Nitschke Rathenow 6 x 30 binoculars and case for review

[Madashel]

Hi All,

What do you all think of these? I believe them to be german ww2 era but I would love some expert opinions on these! They still work although the lenses are slightly out of focus with each other. I was looking through them yesterday and they have good clear glass and a nice crisp magnification especially for their age.
Comments welcome!

Thanks in advance,

David

[Madashel]

more pics:

[Madashel]

...and 2 more:

[MAUSER99]

bino's

look like a standard prewar set of 6x30's. Case is probably orig. to the bino's but, no way to say for sure. prewar cases are usually hallmarked with the same makers mark.

[Wpgbinocular]

This is definitely not a military binocular and may not be of German manufacture. I have never seen a binocular made by Nitschke Rathenow before and its syling has a very French appearance suggesting it was made in France and branded by a German retailer. Seeger's listing of German WW II optical manufacturers (page 140) does show a Nitsche & Gunther, Optische Werk Rathenow, but the spelling is different than on yours and they may have produced optics other than binoculars. Those small screws on the sides of the housing are for adjusting the prisms in order to collimate (align) the binoculars so as not to get double vision or eyestrain. During this time some respectable makers (mostly French) used this system (some WWI era U.S. binoculars used it too) but the very best makers such as Zeiss or Leitz (excepting Hensoldt roofs) and almost all military binoculars from any country used eccentric rings around the objective lenses to collimate. Your binocular may seem out of focus because it has lost collimation. This can be corrected by moving the prisms by turning these screws. However, before doing so one must first go inside the binocular and loosen the plates securing the prisms or else turning these screws will not move the prism but just cause it to chip. It is a simple adjustment to perform but one best left to a binocular repair specialist. Failing that, some camera repair centers may have a technician who can do this.

[Madashel]

Thanks for that information on these binoculars Wpgbinocular!

I would have never guessed they were french. Still a nice set of binoculars though. I'll keep an eye out for someone who might be able to do the adjustments on these. I love the fact that they still work after all these years. More comments still welcome!

David

[Madashel]

I did some research on these binoculars on google. Every similar example I can find refers to German origin. Anyone else have an opinion on these?

[nickn]

Typically French looking

[Sgt Bilko]

I've seen some with "Made in Germany" on and they became part of the East Germany optics industry with "Made in DDR". I think Noctovist binoculars from East Germany used screws to adjust the prisms too ;

https://jagderleben.landlive.de/boar.../75261/page/1/

https://www.kalaydo.de/kleinanzeigen...30/a/04bf9561/

[Mikedenmark]

Not wanting to go deep into spelling of the name Nitsche, but to me Nitsche in Rathenow was a optical manufacturer.
If I remember correctly that was one of the names related to Busch in Rathenow.
I don´t know if they took over the company or were affilliated.
I also relate the company to spectacles.

Binoculars look cheap, but I see no reason why they cannot be german. Only, not military. Center focus usually means civilian, not being waterproof.