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.
"Have binoculars with the markings ... DF7x50H..
Why is there no info. Re. these?" Ken c 04/12/2020
"Hi Ken,
These are the codes that were put on German military binoculars from around 1940. They were intended to disguise the manufacturer.
Are your binoculars Zeiss? Zeiss made DF 7x50 from the First World War onwards. It was used as a Naval binocular.
DF stands for Doppelfernrohr, or double telescope." Steven 05/12/2020
"I have a "green" original 7x50 German sub mounted? Binocular model T? and stamped Nc418375. What can you tell me about this. Is this worth anything?" Larry 27/12/2020
"Hi Larry,
I think the 'T' means it has coated optics. The number looks like a serial number. Is there a three letter code, as shown above, or a maker's name?
Yes, they are valuable. Probably £800 to £1000.
best regards" Steven 27/12/2020