German Empire, 1871-1918
German Reich (Weimar Republic), 1919-1933
Carl Zeiss, Jena
In the armed forces of the German Empire, military service binoculars were marked to identify them as government military property.
Military service binoculars were issued to soldiers with specialized functions. For example, group leaders and artillery observers were issued military service binoculars to perform their duties.
The most common type of service glass used by the armed forces of the German Empire prior to and during the First World War were the 6×24 D.F.03, D.F.6x, D.F.6×24, and D.F.6×30 military service binoculars.
The 8×24 D.F.08, D.F.8x, D.F.8×24, and D.F.8×30 military service binoculars were also used.
The numbers “6” or “8” identify the magnification power — “6” indicates that objects appear six times closer than their actual distance, “8” indicates that objects appear eight times closer than their actual distance.
The numbers “24” or “30” identify the diameter in millimeters of the front (objective) lenses — the light gathering lenses — 24 millimeters in diameter, or 30 millimeters in diameter.
This is a selection of 8×24 D.F.08, D.F.8x, and D.F.8×24 civilian and military service binoculars, listed in serial number sequence, manufactured by the Carl Zeiss optical company of Jena, Thuringia for German domestic and overseas sales, and for the armed forces of the German Empire, from 1897 to 1918, as observed in collections and recorded from sources online.
German civilian and overseas sales
8×24 TELACT, July 1897, 7462, Carl Zeiss, Jena, Thuringia
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German 8×24 TELACT civilian binoculars, production serial number, 7462, heavy construction, made of brass, black “Vulkanite” schwarzes Kunstleder (black synthetic leather) Körperbedeckung (body covering), brass fittings, small civilian bridge locking nut, manufactured about July 1897 by Carl Zeiss, Jena, Thuringia. Left prism cover marked in white with “CARL ZEISS” / “JENA” trademark logo. Right prism cover marked in white with “TELACT” / “7462” (production serial number) logo over “8 X”. This Carl Zeiss Telact, serial number, 7462, was produced about July 1897, within the serial number sequence of the original Carl Zeiss production serial number series established in 1894. |
German Empire contract
8×24 D.F.8x, December 1909, 189243, Carl Zeiss, Jena, Thuringia
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German 8×24 D.F.8x military service binoculars, with Strichplatte (graduated range finding scale) in right lens, production serial number, 189243, heavy construction, made of brass, black “Vulkanite” schwarzes Kunstleder (black synthetic leather) Körperbedeckung (body covering), brass fittings, large military bridge locking nut, manufactured about December 1909 by Carl Zeiss, Jena, Thuringia. Left prism cover marked in white with “CARL ZEISS” / “JENA” trademark logo. Right prism cover marked in white with “D.F.8x” (“Dopplefernrohr 8x” – Binoculars 8x) / “189243” (production serial number) logo. This Carl Zeiss D.F.8x, serial number, 189243, was produced about December 1909, within the serial number sequence of the original Carl Zeiss production serial number series established in 1894. |
German civilian and overseas sales
8×24 TELACT, December 1910, 228654, Carl Zeiss, Jena, Thuringia
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German 8×24 TELACT civilian binoculars, production serial number, 228654, heavy construction, made of brass, black “Vulkanite” schwarzes Kunstleder (black synthetic leather) Körperbedeckung (body covering), brass fittings, small civilian bridge locking nut, manufactured about December 1910 by Carl Zeiss, Jena, Thuringia. Left prism cover marked in white with “CARL ZEISS” / “JENA” trademark logo. Right prism cover marked in white with “TELACT” / “228654” (production serial number) logo over “8 X”. This Carl Zeiss Telact, serial number, 228654, was produced about December 1910, within the serial number sequence of the original Carl Zeiss production serial number series established in 1894. The right objective lens cover is marked in white with the title “beutnant” (written in lower case) and a person’s last name “Sarafoff”. |
The term “beutnant” is a historical German occupational title referring to a bailiff, deputy, steward, or financial manager. The term “beutenant” is derived from “beutel,” meaning bag or purse, and is associated with occupations like bailiff, deputy, steward, financial manager, and similar professional occupations.
The inscription “beutnant” Sarafoff,” marked on the right objective lens cover of these binoculars, indicates that the original owner may have been a court officer or a bank manager in Germany in 1910.
German civilian and overseas sales
8×24 TELACT, July 1911, 251457, Carl Zeiss, Jena, Thuringia
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German 8×24 TELACT civilian binoculars, production serial number, 251457, heavy construction, made of brass, black “Vulkanite” schwarzes Kunstleder (black synthetic leather) Körperbedeckung (body covering), brass fittings, small civilian bridge locking nut, manufactured about July 1911 by Carl Zeiss, Jena, Thuringia. Left prism cover marked in white with “CARL ZEISS” / “JENA” trademark logo. Right prism cover marked in white with “TELACT” / “251457” (production serial number) logo over “8 X”. This Carl Zeiss Telact, serial number, 251457, was produced about July 1911, within the serial number sequence of the original Carl Zeiss production serial number series established in 1894. |
German civilian and overseas sales
8×24 TELACT, October 1912, 314245, Carl Zeiss, Jena, Thuringia
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German 8×24 TELACT civilian binoculars, production serial number, 314245, heavy construction, made of brass, black “Vulkanite” schwarzes Kunstleder (black synthetic leather) Körperbedeckung (body covering), brass fittings, small civilian bridge locking nut, manufactured about October 1912 by Carl Zeiss, Jena, Thuringia. Left prism cover marked in white with “CARL ZEISS” / “JENA” trademark logo. Right prism cover marked in white with “TELACT” / “314245” (production serial number) logo over “8 X”. This Carl Zeiss Telact, serial number, 314245, was produced about October 1912, within the serial number sequence of the original Carl Zeiss production serial number series established in 1894. |
German Empire contract
8×24 D.F.8x, October 1914, 439324, Carl Zeiss, Jena, Thuringia
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German 8×24 D.F.8x military service binoculars, with Strichplatte (graduated range finding scale) in right lens, production serial number, 439324, heavy construction, made of brass, black “Vulkanite” schwarzes Kunstleder (black synthetic leather) Körperbedeckung (body covering), brass fittings, large military bridge locking nut, manufactured about October 1914 by Carl Zeiss, Jena, Thuringia. Left prism cover marked in white with “CARL ZEISS” / “JENA” trademark logo. Right prism cover marked in white with “D.F.8x” (“Dopplefernrohr 8x” – Binoculars 8x) / “439324” (production serial number) logo. This Carl Zeiss D.F.8x, serial number, 439324, was produced about October 1914, within the serial number sequence of the original Carl Zeiss production serial number series established in 1894. |
German Empire contract
8×24 D.F.8x, March 1916, 587819, Carl Zeiss, Jena, Thuringia
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German 8×24 D.F.8x military service binoculars, with Strichplatte (graduated range finding scale) in right lens, production serial number, 587819, heavy construction, made of brass, black “Vulkanite” schwarzes Kunstleder (black synthetic leather) Körperbedeckung (body covering), brass fittings, large military bridge locking nut, manufactured about March 1916 by Carl Zeiss, Jena, Thuringia. Left prism cover marked in white with “CARL ZEISS” / “JENA” trademark logo. Right prism cover marked in white with “D.F.8x” (“Dopplefernrohr 8x” – Binoculars 8x) / “587819” (production serial number) logo. This Carl Zeiss D.F.8x, serial number, 587819, was produced about March 1916, within the serial number sequence of the original Carl Zeiss production serial number series established in 1894. |
German Empire contract
8×24 D.F.8×24, September 1917, 780609, Carl Zeiss, Jena, Thuringia
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German 8×24 D.F.8×24 military service binoculars, with Strichplatte (graduated range finding scale) in right lens, production serial number, 780609, heavy construction, made of brass, black “Vulkanite” schwarzes Kunstleder (black synthetic leather) Körperbedeckung (body covering), aluminum alloy prism and objective covers, brass objective lens rings, large military bridge locking nut, manufactured about September 1917 by Carl Zeiss, Jena, Thuringia. Left prism cover marked in white with “CARL ZEISS” / “JENA” trademark logo. Right prism cover marked in white with “D.F.8×24” (“Dopplefernrohr 8×24″ – Binoculars 8×24) / “780609” (production serial number) logo. This Carl Zeiss D.F.8×24, serial number, 780609, was produced about September 1917, within the serial number sequence of the original Carl Zeiss production serial number series established in 1894. |
German Empire contract
8×24 D.F.8×24, September 1917, 781056, Carl Zeiss, Jena, Thuringia
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German 8×24 D.F.8×24 military service binoculars, with Strichplatte (graduated range finding scale) in right lens, production serial number, 781056, heavy construction, made of brass, black “Vulkanite” schwarzes Kunstleder (black synthetic leather) Körperbedeckung (body covering), aluminum alloy prism and objective covers, brass objective lens rings, large military bridge locking nut, manufactured about September 1917 by Carl Zeiss, Jena, Thuringia. Left prism cover marked in white with “CARL ZEISS” / “JENA” trademark logo. Right prism cover marked in white with “D.F.8×24” (“Dopplefernrohr 8×24″ – Binoculars 8×24) / “781056” (production serial number) logo. This Carl Zeiss D.F.8×24, serial number, 781056, was produced about September 1917, within the serial number sequence of the original Carl Zeiss production serial number series established in 1894. |
German Empire contract
8×24 D.F.8×24, October 1917, 794093, Carl Zeiss, Jena, Thuringia
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German 8×24 D.F.8×24 military service binoculars, with Strichplatte (graduated range finding scale) in right lens, production serial number, 794093, heavy construction, made of brass, black “Vulkanite” schwarzes Kunstleder (black synthetic leather) Körperbedeckung (body covering), aluminum alloy prism and objective covers, brass objective lens rings, large military bridge locking nut, manufactured about October 1917 by Carl Zeiss, Jena, Thuringia. Left prism cover marked in white with “CARL ZEISS” / “JENA” trademark logo. Right prism cover marked in white with “Signalgerät G. Sig. 16” (“Signaldevice G. Sig. 16”) — “Signal Device Signal Group 16” — over “D.F.8×24” (“Dopplefernrohr 8×24″ – Binoculars 8×24) / “794093” (production serial number) logo. Top inside edge of right objective cover stamped with numbers that appear to be the date (“12.9.1923″ — 12 September 1923”). This Carl Zeiss D.F.8×24, serial number, 794093, was produced about October 1917, within the serial number sequence of the original Carl Zeiss production serial number series established in 1894. |
German Empire contract
8×24 D.F.8×24, October 1917, 823006, Carl Zeiss, Jena, Thuringia
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German 8×24 D.F.8×24 military service binoculars, with Strichplatte (graduated range finding scale) in right lens, production serial number, 823006, heavy construction, made of brass, black “Vulkanite” schwarzes Kunstleder (black synthetic leather) Körperbedeckung (body covering), aluminum alloy prism and objective covers, brass objective lens rings, large military bridge locking nut, manufactured about October 1917 by Carl Zeiss, Jena, Thuringia. Left prism cover marked in white with “CARL ZEISS” / “JENA” trademark logo. Right prism cover marked in white with “Dienstglas (Service Glass) over “X” (October) / “D.F.8×24” (“Dopplefernrohr 8×24″ – Binoculars 8×24) / “823006” (production serial number) logo / “1917”. This Carl Zeiss D.F.8×24, serial number, 823006, was produced about October 1917, within the serial number sequence of the original Carl Zeiss production serial number series established in 1894. |
German civilian and overseas sales
8×24 TURACT, August 1919, 1044487, Carl Zeiss, Jena, Thuringia
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German 8×24 TURACT civilian binoculars, production serial number, 1044487, heavy construction, made of brass, black “Vulkanite” schwarzes Kunstleder (black synthetic leather) Körperbedeckung (body covering), aluminum alloy prism and objective covers, brass objective lens rings, small civilian bridge locking nut, manufactured about August 1919 by Carl Zeiss, Jena, Thuringia. Left prism cover marked in white with “CARL ZEISS” / “JENA” trademark logo. Right prism cover marked in white with “TURACT” / “1044487” (production serial number) logo over “8×24”. This Carl Zeiss Turact, serial number, 1044487, was produced about August 1919, within the serial number sequence of the original Carl Zeiss production serial number series established in 1894. |
German civilian and overseas sales
8×24 TURACT, August 1920, 1086117, Carl Zeiss, Jena, Thuringia
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German 8×24 TURACT civilian binoculars, production serial number, 1086117, light construction, made of aluminum alloy, black “Vulkanite” schwarzes Kunstleder (black synthetic leather) Körperbedeckung (body covering), aluminum alloy prism covers, objective covers, and objective lens rings, manufactured about August 1920 by Carl Zeiss, Jena, Thuringia. Left prism cover marked in white with “CARL ZEISS” / “JENA” trademark logo. Right prism cover marked in white with “TURACT” / “1086117” (production serial number) logo over “8×24”. This Carl Zeiss Turact, serial number, 1086117, was produced about August 1920, within the serial number sequence of the original Carl Zeiss production serial number series established in 1894. |
German civilian and overseas sales
8×24 TURACT, October 1921, 1129564, Carl Zeiss, Jena, Thuringia
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German 8×24 TURACT civilian binoculars, production serial number, 1129564, light construction, made of aluminum alloy, black “Vulkanite” schwarzes Kunstleder (black synthetic leather) Körperbedeckung (body covering), aluminum alloy prism covers, objective covers, and objective lens rings, manufactured about October 1921 by Carl Zeiss, Jena, Thuringia. Left prism cover marked in white with “CARL ZEISS” / “JENA” trademark logo. Right prism cover marked in white with “TURACT” / “1129564” (production serial number) logo over “8×24”. This Carl Zeiss Turact, serial number, 1129564, was produced about October 1921, within the serial number sequence of the original Carl Zeiss production serial number series established in 1894. |
German civilian and overseas sales
8×24 DELTURIS, October 1921, 1129773, Carl Zeiss, Jena, Thuringia
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German 8×24 DELTURIS civilian binoculars, production serial number, 1129773, light construction, made of aluminum alloy, black “Vulkanite” schwarzes Kunstleder (black synthetic leather) Körperbedeckung (body covering), aluminum alloy prism covers, objective covers, and objective lens rings, manufactured about October 1921 by Carl Zeiss, Jena, Thuringia. Left prism cover marked in white with “CARL ZEISS” / “JENA” trademark logo. Right prism cover marked in white with “DELTURIS” / “1129773” (production serial number) logo over “8×24”. This Carl Zeiss Delturis, serial number, 1129773, was produced about October 1921, within the serial number sequence of the original Carl Zeiss production serial number series established in 1894. |
These 8×24 civilian binoculars are accompanied by the original brown leather Trageriemen (carrying strap), and brown leather Behalter or Köcher (case). The case was made in Czechoslovakia, and is marked on the upper front side with “F. Franek” over “D. Berkovice” within an oval stamped onto the leather.
Dolní Beřkovice (German: Unter Berschkowitz) is a municipality and village of about 1,600 inhabitants in Mělník District in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. The name Beřkovice is derived from the surname Beřek, meaning “the village of Beřek’s people.” The prefix Dolní means ‘lower’ and distinguishes the village from nearby Horní Beřkovice (‘Upper Beřkovice’).
Dolní Beřkovice is located about three kilometres (two miles) north of Mělník, and 30 kilometres (19 miles) north of Prague, on the left bank of the Elbe River.
On April 25, 1945, soldiers of the Soviet Union, advancing into Germany from the east, and soldiers of the United States, advancing into Germany from the west, met on the Elbe River, near Torgau, during the final days of the Second World War.
During the 1970s, the Soviet Union stated that the ashes of Adolf Hitler had been scattered in the Elbe River following disinterment from their original burial site near the German Chancellery in Berlin.
German civilian and overseas sales
8×24 DELTURIS, December 1922, 1183181, Carl Zeiss, Jena, Thuringia
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German 8×24 DELTURIS civilian binoculars, production serial number, 1183181, light construction, made of aluminum alloy, black “Vulkanite” schwarzes Kunstleder (black synthetic leather) Körperbedeckung (body covering), aluminum alloy prism covers, objective covers, and objective lens rings, manufactured about December 1922 by Carl Zeiss, Jena, Thuringia. Left prism cover marked in white with “CARL ZEISS” / “JENA” trademark logo. Right prism cover marked in white with “DELTURIS” / “1183181” (production serial number) logo over “8×24”. This Carl Zeiss Delturis, serial number, 1183181, was produced about December 1922, within the serial number sequence of the original Carl Zeiss production serial number series established in 1894. |
