What's so facinating about Old Binoculars?. Well let me try and explain from my own point of view. My name is Peter Hunt and I have been buying, selling,and collecting for the last 15 years and the fasination and enthusiasm has still not worn off.

First of all what do we consider as old? Well I usually look at them from the 1800s to about the 1950/60 era, and within that time span there is a wealth of interesting binoculars you can see or buy, and the best thing of all is that your hobby does not have to cost a fortune.

They come in all shapes and sizes and the old ones were usually made of Brass or Aluminium and the covering could be various types of leather or just japanned black, with the more ornate Opera or Theatre Glasses having coloured leather, mother of pearl, ivory, enamel gilt, and even picture designs. There are basicaly two designs for the binoculars and they are 'Galilean' and 'Prismatic'. As you will see later the Galilean type are just 'straight through viewing' like a telescope, whilst the Prismatic ones use a lense to focus.

Then there is the huge range you can be interested in, from the early Galilean to the later Prismatic, from the 1800s to WW1 and WW11. There are Civilian and Military Binoculars, Opera or Theatre Glasses, Binoculars from France, Germany, Russia, USA, Canada, the list is endless. You will find the old famous names of makers such as 'Barr and Stroud', 'Ross', 'Kershaw' etc who have now long gone.

Think about it. 'They don't make em like they used to' Modern binoculars may be more powerful than their old counterparts but the material is different and they look bland. The brass and the leather and the japanned and the aluminium etc look and feel as though they have been made by craftsmen, and some of them, if you polish them up look fabulous.

Look at the history in your hands, as some of these instruments can be over 100 years old, and 'THEY STILL WORK'. What year were they made? were they used during any war? who did they belong to? what do the markings on the military ones mean?

I am by no means an 'expert' but I have picked up a fair bit of information over the years and through this web sight I hope I can pass this information on to you. If you are a complete novice then I know you will discover a lot about this fascinating subject, and if you are already an avid collector then I hope I can bring or direct you to that little extra.

Here is a UK company who carry out repairs on - old binoculars

Optical Repairs

If you are looking for any 'Binocular Spares' then you might try this company - Surplus Shed - They are very good and might just have what you want.

Please follow the 'links' on this web page and i hope you find something of interest.