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 8×30 D.F.08, D.F.8x, and D.F.8×30 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.
Carl Zeiss German domestic and overseas sales
8×30 DELTRENTIS, June 1923, 1198429, Carl Zeiss, Jena, Thuringia
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German 8×30 DELTRENTIS civilian binoculars, production serial number, 1198429, heavy construction, made of brass, black “Vulkanite” schwarzes Kunstleder (black synthetic leather) Körperbedeckung (body covering), aluminum alloy prism covers, objective covers, and objective lens rings, manufactured about June 1923 by Carl Zeiss, Jena, Thuringia. Left prism cover marked in white with “CARL ZEISS” / “JENA” trademark logo. Right prism cover marked in white with “DELTRENTIS” / “1198429” (production serial number) logo over “8×30”. This Carl Zeiss DELTRENTIS, serial number, 1198429, was produced about June 1923, within the serial number sequence of the original Carl Zeiss production serial number series established in 1894. |
Carl Zeiss German domestic and overseas sales
8×30 DELTRENTIS, June 1923, 1198545, Carl Zeiss, Jena, Thuringia
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German 8×30 DELTRENTIS civilian binoculars, production serial number, 1198545, heavy construction, made of brass, black “Vulkanite” schwarzes Kunstleder (black synthetic leather) Körperbedeckung (body covering), aluminum alloy prism covers, objective covers, and objective lens rings, manufactured about June 1923 by Carl Zeiss, Jena, Thuringia. Left prism cover marked in white with “CARL ZEISS” / “JENA” trademark logo. Right prism cover marked in white with “DELTRENTIS” / “1198545” (production serial number) logo over “8×30”. This Carl Zeiss DELTRENTIS, serial number, 1198545, was produced about June 1923, within the serial number sequence of the original Carl Zeiss production serial number series established in 1894. |
Carl Zeiss German domestic and overseas sales
8×30 DELTRENTIS, July 1925, 1283879, Carl Zeiss, Jena, Thuringia
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German 8×30 DELTRENTIS civilian binoculars, production serial number, 1283879, heavy construction, made of brass, black “Vulkanite” schwarzes Kunstleder (black synthetic leather) Körperbedeckung (body covering), aluminum alloy prism covers, objective covers, and objective lens rings, manufactured about July 1925 by Carl Zeiss, Jena, Thuringia. Left prism cover marked in white with “CARL ZEISS” / “JENA” trademark logo. Right prism cover marked in white with “DELTRENTIS” / “1283879” (production serial number) logo over “8×30”. This Carl Zeiss DELTRENTIS, serial number, 1283879, was produced about July 1925, within the serial number sequence of the original Carl Zeiss production serial number series established in 1894. |
Carl Zeiss NEDINSCO German domestic and overseas sales
8×30 NEDINSCO DELTRENTIS, May 1926, 1320138, s’Gravenhage (The Hague), Netherlands
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German 8×30 NEDINSCO DELTRENTIS civilian binoculars, production serial number, 1320138, heavy construction, made of brass, black “Vulkanite” schwarzes Kunstleder (black synthetic leather) Körperbedeckung (body covering), aluminum alloy prism covers, objective covers, and objective lens rings, manufactured about May 1926 by Carl Zeiss, NEDINSCO, ‘s Gravenhage (The Hague), Netherlands for domestic and overseas sales. Left prism cover marked in white with “NEDINSCO” / ‘s Gravenhage / “Systeem” / “CARL ZEISS” / “JENA” trademark logo. Right prism cover marked in white with “DELTRENTIS” / “1320138” (production serial number) logo over “8×30”. This Carl Zeiss NEDINSCO DELTRENTIS, serial number, 1320138, was produced about May 1926, within the serial number sequence of the original Carl Zeiss production serial number series established in 1894. |
Carl Zeiss NEDINSCO German domestic and overseas sales
8×30 NEDINSCO DELTRENTIS, June 1927, 1367587, s’Gravenhage (The Hague), Netherlands
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German 8×30 NEDINSCO DELTRENTIS civilian binoculars, production serial number, 1367587, heavy construction, made of brass, black “Vulkanite” schwarzes Kunstleder (black synthetic leather) Körperbedeckung (body covering), aluminum alloy prism covers, objective covers, and objective lens rings, manufactured about June 1927 by Carl Zeiss, NEDINSCO, ‘s Gravenhage (The Hague), Netherlands for domestic and overseas sales. Left prism cover marked in white with “NEDINSCO” / ‘s Gravenhage / “Systeem” / “CARL ZEISS” / “JENA” trademark logo. Right prism cover marked in white with “DELTRENTIS” / “1367587” (production serial number) logo over “8×30”. This Carl Zeiss NEDINSCO DELTRENTIS, serial number, 1367587, was produced about June 1927, within the serial number sequence of the original Carl Zeiss production serial number series established in 1894. |
Carl Zeiss NEDINSCO German domestic and overseas sales
8×30 NEDINSCO DELTRENTIS, June 1927, 1368832, s’Gravenhage (The Hague), Netherlands
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German 8×30 NEDINSCO DELTRENTIS civilian binoculars, production serial number, 1368832, heavy construction, made of brass, black “Vulkanite” schwarzes Kunstleder (black synthetic leather) Körperbedeckung (body covering), aluminum alloy prism covers, objective covers, and objective lens rings, manufactured about June 1927 by Carl Zeiss, NEDINSCO, ‘s Gravenhage (The Hague), Netherlands for domestic and overseas sales. Left prism cover marked in white with “NEDINSCO” / ‘s Gravenhage / “Systeem” / “CARL ZEISS” / “JENA” trademark logo. Right prism cover marked in white with “DELTRENTIS” / “1368832” (production serial number) logo over “8×30”. This Carl Zeiss NEDINSCO DELTRENTIS, serial number, 1368832, was produced about June 1927, within the serial number sequence of the original Carl Zeiss production serial number series established in 1894. |
Carl Zeiss German domestic and overseas sales
8×30 DELTRENTIS, October 1927, 1386057, Jena, Thuringia
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German 8×30 DELTRENTIS civilian binoculars, production serial number, 1386057, 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, manufactured about October 1927 by Carl Zeiss, Jena, Thuringia. Left prism cover marked in white with “CARL ZEISS” / “JENA” trademark logo. Right prism cover marked in white with “DELTRENTIS” / “1386057” logo over “8×30”. Bridge spindle front button stamped with “GERMANY” at the top. This Carl Zeiss 8×30 DELTRENTIS, serial number, 1386057, was produced about October 1927, within the serial number sequence of the original Carl Zeiss production serial number series established in 1894. |
Carl Zeiss German domestic and overseas sales
8×30 DELTRENTIS, November 1927, 1386252, Jena, Thuringia
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German 8×30 DELTRENTIS civilian binoculars, production serial number, 1386252, 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, manufactured about November 1927 by Carl Zeiss, Jena, Thuringia. Left prism cover marked in white with “CARL ZEISS” / “JENA” trademark logo. Right prism cover marked in white with “DELTRENTIS” / “1386252” logo over “8×30”. Bridge spindle front button stamped with “GERMANY” at the top. This Carl Zeiss 8×30 DELTRENTIS, serial number, 1386252, was produced about November 1927, within the serial number sequence of the original Carl Zeiss production serial number series established in 1894. |
Carl Zeiss German domestic and overseas sales
8×30 DELTRENTIS, April 1928, 1412702, Jena, Thuringia
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German 8×30 DELTRENTIS civilian binoculars, production serial number, 1412702, 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, manufactured about April 1928 by Carl Zeiss, Jena, Thuringia. Left prism cover marked in white with “CARL ZEISS” / “JENA” trademark logo. Right prism cover marked in white with “DELTRENTIS” / “1412702” logo over “8×30”. This Carl Zeiss 8×30 DELTRENTIS, serial number, 1412702, was produced about April 1928, within the serial number sequence of the original Carl Zeiss production serial number series established in 1894. |
Carl Zeiss German domestic and overseas sales
8×30 DELTRENTIS, September 1928, 1441816, Jena, Thuringia
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German 8×30 DELTRENTIS civilian binoculars, production serial number, 1441816, heavy construction, made of aluminum alloy, black “Vulkanite” schwarzes Kunstleder (black synthetic leather) Körperbedeckung (body covering), aluminum alloy prism and objective covers, brass objective lens rings, manufactured about September 1928 by Carl Zeiss, Jena, Thuringia. Left prism cover marked in white with “CARL ZEISS” / “JENA” trademark logo. Right prism cover marked in white with “DELTRENTIS” / “1441816” logo over “8×30”. Bridge spindle front button stamped with “GERMANY” at the top. This Carl Zeiss 8×30 DELTRENTIS, serial number, 1441816, was produced about September 1928, within the serial number sequence of the original Carl Zeiss production serial number series established in 1894. |
