A superb pair of 15 x 80 (15 power magnification and 80 mm objective lenses) military binoculars by Nikko of Japan, dated May 1945. Nikko was the brand name used by the optical company, Nippon Kōgaku Kōgyō Kabushikigaisha from 1922 - 1949. Originally used for long range land, sea and air observation during WWII.
The Japanese companies of Nikko and Toko were the principal manufacturers of binoculars for Japan's military during WWII. To achieve the high standard of optics required for this type of instrument, it is recorded that the Japanese optical industries purchased some 200,000 pounds of optical glass through the duration of the war from the specialist glass manufacturer Schott in Germany, delivered to them via U-Boat.
The binoculars have been stripped of their original paint, the cast aluminium polished to a mirror finish and then mounted on a custom made bracket & cradle fitted to a period wooden tripod stand. The brass backs to the prism boxes have been stripped of their original black finish, polished, cleaned and then plated with a thin layer of gold to prevent them tarnishing and minimise cleaning.
The optics have been fully refurbished to the highest standards, arriving on a newly made hardwood floor stand to provide stability to the tripod and give protection to floor surfaces.
Dimensions: 45.5 cm/17⅞ inches (length of binocular).
