Telescope Reviews: Vintage and Classic Binoculars discussion (Part 2)

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Equipment Discussions >> Binoculars

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anyan
member

Reged: 06/12/10

Re: Vintage and Classic Binoculars discussion (Part 2) new

[Re: Simon S]
#5071990 - 02/14/12 12:24 PM

Regarding your suggestion, I sent my Zeiss 7x50 B to Zeiss Sport Optics Germany. But unfortunately after did nothing (reason: no parts), they sent them back to me

. The condition of the internal is dirty (fungus) & the rubber eyecups are torn. Any suggest from any membes?

Post Extras:

Simon S
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 01/07/07

Loc: Crawley West Sussex UK

Leitz Marlux 7x50 new

[Re: anyan]
#5072178 - 02/14/12 01:59 PM Attachment (52 downloads)

My latest binocular is a very poorly Busch Marlux 7x50.
This central focusing binocular is in a poor state, I have never seen fungus so bad as this. All the external leatherette has started to peal, and despite this poor old binocular being so badly stored the glass is unmarked although some staining from the fungus will always remain on the internals of the objectives and prisms.
The tough job for me is to try and replace the covering over the binoculars chassis, I have bought some camera leatherette that looks very similar to the original stuff.
Notice the strange cutout of the top prisms, similar to a few of the wide angle Dollonds and Wrays, but more severe.
You will also note that each handed part, prisms, objectives etc are marked from which position they come from.

There is also an amusing comment from a Zeiss employee who tried a pair of these binoculars , see Peter's German 7x50 page here http://www.europa.com/~telscope/7x50.txt

Edited by Simon S (02/14/12 04:19 PM)

Post Extras:

Simon S
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 01/07/07

Loc: Crawley West Sussex UK

Re: Leitz Marlux 7x50 new

[Re: Simon S]
#5072180 - 02/14/12 02:01 PM Attachment (52 downloads)

Dismantled, first cleaning stage and ready for the covering.....

Post Extras:

Simon S
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 01/07/07

Loc: Crawley West Sussex UK

Re: Leitz Marlux 7x50 new

[Re: Simon S]
#5072182 - 02/14/12 02:02 PM Attachment (50 downloads)

What i'm up against...

Post Extras:

smart
member

Reged: 07/28/07

Loc: Oregon coast

Re: Vintage and Classic Binoculars discussion (Part 2) new

[Re: anyan]
#5072188 - 02/14/12 02:05 PM

Baker Marine in San Diego, Calif. should be able to repair your Zeiss 7x50. They are an excellent repair facility and their prices are fair.

Post Extras:

steve@37n83.9w
sage

Reged: 01/20/11

Loc: Kentucky

Re: Leitz Marlux 7x50 new

[Re: Simon S]
#5072231 - 02/14/12 02:40 PM

Quote:

What i'm up against...

Simon I've done several jobs were I had to completely disassemble because of dust/dirt but so far haven't had to contend with fungus.

What I'm curious about is when dealing with fungus is if the glass is fully restorable or if the fungus "etches" the glass.

Thanks Steve

Post Extras:

Pinewood
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 12/07/04

Loc: 40.77638º N 73.982652 W

Leitz or Busch? new

[Re: Simon S]
#5072373 - 02/14/12 04:06 PM

Quote:

My latest binocular is a very poorly Leitz Marlux 7x50.

Simon,

Is that not a Busch binocular?

Happy collecting,
Arthur Pinewood

Post Extras:

Simon S
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 01/07/07

Loc: Crawley West Sussex UK

Re: Leitz or Busch? new

[Re: Pinewood]
#5072396 - 02/14/12 04:18 PM

Oh Bl**dy hell!
Yes It is what an idiot, thats because i'm repairing two at a time. Thanks Pinewood!

Post Extras:

Simon S
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 01/07/07

Loc: Crawley West Sussex UK

Re: Leitz or Busch? new

[Re: Simon S]
#5072402 - 02/14/12 04:25 PM

Steve re fungus.
It really depends on the type of fungus.
The nasty stuff seen here eats coatings and stains glass.
I have managed to restore bad staining to some degree with car polish, but as a last resort. There is a product called Mer available in the UK but I would not recommend this action unless the glass is uncoated and in a bad way.

There are other forms of fungus that look like spider webs. These do little if any damage and are removed with an alcohol based cleaner.

Post Extras:

alsendk
member

Reged: 04/23/11

Loc: Denmark

Re: Leitz or Busch? new

[Re: Simon S]
#5072455 - 02/14/12 05:18 PM

I am surprised that glass can become attacked by fungus in almost the same way as a wet house basement, crawling up the walls like veins.
Indeed it looks bad:O(

Post Extras:

mercedes_sl1970
professor emeritus

Reged: 12/02/05

Loc: Canberra, Oz

Re: Leitz Marlux 7x50 new

[Re: Simon S]
#5073114 - 02/15/12 01:39 AM

Quote:

What i'm up against...

Fingers crossed... I cleaned up a Rolleiflex taking lens once with about half the amount of fungus you have and it seems fine - no discernible etching and the 6x6 negatives were still very sharp under a loupe.

Andrew

Post Extras:

Simon S
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 01/07/07

Loc: Crawley West Sussex UK

Re: Busch Marlux 7x50 new

[Re: mercedes_sl1970]
#5074062 - 02/15/12 04:25 PM Attachment (42 downloads)

Well I have fitted the leatherette and internal parts, prisms, baffles and covers. The only remaining problem is a stripped thread on one objective bell, meaning you cant tighten the objective housing without it slipping. This was a result of someone forcing the threat without removing the set screw that locks the thread.
I will try them tomorrow, but I don't expect to much.
Simple two element eye pieces usually mean a poorly corrected image, tomorrow will tell.

Edited by Simon S (02/15/12 04:40 PM)

Post Extras:

jhubs
member

Reged: 01/29/12

Re: Busch Marlux 7x50 new

[Re: Simon S]
#5075592 - 02/16/12 02:04 PM

Nice job simon! It must be hugely satisfying to bring these beautiful old instruments back from the dead,I have a pair of 8x30 kern pizars that look like they have been home to funnel web for the last 30 years, maybe they are not beyond salvation.Can anything be done to prevent the fungus coming back?

Post Extras:

Simon S
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 01/07/07

Loc: Crawley West Sussex UK

Re: Busch Marlux 7x50 new

[Re: jhubs]
#5075765 - 02/16/12 04:06 PM

Hi Jon, the Kern is a great binocular.
Keeping fungus clear is easy.
My collection is monitored with a hygrometer, anything less than 60% and I have a problem. A cool environment helps but damp is a killer.

Post Extras:

Philip Levine
sage

Reged: 03/22/07

Loc: near Boston, MA

Re: Busch Marlux 7x50 new

[Re: Simon S]
#5075962 - 02/16/12 06:28 PM

Hi Simon,
How difficult is the job of removing the old leatherette, cleaning the residue of glue, and then fitting the new leatherette? What glue do you use to affix the new leatherette?
Phil

Post Extras:

Simon S
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 01/07/07

Loc: Crawley West Sussex UK

Re: Busch Marlux 7x50 new

[Re: Philip Levine]
#5076588 - 02/17/12 07:56 AM

Phil, removal of the old hard and brittle covering is fairly easy although time consuming. I made a template from a sheet of paper and used this to trace out the shape on the replacement covering. You only need to do one template as flipping the paper 180º caters for the other side amusing it is identical(although reversed).
The replacement covering is self adhesive, so no messy glue. Once the prism covers are in place I left the chassis in a warm oven to let the covering relax and then gave it a final squeeze to ensure all the valleys where stuck down.

Post Extras:

Simon S
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 01/07/07

Loc: Crawley West Sussex UK

Re: Busch Marlux 7x50 new

[Re: Simon S]
#5080535 - 02/19/12 03:58 PM

At last I have a pair of Bushnell Rangemasters!
Should be good, they carry the FPO logo.

Post Extras:

brentwood
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 11/04/05

Loc: BC Canada

Re: Busch Marlux 7x50 new

[Re: Simon S]
#5080987 - 02/19/12 07:56 PM

I'll be interested to see a photo of them Simon. I think that the last ones I bought are the FPO ones, and they may be the best of the three different ones I have.

Post Extras:

mercedes_sl1970
professor emeritus

Reged: 12/02/05

Loc: Canberra, Oz

Re: Leitz Marlux 7x50 [Re: Simon S]
#5081094 - 02/19/12 09:07 PM

Quote:

What i'm up against...

Hi Simon - how did you go with removing the fungus? Interested to hear your results - and what are your secret ingredients...

Andrew

Post Extras:

Simon S
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 01/07/07

Loc: Crawley West Sussex UK

Re: Leitz Marlux 7x50 [Re: mercedes_sl1970]
#5081434 - 02/20/12 02:38 AM

Brentwood, I will post a photo when they arrive.
Phil , Andy & Steve, removal of the fungus is not difficult but the staining on the glass afterwards is. I find a car polish seems to help, I use a product called mer which seems to also seems to have no detrimental effect on the glass whatsoever.

Edited by Simon S (02/20/12 10:25 AM)

Post Extras:

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