Early Zeiss 7 *50? Weimar?

[Eighty Eight]

Are these the real deal?
Looks like the left prism plate has been replaced.

What sort of date?

[Sgt Bilko]

The serial number matches a batch of 250 Binoctar type DF7x50's made in 1917 and the fonts are typical of Zeiss reworked binoculars. I like them!

[Mikedenmark]

I agree with Bilko.
Looks fine to me.
Typical Zeiss rework job.

Not at all so ordinary markings to the right.

[Eighty Eight]

So when you say "reworked".
What does that mean exactly?

[Mikedenmark]

A WWI binoculars that was later sent to Zeiss for repair/rework.

At that point it must have had at least the left prism plate replaced. The engravings on the left plate looks like other Zeiss reworks from 1920-1940.
Originally, it would have had a Carl Zeiss logo to the left.

I don´t know exactly what it took to have the engraved plates replaced.
Maybe either the plates were damaged, or the bino wasn´t repaired to Zeiss own standards. Or the owner might not want a Zeiss logo.
OR, if reworked by another company, not being Zeiss, they would not engrave a Zeiss logo.

If these reworks were done during WWII, then there may have been a problem with the factory codes.
All new production would have a code, like blc. But reworks? You are not allowed to deliver with full company name, and you have to put something the new plate.
Using the original maker name and bino type may be a solution.

A nice binocular just the same. The Weimar eagle shown here, is rare.

[Eighty Eight]

Thank-you for sharing your knowledge.
Interesting, I am not sure of prism/glass condition, but can clean them myself.
I am thinking of buying.
What would they be worth?

[Mikedenmark]

weeeell, value would be next to nothing. heh heh
But as your friend, I am willing to offer 50.-
You choose between dollars, euro´s or pounds.

I don´t want to go into value.
If you are interested in old binoculars, then you must decide what it is worth for you.

That´s what most of us has to do in a similar situation. Those of us not happily married. The married one´s may have to take into account completely irrelevant arguments related to things like rent, food, kids, and divorce.

One serious note though. Unless you are a skilled repairman, I would recommend not to clean it. Just leave it as found.

I do not expect them to go under £ 50.- at the auction. That´s for sure.

[Eighty Eight]

Thank you.
I may have a dabble.

Done quite a few bino clean ups.
Cameras are my thing really. Old ones anyway,
cleaning up selling on etc.

[Mikedenmark]

It went for £ 650.- on the hammer.
No bids from the room. Only preauction bids.

[Eighty Eight]

I bid 75 quid.
Need a new van. Unfortunately that takes priority!
Are they yours now?

[Mikedenmark]

Nope, not mine. I need to eat every day.
I did follow the auction online out of a vain hope everybody else might be on vacation. Apparently they weren´t.

Still, I like them very much. But the world is full of things I like and cannot have.