450 replies to this topic

[Stargoat]

I have an SPI 60mm f/20 that is a clone of the Astro R-61, it carries the diamond-OTC mark, yet I believe we are just about certain that these were made by Astro.  So the mark may be that of the exporter and have not as much to do with the factory that made the scope, as we usually think.  

Correct. Many exporters appear to have their specific marks on binoculars and telescopes as well. Other markings represent the actual shop that assembled the bino or scopes in our case.

 

Going thru the archives of "The Comprehensive List of Japanese Symbols" thread, many believed that the mfg or distributor symbol on the 1960/61 and up Swifts is "A V A". Instead I now believe that "A M A" is the correct abbreviation which would stand for the "Associated Manufacturers Agency".

 

With respect to Swift 1960 or 1961 on up telescopes that do not have the infinity symbol on the name tag. I found this information listed several places on the following website of miniature binoculars.com pertaining to what the three letters and or symbol actually represents on the focuser name tags.

 

"Japan based Associated Manufacturers Agency located at Nakano 6-22-10 Nakano ku, Tokyo, Japan is a Japanese trading company and/or importer and exporter. Believed active from around 1958 to the present, it is listed in Japanese business directories as specializing in “Optical Instruments and Lenses”.

 

Associated Manufacturers Agency, Exporter Brands:  Swift. Manufacturers observed of Swift brand binoculars of this type.

 

This is information I've come across trying to research the distribution/exporter origins of the older pre 1960 Swift & Anderson telescopes using the site looking for correlations of Swift bino mfgs/distributors.

I have a couple 1958/59 Swift & Anderson No. 819 models that have the diamond <TJK> stamped on the bottom of the pinion block. It is an distributor company in Japan also found on early Swift binos. Also on late 50s Swift & Anderson No. 820 60mm x 800mm, the pinion blocks look to have a decal of diamond <TJK> symbol as well.

 

See info pics on the <TJK> symbol.

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[CharlieB]

I received this reply about Swift telescopes from Galakuma's web site:

"Dear Charles,

Thank You Very Much For Sending Me Important Information.
The Swift Telescopes Labels Are Very Interesting.
What Was Printed On The Front And Back Was Using The Label All Over Again?
For The ∞ Mark On The Label, Macro Optical Industries (Or Nippon Telescope?)
I guess that.
The mark of the Nippon Telescope is unknown. (= AVA?)"

 

That could explain the infinity symbol on the early Swift scopes, as Dr. Kojima also founded Astro Optical and Macro Optical Industries.

 

It also looks like the lower part of the Macro Optical logo is very similar to the Astro Optical logo.

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[bill7342]

I've blown up the image a bit 

 

P1030088(rc).jpg

 

The more I look at it, I wonder if it could be an Astro-stylized version of the Rod of Asclepius.

 

Esclapius_stick.svg.png

 

Greek mythology says Asclepius was the son of Apollo. A healer killed by Zeus and placed in the heavens as Ophiuchus. Still doesn't tell me if it is a makers mark or whose. I wonder if other San & Streiffe refactors have this symbol?

I read in another thread somewhere on this forum that Seisakusyo was a general word for factory or company. So it may be OIS for Optical Instruments Seisakusyo. Which could be the same company as OIC, where they went with the Japanese word instead of the English word. Just a wild guess. .

[Russell Smith]

Came across a mark I have not seen here before.

Diamond  oTs  inside 

Not putting up photo as I do not own the telescope. Yet.

Monolux 4380, foil label.

 

Thanks

 

 

[astro140]

Came across a mark I have not seen here before.

Diamond  oTs  inside 

Not putting up photo as I do not own the telescope. Yet.

Monolux 4380, foil label.

 

Thanks

I have a diamond ots on my Monolux also.  As far as I know it has not been identified.  If I remember correctly one other cloudy nights member has a diamond ots symbol also.

 

Steve

NM

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[Russell Smith]

Yes Steve, exactly like that.

[Russell Smith]

Saw an ad on the bay for a monolux telescope in a cardboard box but had the diamond oTs mark. Not 4380.
Adds to my confusion about this mark.

Edited by Russell Smith, 03 April 2019 - 08:32 PM.

[walter a]

Correct. Many exporters appear to have their specific marks on binoculars and telescopes as well. Other markings represent the actual shop that assembled the bino or scopes in our case.

 

Going thru the archives of "The Comprehensive List of Japanese Symbols" thread, many believed that the mfg or distributor symbol on the 1960/61 and up Swifts is "A V A". Instead I now believe that "A M A" is the correct abbreviation which would stand for the "Associated Manufacturers Agency".

 

With respect to Swift 1960 or 1961 on up telescopes that do not have the infinity symbol on the name tag. I found this information listed several places on the following website of miniature binoculars.com pertaining to what the three letters and or symbol actually represents on the focuser name tags.

 

"Japan based Associated Manufacturers Agency located at Nakano 6-22-10 Nakano ku, Tokyo, Japan is a Japanese trading company and/or importer and exporter. Believed active from around 1958 to the present, it is listed in Japanese business directories as specializing in “Optical Instruments and Lenses”.

 

Associated Manufacturers Agency, Exporter Brands:  Swift. Manufacturers observed of Swift brand binoculars of this type.

 

This is information I've come across trying to research the distribution/exporter origins of the older pre 1960 Swift & Anderson telescopes using the site looking for correlations of Swift bino mfgs/distributors.

I have a couple 1958/59 Swift & Anderson No. 819 models that have the diamond <TJK> stamped on the bottom of the pinion block. It is an distributor company in Japan also found on early Swift binos. Also on late 50s Swift & Anderson No. 820 60mm x 800mm, the pinion blocks look to have a decal of diamond <TJK> symbol as well.

 

See info pics on the <TJK> symbol.

Steven I have a scope with two symbols the the common syw and the less common tjk.

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Edited by walter a, 07 April 2019 - 03:23 PM.

[Stew44]

Back in January of 2013 Galakuma provided a page from the companies list of the Japanese Astronomical Telescope Industrial Association.  The logos or stampings we've wondered about for the "T" page were mostly answered.  I asked the members of Galakuma's BBS about two that I would like to know more about - H.O.C. and SYW.  Galakuma provided the page for "H".  There is no H.O.C.  Their is a script Hoc and we certainly have seen that in post #79 above.  So I am presently of the opinion that the script Hoc represents the first company on the list for this page.  That would be Hiyoshi Kogaku.  The company was started in 1955 and is associated with this website

 

http://hiyoshi-opt.com/

 

They still make Vixen binocular and spotting scope products.

 

Here is the list.  I need to get some translations for the company names.

 

H.O.C. still has best association with Hitomi Optical Machine Company from post #80 above.

 

[Stew44]

Galakuma posted today on his forum that Mr. Katsumi Hitomi had a number of companies (or one that was known by more than one name) that were involved with telescope manufacture and exportation.  The specific company of his that is associated with H.O.C. maker's mark is Hitomi Optical (Light Machine) Co., Ltd. if I am reading his post correctly.  So I think this is reliable at this point.

[25585]

With respect to Vixen, they have 4 classic own-brand eyepiece trademarks.

 

The circle-V, double circle-V (least known about), winged-"Vixen" and stylised-"Vixen". 

 

Circle-V was returned to for their later LV (that started with the winged-"V") and all LVW models.

 

Currently Vixen seen to prefer a blocky style font for their name, sometimes in red on boxes like the recent HR series which are made in Japan.

 

 

 

 

 

[Bomber Bob]

Their is a script Hoc and we certainly have seen that in post #79 above.  So I am presently of the opinion that the script Hoc represents the first company on the list for this page.  That would be Hiyoshi Kogaku.

 

I have a dossier on my computer of other bits of info -- including a cargo manifest -- tying the Cursive HOC to Hiyoshi.  (The manifest suggests that a quantity of Swift-branded binoculars have the Hiyoshi mark.)

[Terra Nova]

“I have a dossier...” A dossier ya say? Seems I’ve heard that somewhere else in the past year or two! You’re not offering to sell it are you?

[2696]

I found a Focal scope for sale and it has the Circle W mark on it, did anyone figure out who that is?

[sdedalus83]

I'm pretty sure this Kalimar is Astro Optical, but it has no serial or conventional maker's mark. Could this ASOC on the focuser gear housing be an early Astro Optical identifier?

 

It also has a lens cell like the late 50s Towas.

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[GreyDay]

two more unexplained circleVV or circle W

 

i have a third circle w scope a 50x600 "Unicon" branded,

 

i know a lot of people will be looking through this list to ascertain the background info of a particularly branded telescope. Sadly in my experience the circle VV or circle W scopes are fairly budget orientated. The performance is a little below Towa but better than Tanzutsu (diamondZ). The logo on the Swift scope above may be a bit misleading, my experience of circleW scopes is nowhere near the Swift "8" series in terms of quality.

[Chuck Hards]

 

. The logo on the Swift scope above may be a bit misleading, my experience of circleW scopes is nowhere near the Swift "8" series in terms of quality.

 

I'll go further.  Only the 83X series is really worth owning, IMO.   The 82X scopes aren't even close.  

[Garyth64]

I had some "Circle A" eyepieces from UO.  The photos I have of them do not show the symbol very well. 

[AdAstraPerAspera]

I'm not even sure how to search for this. Is it a "dash dollar sign" or a "cross S"? Either way, does anyone recognize it? 

[Kasmos]

It came up in post # 254, but nobody knew it's maker.

It's also at the bottom of this list that was posted earlier, but not identified.

[Bomber Bob]

I found a Focal scope for sale and it has the Circle W mark on it, did anyone figure out who that is?

I haven't owned / tested any of the (W) refractors.  IIRC, it's been suggested that the glyph is actually (VV), with the 2 V's merged.  I came close to buying a (W) 60x800 on eBay, because the style mimicked the 1960s Towa (T) refractors that I've found to be very good to excellent optically.

[Terra Nova]

I'm not even sure how to search for this. Is it a "dash dollar sign" or a "cross S"? Either way, does anyone recognize it? 

It’s a little bit like the Takahashi symbol- the Dollar Sign in a Triangle. But if you look closely at the Tak symbol, you will see that, contrary to what many joke, it isn’t a $ at all. It’s a logo with a T superimposed over an S and it stands for Takahashi Seisakusho.

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[Ben H]

"東京スコープ" transliterates as "Tōkyō sukōpu", and Google searches point to Tokyo Scope Inc.

"トスコ" transliterates as Tosco. I found an eBay listing for binoculars with both "TOSCO" and the Diamond C TS, so that's confirmed.

I'm guessing the list is primarily bino makers? Let me know if there's any you want me to try with, the katakana is easy but some of that kanji is extremely dense. 

Edited by Ben H, 09 February 2020 - 01:07 AM.

[Bomber Bob]

I'm guessing the list is primarily bino makers?

 

I think you're right.  My first Classic was a 1964 Monolux 4380, with that cryptic cursive HOC on the label.  I started researching the maker, and determined it was Hiyoshi, and along the way, found that there were at least 3 binocular makers for every 1 telescope maker.  IOW:  There were tons more Hiyoshi binos than scopes, as many bino makers didn't bother with the much smaller scope market, or produced just a few lenses / mirrors for it.

 

I started the Registry to collect data, and make some statistical analyses.  Lots of things you can find by sifting that spreadsheet, including just how few scope makers there really were.  A big limitation of the Registry & other registries is that we're only tracking the Survivors.  But you gotta start somewhere!

[John Rogers]

Can anyone identify the mark from the Herter's scope in this thread?:  https://www.cloudyni...22#entry9758719