da_guy2
super member
Reged: 01/11/06
Posts: 144
Loc: Ottawa, Canada
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Hi,
I posted this in the classic telescope forum but it sort of stratles topics and i thought you guys might have some decent insight so i'm posting it here too.
I was going trough some of my grandfathers stuff the other day and happened across an old (60's or early 70's era) pair of tasco 7x42 'wide angle' binoculars he had. I cleaned them up and had a look. WOW they were ALOT better than i was expecting; better than many modern binoculars I've seen.
Just wondering if anyone had (or knew were i could find) any more information on these.
David
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David
Skymaster 15X70
WO 80 FD 10th Anniversary Edition
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da_guy2
super member
Reged: 01/11/06
Posts: 144
Loc: Ottawa, Canada
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CORRECTIONS! Sorry,
just had someone check them, they're model #116, 7x35, extra wide angle, 551ft at 1000 yards
David
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David
Skymaster 15X70
WO 80 FD 10th Anniversary Edition
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Glassthrower
Vendor - Galactic Stone & Ironworks
Reged: 04/07/05
Posts: 17931
Loc: Oort Cloud 9
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David -
Very generally speaking....(I have NO experience with your particular binocular) ...
Those older Tasco models are usually "Made in Japan", or should say "Japan" somewhere on the body. While not up to the same level of quality as today's Japanese offerings (Fujinon, etc), these older Japan binoculars are considered to be of GOOD quality. Generally speaking (again), one might expect the edge-sharpness to be superior to many of Chinese binoculars now in wide circulation. If your grandfather's old Tascos are free of bad scratches or other major defects, then I would consider them a KEEPER. Get a nice neckstrap (padded camera straps are good) and keep them around for sky sweeping and target spotting.
As for finding information about them - first, try Googling them to death. You might find some firsthand info from another owner. Bearing in mind their age and "discontinued" status, finding direct info from the vendor may be next to impossible. Posting here was a good idea and perhaps someone in the group will have more useful first hand knowledge.
Good luck and clear dark skies...
MikeG
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Michael Gilmer - Member of the Meteoritical Society & Collector of Falling Stars.
☄ ⒼⒶⓁⒶⒸⓉⒾⒸ ⓈⓉⓄⓃⒺ ☞ www.galactic-stone.com
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johnno
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 05/03/04
Posts: 807
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Hi David,
I once had a similar 7x35,with 620ft at 1000 yards,
Unfortunately,in a moment of Stupidity,I separated,the Barrels,to make a wide FOV,finderscope.
Wish I still had them Now,
I have regretted that silly mistake ever since.
Hang on to them David,
You will get a lot of pleasure,from them,I am sure.
Regards.
John
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johnno
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 05/03/04
Posts: 807
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Hi again David,
FAN TAO,s Website,may have some info you might find interesting.
http://fantao.home.att.net/information.htm
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Glassthrower
Vendor - Galactic Stone & Ironworks
Reged: 04/07/05
Posts: 17931
Loc: Oort Cloud 9
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Johnno -
Thanks for that cool link!
MikeG
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Michael Gilmer - Member of the Meteoritical Society & Collector of Falling Stars.
☄ ⒼⒶⓁⒶⒸⓉⒾⒸ ⓈⓉⓄⓃⒺ ☞ www.galactic-stone.com
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da_guy2
super member
Reged: 01/11/06
Posts: 144
Loc: Ottawa, Canada
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Ya thanks for that!
they look similar to these http://fantao.home.att.net/tasco110.htm but not as wide field of view apparently.
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David
Skymaster 15X70
WO 80 FD 10th Anniversary Edition
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refractory
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 02/05/05
Posts: 1337
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I have an ancient pair of Tasco 7x50's I got off e***. Double diopter adjustment, very clear, pinpoint images over almost the entire field (they were better until I foolishly let my young nephews at them). The only thing that can't be adjusted is the wear on the coatings- after decades of use it starts to be visibly worn away towards the centers of the lenses, especially the eyepiece lenses.
While many other Japanese-made brands (whose quality I can't say anything about) keep showing up on e***, the oldest Tascos are rather rare- 60's and 70's versions are much more commonly listed, though. I've *heard* that this was when quality started to decline for consumer optics made there- guess they started to get lazy and decide to coast on their previously hard-earned reputations. I'm SO glad that never happens today!!
Jess Tauber
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"Keep an open mind, but not so open that your brain falls out." - Richard Feynman
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Jay_Bird
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 01/04/06
Posts: 1493
Loc: Nevada, USA 36N 115W
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Here's a link and a file with a summary of ~ 1950's - 1970's Japanese binoculars
http://www.europa.com/~telscope/
I found this file after googling some older bino's and it may list yours too. Right now the file is sorted by brand name (Tasco is near the end).
Best, Jay
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'these things stand like stone - kindness in another's troubles, courage in your own' Gordon
C-8, SV80 & C102 achros, 6" Newt, Porta & GEM, Lunt 35; Binoculars 21mm-80mm & p-gram
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DJB
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 02/23/05
Posts: 1742
Loc: Lisle NY
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Hi David,
Great find. I would have expected this to be one your father owned, not your grandfather! You must be 4-1/2 years old now! Only kidding--I loose track of time these days!
Anyway, the 551'@ 1000 yds translates into a 10* FOV, very common in those days as many Japanese binoculars were in the very wide field/angle agenda. Such as: Tasco, Binolux, Kanto, and Jason, to name just a few off the top of my head.
At any rate, a nice find which I'm sure you will appreciate for years holding onto.
Regards,
Dave.
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refractory
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 02/05/05
Posts: 1337
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Does ANYONE here have any idea what the quality tier brand-wise was like back then- we've discussed modern makes in this regard in the recent past, but I can't find any resources that rate the old post-war brands from Japan (either occupation or after). Perhaps even then different importers were asking for different specs?
Jess Tauber
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"Keep an open mind, but not so open that your brain falls out." - Richard Feynman
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Joad
Wordsmith
Reged: 03/22/05
Posts: 18002
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My sig line shows my Daylite 7-12X40 variable power binoculars that my parents gave me 41 years ago. They are Japanese, from the era when Japan had clearly begun producing superior binoculars but did not yet have the reputation and cost that goes with quality yet. What binoculars have from that era includes solid construction with high quality materials. Mine have a brass frame. They are heavy, of course, but built to last. The coatings have lasted extraordinarily well, and the 12X40 views (my favorite viewing power with them) are very bright and very sharp to this day.
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DJB
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 02/23/05
Posts: 1742
Loc: Lisle NY
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Hi Jess,
The Japanese mfg. plants and designations can be found on the web, but it is tough to acertain the quality or control of everything made at the time. SOOOO many products!
I personally like Binolux (sorta rare), Jason, and then Tasco; Tasco did make some specific high end binoculars but not commonly as I recall. And is so with many other "brand" names.
They just don't make them much like these nowadays. Of course, there are the Canon and the FUJI and the Miyauchi brands, of which I much prefer the FUJI and Canon.
Your question is hard to answer, at least for me. Kanto, S&S, and others have made almost unique binoculars in their day. This is not a common practice now. Hope this helps you a bit.
Regards,
Dave.
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wprince
professor emeritus
Reged: 02/26/06
Posts: 700
Loc: Atlanta, GA
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I had to add to this old thread to talk about my old Japanese made Tasco 7x35 binoculars - Model #304 - which I received as a gift in 1973-74. These aren't or were ever sold as "high-end" items, I think they sold for about $30 - $35 back then and Tasco I'm sure sold a lot of these. Anyway, despite the flimsy focuser and the uncoated prisms (presumably BK7), they provide a superior image to all the modern "budget" similarly sized porros I've tried recently. My Celestron 8x42 Regals do outperform my old Tascos in absolute contrast and resolution, probably due to the full superior coatings and larger objectives. But my Tascos are brighter, almost as sharp to the edges, and show less color fringing than the Regals.
I wish more of the budget porros available today performed like these Tasco's.
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Wade
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