September 1st 1894.


Advertisement in The Graphic, November 17th 1894.


Advertisement in The Graphic, December 1st 1894.


For more information about Aitchison & Co., Alexander Thomas Clarkson, Wray Optical Works Ltd., Dollond & Co., Dollond & Aitchison, binoculars, and many more topics, refer to Brass & Glass: Optial Instruments and Their Makers by Tony Benson.



All images © Copyright Tony Benson 2024

Sunday, 17 March 2024

Second Edition - Brass and Glass: Optical Instruments and Their Makers

The second edition of Brass and Glass: Optical Instruments and Their Makers is now available. It is an encyclopaedia of optical instruments, and the individuals and companies, from the earliest to the end of the 20th century, who have made them. Considerably updated, corrected, and expanded on the first edition, it contains over 3000 alphabetical entries, including:

Optical instrument makers and brands
Telescopes
Binoculars
Microscopes
Cameras
Navigation instruments
Scientific instruments
Surveying instruments
Military optical ordnance
Laboratory & educational instruments
Medical instruments
Optical terminology

There are appendices containing information on selected related subjects such as optical glass and eyepiece designs.

The inspiration for the book came from my interests in stargazing, photography, microscopy and bird-watching. I began to take an interest in classic and vintage telescopes, microscopes, binoculars and cameras, as well as other optical instruments. I found the lack of reference material frustrating - I would see an interesting looking vintage telescope at auction, but to find out more about the maker I would have to buy extraordinarily expensive reference books, many of which are out of print. Further, the information I sought was frequently scattered around multiple sources, and time-consuming to collate. I wanted an affordable, simple, encyclopaedic reference in which I could find the name of the maker or optical instrument and a concise, but informative article about them. This book is my attempt to remedy that gap in the literature.

Since the invention of the telescope and the microscope in the early seventeenth cetury there have been countless makers of optical instruments. It would be impossible to include an entry for every one of them. However, it is intended that makers of note should be included, as well as most of the makers the reader might encounter when perusing an auction or boot fair.

A table of contents for the first edition may be found here.

Sunday, 12 February 2023

The History of Scientific Instruments: Book Recommendations on the Theme

If you're interested in old scientific instruments, you can visit museums, you can buy interesting instruments at auction, or you can browse antique shops and fairs. But if you want to know about the history or their development, and the people who made them, you can do no better than reading a good book on the subject.

There are plenty of books to choose from, so which are the best? I've picked five books that I consider to be some of the best on the subject, and I'm pleased to be featured again on the excellent book discovery website, Shepherd.com, where you can find my recommendations, and my reasons for recommending the books, here. You can also browse books by topic or author, and you can explore themed booksheves, where you can find author recommendations on a theme such as science or physics.

If you have a particular interest in optical instruments and the people who made them, take a look at Brass and Glass: Optical Instruments and Their Makers.

This is an encyclopaedia of optical instruments, and the individuals and companies who have made them, from the earliest to the end of the 20th century. It contains over 2000 alphabetical entries, including:

Optical instrument makers and brands; Telescopes; Binoculars; Microscopes; Cameras; Navigation instruments; Surveying instruments; Military optical ordnance; Laboratory & educational instruments; Scientific Instruments; Optical terminology.

There are appendices containing information on selected related subjects such as optical glass and eyepiece designs.

Whether your interest is as a collector, curator, or historian, or simple curiosity, this book is a valuable resource.


Wednesday, 25 January 2023

The Dangers of Discovering New Worlds: Science Fiction Book Recommendations on the Theme

 

I'm thrilled to be featured again on the excellent book discovery website Shepherd.com - this time I'm sharing my recommendations for science fiction on the theme of the dangers of discovering new worlds.

You'll also find that Shepherd.com has plenty of bookshelves for you to browse and, in each one, multiple authors share their themed recommendations on topics such as The best dystopia books, The best books on extraterrestrial life, and many more.

While we're on this theme, in Galactic Alliance: Betrayal, Daniel discovers that the Galactic Alliance is plotting to take over Earth and subject humanity to brutal, dehumanising slavery. He becomes separated from Ruth by astropirates, and is torn between saving her and warning the sceptical Earth governments of the impending danger. Their adventure leads them both to worlds they never knew existed, and into grave danger, plunging them into the heart of the biggest conflict in Earth's history.