19 replies to this topic

[deepwoods1]

This seems to have recently become difficult to find on the web. PDF contains the codes to help you figure out who made you binoculars. 

Attached Files

•  Japanese Binocular List.pdf   38.86KB   1645 downloads

[Erik Bakker]

Thank you for that overview 

[MrZoomZoom2017]

Here is a recent post I made on this topic as well to the .txt version via the Wayback Machine (web.archive.org):  https://www.cloudyni...8#entry11484043

 

The website where this info use to reside (home.europa.com/~telscope/) appears to have vanished - but the contents are available on the Wayback Machine here:  https://web.archive.....com/~telscope/

 

For those searching for the listings of US Navy and US Army binoculars here are the links:

Navy https://web.archive....pe/us44bnoc.txt  (there is an Excel version as well - just change txt to xls in the url)

Army https://web.archive....cope/usarmy.txt

 

May want to add this info to the sticky "Links of interest" thread...

 

Enjoy,

Tim

[LoveWillSteerTheStars]

The website where this info use to reside (home.europa.com/~telscope/) appears to have vanished - but the contents are available on the Wayback Machine here:  https://web.archive.....com/~telscope/

Anybody have an app for Mac that will allow downloading that whole batch of files, without having to open & copy them individually?

[Starmorbi]

The "Binocular List" of which that website was the "archive" may still be in operation in some form.  Used to be an email group of which I was a subscriber.  I  may have saved those lists somewhere.  Will check and advise...  OK, looked through my drives and no luck - was sure I saved the Japanese optical mfrs. codes, but maybe under a name I didn't try searching for yet!

Edited by Starmorbi, 25 October 2022 - 03:20 PM.

[deepwoods1]

The "Binocular List" of which that website was the "archive" may still be in operation in some form.  Used to be an email group of which I was a subscriber.  I  may have saved those lists somewhere.  Will check and advise...  OK, looked through my drives and no luck - was sure I saved the Japanese optical mfrs. codes, but maybe under a name I didn't try searching for yet!

This works! So far....

https://web.archive....cope/jbcode.txt

[scorpiocereal]

Hello, I have a pair of old binoculars I checked out the provided links in this discussion. I was wondering if any of you know where I can find more information about j-b19. I want to know the history of my binoculars. Thank you in advance for your time.

[asphericalaberration]

Hello, I have a pair of old binoculars I checked out the provided links in this discussion. I was wondering if any of you know where I can find more information about j-b19. I want to know the history of my binoculars. Thank you in advance for your time.

JB-19 is FujiKogeisha Co. Ltd. Quick Google yields very little outside some passing references in various binocular forums. Most of the Japanese optical makers are long out of business and obscure today. That's probably true in your case (but sometimes experts do pop here with surprising depth on obscure subjects). If you want to know more about your bins, posting pictures, specifications, a brand name, and anything else you happen to know will go a long way toward enabling an answer. The long-running vintage thread in this forum is probably the best place to pose the question. That said, detailed information about many vintage makers, brands, and models is lost to history.

Edited by asphericalaberration, 24 November 2023 - 11:58 AM.

[f18dad]

Has anyone deciphered Nikon’s Enigma Machine?

Edited by f18dad, 24 November 2023 - 01:50 PM.

[jarrodeu]

This website also has the Japanese codes as well as catalogs from various brands of binoculars.

https://www.miniaturebinoculars.com/

 

Jarrod

[f18dad]

It's a labyrinth... We need AI for this.

[f18dad]

Or should I say, "A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma" ?

[MisterDan]

For a few years now, I've pondered the identity of the binocular manufacturer registered with JL as #65.  I'd run across quite a few units stamped J-B65 - most sold by Vixen and Skyline and perhaps one or two other brand names.  Vintage Skyline (and affiliates) models include "DBK" and "MBK" logos on the right prism plates/covers which typically reference familiar acronyms of various manufacturers:  "HOC" (Hiyoshi) and "WOC" (Warabi) are among the most common.  Another common DBK/MBK acronym is "KNO", and when JL stamps became standard in the 1960s, those KNO-tagged models suddenly referenced another identifier:  J-B65.

 

Well, that's not a great help, as you can imagine.  Our reflex is to check the JL code list for company names, but #65 has no company name associated with it.

 

--Brief back story interlude:  the original hand-written (in Kanji, on paper) list of codes and companies procured by Bill Beacom some 45 years ago (from the Tokyo office of the Japan Binoculars Export Promotion Association) was folded - presumably to fit a standard postal letter envelope, and a few rows coincident with those creases were blurred/erased. Illegible rows referenced J-Bs 65, 66, and 209. (There's no mention of J-B13, which is also missing. Hmmm...)

 

So:  I surmised that J-B65 "belonged" to a company fitting one of these scenarios:

company name comprised of two key words with "K" and "N" as respective initials (ala "Kitty Neopet")

or

company name (or first word in name) includes both "K" and "N" as key letters or first two consonants (ala "KaNagawa".
"O" was presumed to represent "Optical."
KNO...

 

My initial thought was to check various historical references, such as the Japan Optical and Precision Instruments Manufacturers Association (JOPIMA) annual guides.  While the guides were quite limited in scope (only associated/member manufacturers were catalogued), I thought perhaps one of the companies catalogued by the earlier guides (1953-1958) would be missing from the JL index.

 

I did note that Kyowa Sangyo (maker of "Apollo KSK" binoculars during the early-to-mid-'50s) was missing from the JL index.  However, that "N" initial in the DBK/MBK logos didn't "fit" Kyowa Sangyo's name.

(Side note:  I believe Kyowa Sangyo either changed its name (Apollo initials did change from "KSC" to "KTC") or was acquired by another company prior to the establishment of JBEPA and JL registration.  A possible candidate for "KTC" would be Kazuo Tsuchihashi at #241 - assuming that company name is accurate, of course.)

 

What about Koyu? - Vixen's original company & brand name?  Again, that "N" made no sense.  Besides, I was fairly confident that Koyu and Vixen were strictly non-manufacturer brands.

 

After a couple years, a simple thought struck me:  Since Vixen binocular serial numbers also reference the mystery manufacturer's "K" initial, and some '60s units also sported J-B65 stamps, perhaps someone at Vixen could check a particular unit's serial number and verify the manufacturer who supplied that particular unit.

 

So I emailed Vixen on Feb. 12 (3 days ago).
Less than 3.5 hours later, a Vixen representative (the Export Dept. Manager) replied.
...with the name of the manufacturer registered as #65...
...as well as the manufacturer registered as #66...
...and the one at #209, to boot.
 

So...
Below is an updated(!) JL index (aka JB list/manufacturers codes/JB codes).
Format is simple text with a tab between the index column and the company name info.
I took the liberty of making some other edits as well.  Most were spelling corrections, but I also made a few notes regarding potential mis-indexed companies.

 

 JL_binocular_codes_index_2025.txt   8.95KB   36 downloads

 

I relied on two key sources to help with edits and corrections:
   1.  the alphabetized list of manufacturers and their addresses (i.e. the "companion" list to the JL index) - which, in a perfect world, SHOULD include those missing 65, 66, & 209 companies.  Surprise, surprise!  It included two of the three!  
   2.  A tediously translated copy of "The History of the Development of Japanese Binoculars Manufacturing Technology" (co-written by Saijo & Nakajima - two of the finest binoculars historians on the planet).

 

Some of the edits to the existing/"original" transcribed list are noted below:

8      "Fuji Shashin"  (spelling)

14    "Ueda"  (spelling)

19    "Fuji Kogeisha"  (separated)

28    "Fuji Seintsu Kiki"  (separated; "best-guess" spelling)

35    "Light Koki"  (spelling)

64    "Kobayashi Kogaku Seisakujo" (spelling)

130  "Komiya Kogaku Sangyo"  (separated)

139  "Bushu"  (spelling)

154  "Sanei Kogaku Kenkyujo  (spelling)

166  "Komiya Kogaku Kenkyujo  (spelling)

175  "Toyo Kogaku Kenkyujo"  (spelling)

182  "Yamato Koki"  (spelling)

207  "Apollon"  (spelling & transliteration; numerical index likely incorrect/out of order; perhaps 247? 267?)

207  "Hiyoshi Optical"  (removed; Vixen rep verified Hitachi - not Hiyoshi - for 207; Hiyoshi at #56 correct/unaffected.)

242  "Tomoaki"  (spelling)

 

While not a correction, per se, I moved Yoko Sangyo from 191 to 91.  Historical addresses for Yoko Sangyo and Seiwa are quite different, and the fact that both existed on the "companion" list at the same time strongly suggests they were neither related nor mis-registered.  With #91 conspicuously absent from the original list, I think it's reasonable to infer that Yoko Sangyo was simply mis-indexed at 191.  Still, I consider the re-sequencing as "unconfirmed" and added a question mark after Yoko Sangyo's name.

 

Other notes:

One of the two companies sharing #96 should almost certainly reference #95.

Similarly, #s 110, 114, 116, 207, 230, and 231 are all indexed twice (different companies).

I suspect 231 "Hiroyuki Tochihara" (a personal name) was the primary rep or founder at Tochihara Optical. That may explain the dupe.

Additional research may clarify the remaining duplicates and "holes".

 

Other "clean up" included spaces between commas and city names, as well as extraneous commas & periods.

 

SO...

Where does this leave us?  What about J-B13 and the ~26 other "holes" in the index?

 

I have not yet followed up with Vixen.  I will do so soon - respectfully and graciously.  If I learn more, I'll follow up here.

 

It makes sense that the JL index - even though the JL act and registration system (as well as the JBEPA) were abolished/dissolved in 1969 - continues to be referenced/maintained by one or more of the current "governing bodies" or organizations in Japan (JTMA? JTITA?).  The fact that Vixen responded to my inquiry so quickly suggests that their Export Dept. either has the index on hand or has quick and easy access to it (i.e. online/web-based).  The likelihood that other surviving binocular companies (Hiyoshi, Light, Otsuka, Nikon, et.al) have similar access to (or archived copies of) the JL index is reasonable.

 

Best wishes, all.

Dan

 

EDIT:  Many thanks to Semlin, who reminded me about the differences between Yoko Sangyo's and Seiwa's addresses.

Edited by MisterDan, 16 February 2025 - 04:04 PM.

[semlin]

nice work misterdan carrying on the abram's tradition!

 

i still think jb13 is like the 13th floor in certain buildings.  it does not exist!

[bulletdodger]

Screw AI, on many things I have looked at, in depth, it is absolutely wrong, even though it states it with authority. AI is not there yet.

[Eric Drum]

nice work misterdan carrying on the abram's tradition!
 
i still think jb13 is like the 13th floor in certain buildings.  it does not exist!

By coincidence, I just watched a video about the British Blackburn Buccaneer aircraft. They called one prototype model 12B but it still crashed into the sea on take-off from a carrier!

I asked Gemini AI about cultural significance of 13 in Japan: needs corroboration.

Do they avoid using it?
 
While some people in Japan may be aware of the Western superstition surrounding 13, it's not common to see it actively avoided in everyday life. You're unlikely to find buildings without a 13th floor or other similar practices.
 
In summary:
 
The number 13 has some association with bad luck in Japan, but this is mainly due to Western influence. It's not a deeply ingrained superstition, and it's not as widely avoided as other unlucky numbers like 4.
...
Not a Traditional Japanese Superstition: Traditionally, the numbers 4 and 9 are considered unlucky in Japanese culture due to their pronunciation, which sounds similar to words for "death" and "suffering" respectively. 13 doesn't have the same negative connotations in the Japanese language.
 
In contrast, numbers like 7 and 8 are often considered lucky in Japan.

There was a thread (maybe on birdforum) suggesting a comprehensive effort to recreate all Peter Abrahams' europa.com information. Much is on archive.org. I started putting the email list on quora.com, but neither is fully accessible to Google. I worried slightly about copyright, and data privacy of names, locations and email addresses.
Some is on dehilster.info too.

Binocular History Society ?

Github for version control, forking etc?

Binopedia ? Oh, that name is taken by BHS above, but for their forum. Is it worth signing up? I am not sure why I haven't ...

We could start another Wiki? Like Camerapedia ?
 
Is it worth adding 'Kama-Ko' which I believe is used by JB133?

I saw it recently on a bottom hinge end cap ...

 

(Yes, I am experimenting with Google Programmable Search (formerly Custom Search Engine)!

It needs custom code to automatically handle JB numbers ... Feel free to play! I can see it as a useful way to cut out the pollution of the web by AI hallucinations. Perhaps forums will ban AI content? Remember humans are fallible, too ... 'abram' ...) 

 

Then there are initials like SMC and cryptic symbols ... Google Images seems incomplete ...

Edited by Eric Drum, 16 February 2025 - 08:39 PM.

[Eric Drum]

Aha! That does explain a gap in the list:

sorry I dismissed it as 'not Japanese culture': it is, of course for export, so excessive politeness demands ...

 

Number 13 was excluded as it is considered an unwelcome number in Europe and America.

 

 

Edited by Eric Drum, 20 February 2025 - 05:56 AM.

[MisterDan]

By coincidence, I just watched a video about the British Blackburn Buccaneer aircraft. They called one prototype model 12B but it still crashed into the sea on take-off from a carrier!

I asked Gemini AI about cultural significance of 13 in Japan: needs corroboration.

There was a thread (maybe on birdforum) suggesting a comprehensive effort to recreate all Peter Abrahams' europa.com information. Much is on archive.org. I started putting the email list on quora.com, but neither is fully accessible to Google. I worried slightly about copyright, and data privacy of names, locations and email addresses.
Some is on dehilster.info too.

Binocular History Society ?

Github for version control, forking etc?

Binopedia ? Oh, that name is taken by BHS above, but for their forum. Is it worth signing up? I am not sure why I haven't ...

We could start another Wiki? Like Camerapedia ?
 
Is it worth adding 'Kama-Ko' which I believe is used by JB133?

I saw it recently on a bottom hinge end cap ...

 

(Yes, I am experimenting with Google Programmable Search (formerly Custom Search Engine)!

It needs custom code to automatically handle JB numbers ... Feel free to play! I can see it as a useful way to cut out the pollution of the web by AI hallucinations. Perhaps forums will ban AI content? Remember humans are fallible, too ... 'abram' ...) 

 

Then there are initials like SMC and cryptic symbols ... Google Images seems incomplete ...

SMC corresponds to Seiwa (J-B191).

This stylized "S" does, too:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/146128204595

(see 6th image).

 

-And this "winged W" identifies Warabi Kokisha:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/226581062584

 

Most of those cryptic symbols (vintage telescope marks) will not/do not "translate" to binoculars manufacturers.  On the other hand, some of them do! 

 

Cheers.

[MisterDan]

Follow-up regarding the "JL index" (aka J-codes, JB codes, manufacturers list):

 

Instead of gung-ho, it's a no-go.

 

From Vixen (earlier today):

"We are sorry that information on the manufacturers' index is not allowed to be open to the public."

 

Sorry, folks.

 

Best wishes.

Dan

[Eric Drum]

SMC corresponds to Seiwa (J-B191).
This stylized "S" does, too:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/146128204595
(see 6th image).
 
-And this "winged W" identifies Warabi Kokisha:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/226581062584
 
Most of those cryptic symbols (vintage telescope marks) will not/do not "translate" to binoculars manufacturers.  On the other hand, some of them do! 

For posterity

 
MiniatureBinoculars.com has a page that adds some vintage Japanese binocular manufacturer addresses.

 

They say

Note: For JE prefix codes the manufacturer identification number is the same ID number as those marked below with JB code as prefix.

But "Garakuma" on a Japanese forum said there was a completely different JE-number list (body casting makers) with only about 70 entries.

 

the binoculars with the Karton name from ?? are JB11 and JE11, so it seems that the Omiya Optical body is assembled by Takada Optical Precision Machinery Works. By the way, Karton Optical is registered with JB numbers 208 and 362, and JE is 64.

From the 2025 list

J-B11 Omiya Kogaku Kikai Seisakujo

J-B208 Katon Kogaku Seisakujo Inc. (Carton Kogaku Seisakujo)

J-B362 missing: not even J-B262 is in range

 

So we have the first entry for the JE-number list, out of ~70!

 

J-E64 Katon Kogaku Seisakujo Inc. (Carton Kogaku Seisakujo)

 

It is likely that the second is

 

J-E11 Takada Optical Precision Machinery Works

 

... but have we got JB = body and JE = optics/assembly wrong? Garakuma has them the other way round!

 

MiniatureBinoculars.com does list some JE numbers on their alphabetical manufacturers pages.

But looking-up a couple, they seem to follow the JE=JB assumption, so are probably wrong, according to Garakuma.

 

It could take a lot of time to search and extract other JE codes from Japanese forums.

 

Garakuma posted images of the law for marking things, which includes a list.

It looks like "binocular bodies" was added last, which could fit better with being allocated JE not JB (prism binoculars are early in the list).

 

"Takada" doesn't seem to be on the JB list. Perhaps it has another name, westernised (like Optical = Kogaku) or the company was merged into another. Is that how some companies have two JB numbers? It doesn't sound like it only does metal castings.

 

The MiniatureBinoculars.com address list has "Takaku" and "Tanaka" J-B50 optical companies, both being the family name of the named contact. Some on the JB list have changed company name. Probably there are more name changes we don't know about ...

 

I wonder if there are LJ marked Galilean field glasses in Japan.

And are sewing-machine collectors struggling with this, too?

Edited by Eric Drum, 06 March 2025 - 05:16 AM.