Prism Binoculars

Description:

This is a brass instrument covered, in large part, with dark leather. The exposed parts have a black japan finish. The objective lenses are 9 mm diameter. The eye end of the left prism housing is marked “Zeiss Stereo Field Glass / PAT. JUNE 22, 97 / Power +8.” That on the right is marked “Bausch & Lomb Optical Co. / ROCHESTER, N.Y.” The top of the center post is marked “7530.” The eyepieces are separately adjustable, as is the inter-ocular distance and the focus overall.

Bausch & Lomb was licensed by Carl Zeiss, Jena, to produce prism binoculars under Ernst Abbe’s several patents, using Schott glass made in Jena. The central focus, as found in this example, is a feature that Zeiss added after 1900.

Patent Date: 1897-06-22Production Dates: ca 1900-1920Date Made: 1900-1920

Licensor: Zeiss, CarlMaker: Bausch & Lomb Optical Company

Location: Currently not on view

Place Made: United States: New York, Rochester

See more items in: Medicine and Science: Physical Sciences, Science & Mathematics, Optics

Exhibition:

Exhibition Location:

Credit Line: Nicholas Grossman

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: 1982.0001.02Accession Number: 1982.0001Catalog Number: 1982.0001.02

Object Name: binoculars

Physical Description: aluminum (principal overall material)brass (crossbars, posts, etc. material)leather (scope covering material)glass (lens material)black (overall color)painted (overall production method/technique)Measurements: closed: 102 cm x 120 cm x 50 cm; 40 5/32 in x 47 1/4 in x 19 11/16 inoverall: 110 mm x 135 mm; 4 5/16 in x 5 5/16 inoverall: 2 1/2 in x 4 3/4 in x 4 1/8 in; 6.35 cm x 12.065 cm x 10.4775 cm

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a1-3944-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_334162

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