Germany became a leader in optical design, technical innovation and manufacturing of optical instruments during the 1940’s, specifically those crafted by Carl Zeiss, whose company continues to manufacture high quality optics to this day.
German Optical & Precision Instrument Three Letter Codes 1940
During hostilities, the German Government tried to hide the names of the factories still in production.
They issued every factory with a unique code which was engraved on the instrument
instead of the makers...
Frederick Kollmorgen was a German skilled in optics who, after some time honing his craft in Vienna and London, came to New York in the early 1900’s. When the US Navy placed a bid for periscopes,...
On the 25th of July, 1917, three leading optical manufacturers (Fuji, Tokyo Keiki Seisaku Sho and Iwaki Glass) joined together to form Nippon Kogaku K. K. Though we know the company now as Nikon Corporation, famous for its professional photo equipment of the same name,...
The 10x80 Flak binoculars are large observation binoculars made by Germany during the Second World War. They have a 45 degree angle between the eyepieces and the objective lenses. They were manufactured by 6 different manufacturers and between 150....
In 1873, Matsugoro Asakura traveled to Austria for Japanese government sponsored study of optical manufacturing; returning in 1875 to build a lens making factory, also with government assistance. Matsugoro died before finishin...
