World War II German binoculars - manufacturer codes 1939-45
World War II German binoculars were marked 'Dienstglas' meaning service glass. Pre-war glasses used by the German military had the maker's name. Often it was Zeiss.
From 1939/1940 onwards they used a code to identify the maker. The code usually appeared on the back of one of the prisms.
There were a huge number of manufacturers that made glasses for the German military. Some were in occupied countries. Look down the list to see Paris and Warsaw-based businesses.
There were also well known German manufaturers, Zeiss and Leitz, which had several different factories.
Code | Manufacturer |
---|---|
beh | Ernst Leitz GmbH, Wetzlar |
bek | Hensoldt Werk fur Optic u. Michanik, Herborn |
blc | Carl Zeiss, Jena |
bmj | Hensoldt & Sohne, M. Optische Werk A G Wetzlar |
bmt | Steinheill & Sohne, Munich |
bpd | Optische Anstalt CP Goerz, Vienna |
byg | J OH. Wyksen, Optische & Feinmaschin, Katowitz |
ccx | Optisch u. Feinmechanishe Werke Hugo Meyer & Co, Gorlitz |
cro | R Fuess Optische Industrie, Steglitz, Berlin |
ctn | Hanseatische Werkstatten fur Feinmechanik u. Optick Freidricks & Co |
cxn | Emil Busch AG Optische Industrie Rathenow |
czn | Emil Busch AG Optische Industrie Rathenow |
dkl | Joseph Schneider, Kreutznach |
ddx. | Voighlander & Sons, Brunswick |
dow | Zeiss Ikon, Goerzwerke, Zellendorf, Berlin |
dpw | Zeiss Ikon AG, Stuttgart |
dyn | Runge & Kaulfuss, Rathenow |
dzl | Optische Anstalt Oigee, Berlin |
eaf | Mechanoptick Gesellschaft fur Prazasions - tecknik, Aude and Reipe Optische Industrie, Babelsberg |
eaw | R Winkel, Gottingen |
esu | Steinheill & Sohne, Munich |
eso | Optische Werke G Rodenstock, Munich |
eug | Optische Prisions Werke GmbH, Warsaw |
fco | Sendlinger Optische Glaswerke GmbH Zehlendorf, Berlin |
fwr | Optische Anstalt Saalfeld GmbH, Saafeld |
fzp | H Kollmorgan GmbH, Berlin |
ghp | Rufs Co, Kassell |
gug | Ungarische Optische Werke AG Budapest |
guj | Werner D Huehn Optical Industrie, Steglitz, Berlin |
hdv | Optische Werk Osterode GmbH, Osterode, Harz |
hkm | Carl Braun AG Optische Industrie Nunberg |
jfp | Dr Carl Leiss, Optische Mechanische Instrumente, Steglitz Berlin |
jve | Optisches Werk Ernst Ludwig, Weixdorf |
krg | Emil Busch AG Optische Industrie, Rathenow |
kwe | Gamma Feinmaschin u. Optische Werke, Budapest |
lmg | Carl Zeiss, Jena |
lwg | Optische Werke Osterode GmbH, Freiheit bei Osterode (Harz) |
lww | Huet et Cei (Het & Co), Paris |
lwx | OPL (Optique et Precision de Levallois), Levallois, Paris |
lwy | Societe Optique et Mechanique de Haute Precision, Paris |
pvf | Optische Werk C Reichert, Vienna |
cag | Swarovski, Tyrol |
emq | Karl Zeiss, Jena |
jnh | Hensoldt |
lae | Heinrich Zeiss, Gastingen |
rln | Carl Zeiss, Jena |
jux | Nedinsco (Zeiss affiliate), Venlo |
The table was compiled mainly from a J A Davis catalogue from 1959, together with some information from Binoculars, opera glasses and field glasses by Fred Watson.
Comments
Hi seen a 6x30 set code FVS"KF"thought i'd ask as nothing listed here,maybe produced in Poland or france maybe,thank you in advance.
Hi. I have binoculars, but the markings on them seem different to any others I've seen so far. On the left it says D.F.03 6fach . UF, with the second row sayingDIENSTGLAS No 4398.
The right says Emil Busch. A - G. Rathenow. They are brass. Hope you can help.
romar germany 44703 is all that is on it.
We have a ww2 German range finder marked Em 1.25m R(L), the marker code is fwq not be able to find info on this. Thanks
D.F. 10X80. O dkl X. What does these figures mean?