brentwood
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/04/05
Posts: 2042
Loc: BC Canada
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I have a few older, wide angle 7x35s, but the Bushnell Rangemaster is way above any of them in quality.
They may have been the most expensive Bushnell ever made as I have a 1980 Consumer reports that shows the Bushnell Custom 7x50 & 10x50 (probably the best they ever imported) retailing for $375 with the Rangemaster at $450!
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Big telescope.Small telescopes.
Ridiculous binocular collection
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orbitaljump
professor emeritus
Reged: 01/29/06
Posts: 508
Loc: Charleston, SC
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Ive owned the the Bushnell Customs in several configs. I didnt like the ergos, but the optics were pretty good.
Similarly I dont like the Sears Discover and Chinon Countryman ergos but the optics are pretty good.
Big and bulky.
I like the contoured barrels of the "standard" style. I didnt like the B&L Customs from the 90s (8x36) ergos, that had the prism housings "upside down."
Yeah, Ive been looking for a Rangemaster.
FWIU, the Rangemasters were used in Vietnam as well as an official issue binocular for some troop types.
Ive had a couple Bushnell Featherweights, a decent binocular in good shape.
One thing you have to watch out for with these older binoculars is too many shirt cuff swipes on the dirty gritty eyepieces.
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My God, it's full of stars!
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Edited by orbitaljump (12/06/08 03:02 PM)
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orbitaljump
professor emeritus
Reged: 01/29/06
Posts: 508
Loc: Charleston, SC
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Swift Commodore Mark II 7x50 376ft. BaK4 Prisms. Made in Japan. JB56
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Erik D
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/28/03
Posts: 4066
Loc: Central New Jersey, USA
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Brentwood,
I recall seeing the Bushnell Customs in a multi-page Bushnell catalog from the early 1970s. I think they were promoted as "eye glass friendly" with extra long eye relief. The Bushnell catalog from that era was quite impressive, with dozens of binocular models, monoculars, tripods and accessories.
I picked up a pair of 7X35 Customs at my local flea market earlier this year. Price was $20 USD. I have been going to flea markets and yard sales for about 20 years. This is the 2nd pair I felt was in good enough condition I wanted to purchase. (The first pair was a pair of 7X50 Tasco EWA with 10 deg FOV but asking price was ~$40)
This pair came with a nice black leather case. Leather straps for the binocular and case are intact and looked like they will last another 20 years with care. The objectives have deep blue purple anti reflection coating rivaling some of the better modern binos. Looks like the objectives have never been touched. If they had someone did an exceptional job cleaning them. Lens caps for the EPs are missing but I have others that would fit.
They are built solid. Feels like a quality binocular when I pick them up but light enough to carry all day. I wish they had wider fov than the 7 deg 40 min.
According to Fan Tao's web page they are from the early to mid 1960s. Does your 1980 Consumer report show a 7X35 model? If so how much?
Here is link to Fan Tao's page:
http://fantao.home.att.net/cust7x35.htm
Mine look exactly like the earlier model but are in much better condition than the one in the photos. They are not new but look like someone used them for a few times and put them back in the case for the next 40 years. Leather straps still deep black and soft.
ERik D
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brentwood
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/04/05
Posts: 2042
Loc: BC Canada
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Funny that as I really like the feel of my Custom 10x50, and yes the optics were really good. I've looked through the 7x50 and thought they were excellent except I can't remember what the eye relief was like. I have some 8x36 Custom and think they are really good with nice eye relief and prefer them to the 10x40 version that I also have.
I'm not sure what you mean by the prisms being upside down.
I also read about the Rangemasters being used in Vietnam but I don't think either of mine were. I have two versions, one with the prism housing 'cut-offs' in well used condition and the other is almost like new.
I think the Bushnell Featherweight are a close relative.
The only thing wrong with these series is you have to look at THOUSANDS of low end Bushnells just to make sure you don't miss them.
I found that in Pawn Shops in the US West you have to be careful about what you say about the low end Bushnells as they all seem to think they are ALL really high quality!
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Big telescope.Small telescopes.
Ridiculous binocular collection
Be sincere, even if you don't mean it.
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orbitaljump
professor emeritus
Reged: 01/29/06
Posts: 508
Loc: Charleston, SC
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Quote:
The only thing wrong with these series is you have to look at THOUSANDS of low end Bushnells just to make sure you don't miss them.
LOL!
What I mean is that the round part of the prism housing is on the bottom and the flat part is on the topside.
In the usuall configuration, the flat side is supported by the outstretched thumbs and the round side you fingers curl around.
Its an interesting binocular....B&L Custom 8x36....and has good optics...thought the FOV is tightish. Probably will be a collectors item in a couple of decades for the "upside down" prism housings.
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My God, it's full of stars!
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orbitaljump
professor emeritus
Reged: 01/29/06
Posts: 508
Loc: Charleston, SC
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I had the 10x50 Bushnell Customs...sold them to somebody in Wyoming.
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My God, it's full of stars!
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Edited by orbitaljump (12/06/08 03:46 PM)
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brentwood
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/04/05
Posts: 2042
Loc: BC Canada
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I would have to do some digging to find that book again but I'm fairly certain the 7x35 are not in there. I have only come across a very rough Custom 7x35 that I passed on. I just tried my Custom 10x50 and Rangemaster for eye relief and found that I do not get the full field with glasses on, but I do with the 8x36. I dont know about the 10x40 as I'm reluctant to turn the rubber down.
On edit. Yes I could see what you meant as soon as I picked them up.
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Big telescope.Small telescopes.
Ridiculous binocular collection
Be sincere, even if you don't mean it.
Edited by brentwood (12/06/08 03:49 PM)
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orbitaljump
professor emeritus
Reged: 01/29/06
Posts: 508
Loc: Charleston, SC
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Im showing $149 for the Bushnell Rangemaster from about 1969 catalog.
Just for clarity's sake....there are older Bushnell Customs in 8x36 and 9x36 configs(plus 10x50, 7x50, 7x35) and there are newer 90's National Audubon Society stamped Bausch and Lomb Customs in 8x36 and 10x40 configs.
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My God, it's full of stars!
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Edited by orbitaljump (12/06/08 07:33 PM)
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orbitaljump
professor emeritus
Reged: 01/29/06
Posts: 508
Loc: Charleston, SC
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Brentwood, can you post pictures? Pics make this thread extra enjoyable....and Ive heard you have quite the collection.
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My God, it's full of stars!
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orbitaljump
professor emeritus
Reged: 01/29/06
Posts: 508
Loc: Charleston, SC
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Brentwood, do you have the highly stylized version of the Rangemasters?
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My God, it's full of stars!
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orbitaljump
professor emeritus
Reged: 01/29/06
Posts: 508
Loc: Charleston, SC
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Here is another.
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My God, it's full of stars!
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woodsman
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 03/12/08
Posts: 2409
Loc: Colorado Springs, CO
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Hello guys:
What is your impression of Nippon Kogaku Binoculars??
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artisticwoods
C-14 Orange Tube, New Old C-11 Orange Tube, C-8, C-5, C-90 Astro Model, C8 Schmidt Camera 8" f1.5, C5.5 Schmidt Camera f1.65, SPI 42mm f/19 Refractor, Sears 90mm f/15.56 Ref, Sears 80mm f/15 Ref, Scope 60mm f/11.7, Sears 50mm f/12, Unitron model 128 60mm/900mm
My Cat can Beat up your Dob....
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orbitaljump
professor emeritus
Reged: 01/29/06
Posts: 508
Loc: Charleston, SC
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Thats JB7 Nikon made stuff.
Its pretty good. Depends on the model though. What model are you wanting to know about.
Some of them have small eyepiece outer lenses which I dont like.
Definitely collectors interest in them as well.
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My God, it's full of stars!
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orbitaljump
professor emeritus
Reged: 01/29/06
Posts: 508
Loc: Charleston, SC
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Looks like you have some fantastic vintage Refractors there. I had a Sears 80mm which I wish I hadnt sold...and almost picked up a 76mm Sears at one time...and wish I had. LOL!
Never Seen an old Sears 90mm though...got a pic of some of your scopes. Send me an email. Youve got the classic Tasco Red 60mm as well.
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My God, it's full of stars!
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Edited by orbitaljump (12/07/08 01:58 AM)
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brentwood
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/04/05
Posts: 2042
Loc: BC Canada
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$149 in 1969 to $450 is possible as there was a lot of inflation during the 70s and early 80s. I am not too sure of the value in that book, but I know it was about $75 more than the large Custom models.
I have never put a picture on, never figured out how, but we do have Son & DIL visiting so I could try over next day or so.
Nippon Kogaku is as Jump says, Nikon and their early stuff was all really good. I have two 8x30 ($15 each) and they are both really good, also a 7x35 from Value Village &29.95 with a really nice leather case, looks new.
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Big telescope.Small telescopes.
Ridiculous binocular collection
Be sincere, even if you don't mean it.
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orbitaljump
professor emeritus
Reged: 01/29/06
Posts: 508
Loc: Charleston, SC
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Brentwood, Im pretty sure that the larger Customs and the Rangemaster were discontinued and never made it to the 80s, probably sometime in the late 70s they were discontinued. But Consumer Reports used to carry recomendations over from yesteryear. I can remember the EPI 100s being ranked high for years even when EPI moved on to the T/E 100s.
However the Custom Compact continues to this day.
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My God, it's full of stars!
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Edited by orbitaljump (12/07/08 01:02 AM)
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strdst
Post Laureate
Reged: 03/23/08
Posts: 3181
Loc: Oregon Territory
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Quote:
Hello guys:
What is your impression of Nippon Kogaku Binoculars??
Hi Rich,
So this is where you've been. I've got a pair of Nippon Kogaku 7 X 35's I stumbled across because I needed a pair for a bird class. I was so blown away by how bright and sharp they are, I bought a Nippon Kogaku 6.5 CM scope without much hesitation. Charen thought they are circa 1959. Like orbitaljump said J-B7 and until just now I thought that was J-87. I needed a jeweler's loupe to make that 8 into a B!
other Keith
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KennyJ
The British Flash
Reged: 04/27/03
Posts: 20139
Loc: Lancashire UK
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What a remarkable co - incidence that in so many photos of binoculars , we happen to see books about either birds or astronomy in the same shot ! :-)
Kenny
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Milton Wilcox R.I.P
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Simon S
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/07/07
Posts: 2206
Loc: Crawley West Sussex UK
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In responce to Orbitaljump's Jason statesman, here is the 7x35 model. They where unopened when I bought them and are very wide at 604ft@1000yards. Centre focus is sharp but soft after 50%. I find the focus control a bit over sensitive although it does allow fast focusing.
Please note me answer to strdst's book!
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All binocular repairs are undertaken at your own risk. I cannot be held responsible for any damage to any instrument resulting from my suggestions.
My binocular collection
Binoculars by date of addition
Binoculars in Alphabetical order
Edited by Simon S (12/07/08 06:42 AM)
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