below bargain level binocular is a Taylor Mark II 9x35 that cost me $9 in a pawn shop in Montana. The Taylor name has appeared for many years on thermometers, weather instruments, and similar devices. This is a sturdy and well-made binocular that has central focusing as well as individual focusing for the right eye. The actual manufacturer of this binocular is un- known, but represented as KOC. The lenses are coated and it is a very solid unit with very little eyepiece shake and no wiggle in the bridge. General data for this and the other binoculars are shown in the accompanying table. A second binocular that turned


up carries the inscription Torenia Featherlight Coated on one of the top panels and on the other prism the letters OCK (not the same as KOC on other models). This little 6x30 model with a fi ne case cost me $9.99 plus tax in an antique mall in Indiana. As found, the central focusing screw would not turn and movement of the bridge required a lot of force. A little silicone oil and patience remedied these problems. This binocular is rock solid and gives a very sharp view. Because it is compact and light, it has become my vintage binocular of choice for general viewing. A 7x35 model carrying the Sears


name was found in an antique mall in Michigan. This binocular is a 7x35 extra wide angle model with amber coated lenses. Because of it being a wide angle binocular, it is quite bulky and heavy. Also, when an object is in focus in the center of the fi eld, mov- ing the binocular so that the object is at an edge results in a shift of focus. Although it is built like a tank, this bin- ocular is too heavy for my general use. For $15, I walked out of an an-


tique mall in Springfi eld, Ohio, with a Sankyo 6x30 binocular that provides a very sharp image. It is sturdy and the coated lenses give a crisp image throughout the fi eld of view. Because of its light weight and compact size, this binocular would be an excellent choice for general viewing. The next vintage binocular in


my small collection is by far the most unusual. The maker’s mark is the same KOC that appears on the Taylor. Other than that, the bottom of the center shaft reads “Made in Japan Fully Coated


A compact and sharp binocular is this Torenia Featherlight 6x30.


This big Sears binocular gives an exceptionally wide fi eld of view.


One of the best of my vintage binoculars is this compact Sankyo 6x30. www.varminthunter.org Page 57


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117  |  Page 118  |  Page 119  |  Page 120  |  Page 121  |  Page 122  |  Page 123  |  Page 124  |  Page 125  |  Page 126  |  Page 127  |  Page 128  |  Page 129  |  Page 130  |  Page 131  |  Page 132  |  Page 133  |  Page 134  |  Page 135  |  Page 136  |  Page 137  |  Page 138  |  Page 139  |  Page 140  |  Page 141  |  Page 142  |  Page 143  |  Page 144  |  Page 145  |  Page 146  |  Page 147  |  Page 148  |  Page 149  |  Page 150  |  Page 151  |  Page 152  |  Page 153  |  Page 154  |  Page 155  |  Page 156  |  Page 157  |  Page 158  |  Page 159  |  Page 160  |  Page 161  |  Page 162  |  Page 163  |  Page 164  |  Page 165  |  Page 166  |  Page 167  |  Page 168  |  Page 169  |  Page 170  |  Page 171  |  Page 172  |  Page 173  |  Page 174  |  Page 175  |  Page 176  |  Page 177  |  Page 178  |  Page 179  |  Page 180  |  Page 181  |  Page 182  |  Page 183  |  Page 184  |  Page 185  |  Page 186  |  Page 187  |  Page 188  |  Page 189  |  Page 190  |  Page 191  |  Page 192  |  Page 193  |  Page 194  |  Page 195  |  Page 196  |  Page 197  |  Page 198  |  Page 199  |  Page 200  |  Page 201  |  Page 202  |  Page 203  |  Page 204  |  Page 205  |  Page 206  |  Page 207  |  Page 208  |  Page 209  |  Page 210  |  Page 211  |  Page 212