MSS marked Zeiss 8 x 60 Kriegsmarine binoculars - tables of MSS and serial numbers

[Lauritz]

One of the best movies ever!
Yes, I saw one being used there.
Any idea what the bino one of the crew (the South American German) attached to the Target instrument?
Another 8x60? The objektiv looks that size?

[Sgt Bilko]

I can't recall but probably a UDF 7x50. When damaged, they could be replaced with an 8x60 (my fat one has clamp marks and a reticle too)

https://i.pinimg.com/736x/91/bc/e0/9...b51a768249.jpg

These could wwithstand diving depth but obviously the 8x60's couldn't and would have to be removed before diving.

[zeissasembi]

Replace a fat one with the udf? Fat one do have bigger centerrod than the udf.

[Mikedenmark]

The grey mount is definitely grey. Only, it is not designed like the black one. Different shape. But, yes, grey.
Bino itself looks like the early prewar 8x60 to me. Possibly with filters.

[Lauritz]

Now this may sound totally crazy and sacrilegious, but it should be possible to make a kind of copy of both the (small) swan neck, and the tubular one ( as in the link Sgt Bilko provided)
Unless I can scrounge a similar looking part as the swan neck, the easiest but still strong solution would be using quality plywood.
For the tubular one a scuba tank and work on that.

I want to be able to mount them on a tripod and use them.


( Sorry to have taken this thread off topic, if the moderator finds this not acceptable, I can start a new thread)

[zeissasembi]

The grey mount is definitely grey. Only, it is not designed like the black one. Different shape. But, yes, grey.
Bino itself looks like the early prewar 8x60 to me. Possibly with filters.

The big swan is designet for the 8x60 Deckmounted with filters. You will find photoes of it in the zeiss archiv. :-)

[zeissasembi]

Big swanneck

http://www.archive.zeiss.de/szeig.FA...&erg=A&qpos=31

Ident- nummer 2519


Small swanneck for the 8x60 tall : 2545. Version for ships

[zeissasembi]

Like I see it:
Large swanneck : 8x60 Deckmounted

Small swanneck (shipversion): 8x60tall and fat

Small swanneck ( these we normally see): 8x60 tall and fat.

Small clamp #1 ( for tripod, baumschaube etc) : 8x60ies with thick centerrod.

Small clamp#2( for tripod etc) : 8x60tall with thin centerrod. Will also fit 8x60 deckmounted and some 7x50

How many other mountings for binoculars there have been made? Not easy to know. Hopefully someone will find out.

Some example: uzo, tuza2, bnza,RP40 ...........................


Btw: 8x60 fat do have thick centerrod and udf thin centerrod. The fat one don't fit the uzoclamp. The BNZA 8X60 do have thin centerrod but it wouldn't fit the udf clamp either. I have tried on a Tuza2a

[Sgt Bilko]

Replace a fat one with the udf? Fat one do have bigger centerrod than the udf.

If the fat one was solely for U boats and some have reticles, it must have been mounted. A hand held single line reticle is useless otherwise. Maybe an adaptor was used?


E Boats also had the facility to replace their targetting UDF with a 7x50H complete with added quick sights.

PS You beat me to it!

[zeissasembi]

I think 7x50H is ok vs udf

RP 40 - there is thin and thick clamp to put on top for the binos.

Adapters ? I think so but never seen.

[Lauritz]

The early one ( MSS 47) has exactly the same reticule as the late non MSS Blc 8x60
A thin straight vertical line running from edge to edge with a very short horizontal line crossing it in the middle.

[dariodubai]

M.s.s. 1688

2219 sold earlier this week
https://www.finn.no/bap/forsale/ad.h...kode=174649544

Hello there,

I just joined this group.
The reason is that I inherited from my dad a MSS binoculars in excellent conditions, and I’m planning sell/trade it.

MSS 1688-.pdf

A while ago a friend got some info about it, from this website:

T = coated optics
blc = Manufacturer cose for Zeiss
8x60 = magnification
M = Marine

And so on...
Would anybody kindly provide me any guidance ...(?)

Thanks in advance
Paulo
dariodubai@yahoo.com

[Lauritz]

Depends on what you want for it. The last 6 months I have seen a couple ( 4 or so?) for sale, which is weird, as they are supposed to be rare as hen’s teeth!

That one seems to be a nice example. Pity about the scratches!

Does it still retain the serial number plate on the hinge?