gearhound
member
Reged: 08/02/08
Posts: 25
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Hello people!
I just purchased a set of Bausch & Lomb Zephyr 7x35 binoculars, in very good used condition, for $50.
They look fairly old though?
Does any one know when the B&L Zephyr's were produced?
Thanks for any information!
Steve
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hallelujah
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/14/06
Posts: 2148
Loc: Rocky Mt. High Colorado
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Steve,
Here's a link: http://www.oldbinoculars.com/bauschandlomb.html
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Celestron Traveler 8x25 & B. & H. 8x40 FC JAPAN & Revue 10x50 CF Porro FC JAPAN &
Pentax 12x50 PCF WP II FMC & Pentax 16x60 PCF WP FMC &
Pentax 20x60 PCF WP II FMC & Orion 12x63 Mini Giant FMC JAPAN &
SPECTRUM I 20x65 FC JAPAN &
Orion 15x70 Little Giant II FMC JAPAN & Orion 20x70 Little Giant II FMC JAPAN
Orion 16x80 Giant FMC JAPAN & Orion 30x80 MEGAView FMC JAPAN
Barska 30x80 X-Trail LW FC & Burgess Optical Series II 20x90 FMC
Hallelujah! For the LORD God Omnipotent Reigneth
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Pinewood
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 12/07/04
Posts: 820
Loc: 40.77638º N 73.982652 W
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Hello Steve,
In the coated versions, it was highly regarded in its time, but for terrestrial use.
If it is still collimated, and even without coating, you did well for $50.
Happy observing,
Arthur
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Bread is not enough. We demand circuses!
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Gordon Rayner
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 03/24/07
Posts: 965
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The Zephyrs have a magnesium body, so a definite plus for terrestrial use. Were they not all coated? I have a 9 x 35 NIB. Too bad that Rochester threw in the towel in the early 1970's.
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gearhound
member
Reged: 08/02/08
Posts: 25
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I had them out today birdwatching.....VERY light and GREAT optics!
No, they are NOT coated.
GOD knows how old they are?
Steve
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tac45
member
Reged: 11/06/06
Posts: 57
Loc: Sydney, Australia
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I've been doing some research on B & L binoculars. The first use of the word Zephyr and the light weight magnesium alloy body I can find is in advertisements dated November 1939. The 1940 catalogue lists most of the binoculars as Zephyr Light. This includes the 7x35. Not all models which were the new light weight Zephyrs had the word stamped on the cover plate. Catalogues as late as the 1950's still show images without use of the word Zephyr stamped on the cover plates. Obviously stock images and the same images span a number of catalogues. B & L started advertising 'Balcote' coated optics in 1945, just months after wars end.
So if your Zephyr is not coated it would be made circa 1939-40. I have an uncoated, not marked Zephyr 8x40 from 39-40 and I have a 6x30 which is marked Zephyr from November 1945 (paperwork) which has the coatings.
Does the 7x35 you have have the word 'Zephyr' and is it very light?
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orbitaljump
sage
Reged: 01/29/06
Posts: 424
Loc: Charleston, SC
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Zephyrs were the B&L commerical brand name of their binocular line post WW2. In the late 60s or early 70s, they moved production to Japan, and these have a diamond shaped prism symbol usually on the prism covers. Then they moved to the Discoverer porros which are also made in Japan. The Japanese made stuff is very good, however the US made stuff generally commands more money for collector's value reasons. The US made Zephyr's generally had Rochester NY stamped on the prism covers.
The 7x35 has a 50ish degree AFOV which I find a little constricting, however it is a popular 7x35 configuration. I prefer the larger AFOV of the 9x35 (Zephyr) which is rarer. B&L also made an 8x30 Zephyr which is rarer still than the 9x35 and also a 7x50 Zephyr.
The Zephyr's are exceptionally lightweight...among all claimants of such back in the day.
My 2 cents.
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My God, it's full of stars!
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Edited by orbitaljump (03/10/09 06:23 PM)
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tac45
member
Reged: 11/06/06
Posts: 57
Loc: Sydney, Australia
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My main collection is Zeiss binoculars up to the new models. I've started collecting Bausch & Lomb. I'm interested in the 8x30 as it's a favourite configuration. How rare is it? It appears in non light weight form in the catalogues from the early thirties. It's also in the catalogues from the 40's and early fifties which I have. When was it taken from the catalogues? Given its long standing catalogue position. Was it made in small numbers? I have an 8x40 Zephyr which only made one year of production due to the war and was not resumed after. It does not have 'Zephyr' and it has the older script and serial numbering. It has the diamond logo with the words 'Bausch & Lomb USA'on the case. In size it sits between the 7,9 x35 and the 7x50. The diamond logo with 'B&L' in it came into use straight after the war. The Japanese logo I have is a diamond logo in a circle. No words or lettering. Do all the B & L Japanese logos have this appearance?
Any info would be appreciated. The current Bausch and Lomb did not keep any old records. There is only a small amount of information on Peter Abrahams website. It seems the history of these wonderful art deco icon binoculars is fading away. Information on ebay on rarity etc isn't worth anything. They all say rare.
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orbitaljump
sage
Reged: 01/29/06
Posts: 424
Loc: Charleston, SC
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I just saw an 8x40 B&L on ebay. First Id ever seen of such. An 8x30 also recently sold on ebay.
Seems you have better documentation than me. It could be that some of what Ive called Zephyrs here are actually pre WW2, and heavier binoculars (my being ill informed).
The Diamond was used with US made Binos, the Diamond in the Circle is the Japanese stamp, FWIU.
The 8x40 is still on ebay completed items. Here is the 8x30 which I have in my ended items and still have a link to....
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=280310742149
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My God, it's full of stars!
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orbitaljump
sage
Reged: 01/29/06
Posts: 424
Loc: Charleston, SC
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On rarity, I gave my take.
7x35 and 7x50 are the most common then the 9x35, the 8x40 and 8x30 being more rare. I base this on personal observation of the well known auction site, that I have been following off and on over the years.
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My God, it's full of stars!
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orbitaljump
sage
Reged: 01/29/06
Posts: 424
Loc: Charleston, SC
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Does that 8x40 you have a Zephyr written on them?
The ones on the auction site completed look to be Zephyr bodies, but it doesnt say them any on them. The weight given is very light for that era bino. So you can see the confusion on just what was and wasnt a Zephyr binocular.
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My God, it's full of stars!
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Edited by orbitaljump (03/11/09 03:51 AM)
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tac45
member
Reged: 11/06/06
Posts: 57
Loc: Sydney, Australia
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That 8x40 is a Zephyr. I won it. It is a light body and has only been listed in both CF and IF in 1940 with the new magesium alloy body. It doen't have the word Zephyr on it but it is very light. Not much heavier than the 9x35 but larger. A very interesting binocular by size. The first Zephyrs I can find appeared in advertising in 1939. I forgot to bid on that 8x30. I have seen Zephyrs with and without the word on them. From post war to early fifties all models were listed as light weight except for the 7x50 which has the extra waterproof gasket like on the later military models. The 8x30 is one I'd like. Maybe it was not a popular model so few are around to found. The old catalogues recommend the 6x30 as the 'all round' glass. The thirties catalogues included the 8x30 for general use but later ones recommended as it's main use as 'Big Game' hunting. It got the least ticks (one) as opposed to the others.
The Japanese ones intrigue me. I would like to know who the manufacturers were. I have a 7x35 legacy which is made by Kamakura. The J code being secreted inside the barrel. I have a 10x50 Discoverer made in 1983. It has the classic body. Japan stamped on it but no J code to be seen. I don't want to open it as it is mint in the box. Old stock from a hardware store that closed down. Both of these are eighties and I'd love to get my hands on some early made ones to compare to the US ones and see if they have a J code to identify them.
Do you or anybody know when they started manufacture in Japan? I know they bought Bushnell in the early seventies and David Bushnell became an executive in B&L. Were they making binoculars there before buying Bushnell?
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orbitaljump
sage
Reged: 01/29/06
Posts: 424
Loc: Charleston, SC
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I also think that some Zephyrs with a Diamond only (maybe no B&L inside) are Japanese made, so maybe that isnt a good marker. The US ones all have Rochester NY on them I think though.
I like the 8x30s too, and the 9x35s, best...but the whole line is well made.
How wide is the AFOV or the real FOV on the 8x40s?
Maybe you could share on the vintage bino thread....you seem realy clued in. We like pics on that thread too... 
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My God, it's full of stars!
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Gordon Rayner
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 03/24/07
Posts: 965
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I have a Rochester 9 x 35 l950's or l960's, beautiful cowhide case , new in the box. It is a magnesium body Zephyr. Can supply serial number if helpful.
I have a 7 x 35 somewhere.
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tac45
member
Reged: 11/06/06
Posts: 57
Loc: Sydney, Australia
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The FOV is 6deg 19mins. I havn't done the calculations for the linear FOV in metres yet. (I have a few new-old ones that need to be written up) It certainly doesn't compare to the Zeiss Delactis and Delactem 8x40's. Even though all three are uncoated the Zeiss are much brighter and have better resolution. I like the 9x35 best myself. I have a US one with 'Balcote' lenses. It has instantly become one of my favourite binoculars.
I shall share on the vintage thread. I have to work out the picture thingy. I resized an avatar picture and it came out squat and wrinkled.
Thanks Gordon a serial number would be interesting. They seem to have used numbers prior to the war. Then US models used two letters followed by numbers. Then my '82' 10x50 Discoverer is back to numbers again. My Legacy 7x35 I have only today discovered does have a number. It is located on the cap which covers the tripod mounting thread. It also has the model number and J code as well. It is very faintly stamped and has escaped me till today.
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orbitaljump
sage
Reged: 01/29/06
Posts: 424
Loc: Charleston, SC
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Thats a kind of dissappointing FOV for an 8x40. I wonder what it is on the B&L 8x30s.
One thing about the B&Ls is that they are also sought after by the nostalgic hunting crowd. They were also more expensive than even the top of the line Bushnell Customs, from catologs I have in the 50s and 60s. Part of the pressure to brand Japanese made binoculars no doubt.
I always find the relative pricing of binocular brands in the past fascinating.
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My God, it's full of stars!
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orbitaljump
sage
Reged: 01/29/06
Posts: 424
Loc: Charleston, SC
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PS - Id like to know exactly how Bushnell and Bausch & Lomb merged and how that developed over the last 30 years.
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My God, it's full of stars!
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tac45
member
Reged: 11/06/06
Posts: 57
Loc: Sydney, Australia
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Well Bushnell was selling 10 million binoculars and scopes in 1971. He sold Bushnell to B&L in 1972. He was made Vice president of B&L and retired in 1974.
B&L must have made a very serious offer to buy such a large concern. Bushnell had long standing connections overseas and was able to produce his binoculars very cheaply. They used the B&L body style. I guess for B&L it was hard to convince a casual buyer that even though the binoculars look the same. B&L ones for four times the price even though made in the same country are better. I suppose having another cheaper brand under their wing was a good thing and didn't seem to devalue their own name line. I think they must have been suffering a loss from the cheaper brands. I looked in a binocular catalogue from United Optics circa 1965. In it the Leitz Trinovid is listed as new on the market. The 8x32 Trinovid costs $210US and the 8x30 B&L Japanese made costs $224.50US.
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tac45
member
Reged: 11/06/06
Posts: 57
Loc: Sydney, Australia
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B&L FOV's
First Models 1934 1951 1980's
6x30 8'29 445ft/1000yds Same
7x35 7'17 381/1000 Same 11degs
7x35 Mono 7'17 381/1000
7x50 7'3 381/1000 7'16
8x30 8'29 445/1000 Same
9x35 7'17 381/1000 Same
10x50 5'12 272/1000 Not Made 5'5
10x45 4'23 231/1000 Not Made
The same models and statistics apply to models from circa 1965. Only these models have the diamond and circle logo.
Not very good for a company that boasts the best optics in the world in advertising of the time. When you consider Zeiss was using Erfle Eye Pieces in a number of models for wide field views and light weight materials as early as 1934. Often it is quoted as 1936 as the year of the Light Weight Zeiss. That probably stems from a catalogue of that time advertising them. That particular flyer came packed with the lightweights. Examples of the 6x24 Sportur show up often with numbers earlier than 1936. I have one from 1934. The flyer advertising them I have came with a 1937 Binoctem. This one I got complete with the original packing box and all paperwork.
I love doing this. Learning something with each post. Zeiss I am very familiar with. B&L is new to me and has pulled a little on my heart strings.
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geezer88
member
Reged: 10/18/08
Posts: 19
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My Dad had a pair of 9x35 Zephyrs that he bought new in the mid '50s. They were always around the house and I used them a lot looking a birds on the lake. Later, mid '80s, I bought my own pair of Zeiss 10x40s. Taking them over to Dad's, and comparing the terrestrial view, I was surprised how bright and clear the Zephyrs were. They are great performers. I did not pay attention to field of view, but the Zephyrs are pretty okay, because whenever I get ahold of a pair that is quite restrictive, I feel like I'm looking through a kids binocular. At night, on stars, the Zeiss was significantly sharper on the edges. That was a long time ago, and all I can remember. I've been looking for the 9x35 to come up for sale, but at $175 to $250 I haven't been willing to pay that much for nostalgia.
tom
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