- Joined
- Feb 23, 2013
- Location
- East Texas
It seems that, as with many other items I own, I've inadvertently become a collector of French and German military binoculars or field glasses. My collection now includes, top row left-to-right: WWII German 6 X 30; WWI German Fernglas 08 which were issued to machine gunners, NCO's, etc.; and another pair of 6 X 30 with its original strap (all the other straps are reproductions) atop an original Bakelite case. Bottom row: Two French-made military-style binoculars and another pair of WWII German. Of course here it's the French we will consider.
Why French? Because during the period of the Civil War French optics were considered the best and were widely imported for the war by outfitters like Horstmann, Tiffany & Company and Fitch and Waldo. It wasn't until around the turn of the century that German makers succeeded to the reputation previously enjoyed by French makers. (There were as yet NO domestic U. S. manufacturers of optics!) These two pairs are pictured with a reproduction case I commissioned for the larger pair. Both have only the single focusing adjustment as seen.
A typical feature of period military-style binoculars is the pull-down lens shades on these; the photo below gives an idea of how they were intended in practice to shade the lenses to prevent glare.
I keep saying military-style because these were strictly private purchase items for officers; unlike the WWI and WWII German examples neither the U. S. nor C. S. government purchased these for the officers of their armies. Like with swords and other sidearms officers were expected to purchase their own optical instruments and there was no such thing as "regulation" models of these. Naturally, as in so many other things military, it was to the French that novice officers turned for their inspiration.
However, I know positively that at least one pair of these was owned and used by a Union officer in the Civil War because I was fortunate enough to purchase a part of his personal belongings from his descendants through a local antique shop now fifty years ago. His name was Joseph Holmes and he was Lieutenant Colonel of the 8th New York Heavy Artillery, a garrison unit that had the misfortune to be deployed as infantry at Cold Harbor and Petersburg. After the unit's colonel was killed at Cold Harbor, Holmes succeeded to the command which he held for the remainder of the war. The items in the grouping did not all belong to Holmes, but the binoculars at left, whiskey flask in the bottom right corner, red-and-white striped polished cotton housewife, chess pawn, and pair of carved bone dice were his.
The photo below shows Holmes' binoculars at full length with both their lens covers extended and focus adjusted at maximum magnification.
Typically the only markings on optics like these is found on the eyepieces which seem to be made of a plastic material similar to the thermoplastic photographic cases in which daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, and tintypes are commonly found. (Eyepieces on the later German binoculars are Bakelite.) The markings JUMELLE MARINE (in this case marine is French meaning naval) indicate that this pair is powerful enough to be used at sea; Jumelle is likely the name of the manufacturer.
My latest pair is generally similar but slightly smaller overall; it's quite possible they originally had thin leather coverings on the lens covers which have been lost to time.
This pair is marked COLMONT F. PARIS for which the F stands for fournisseur or dealer/supplier, likely the outfitter in Paris that distributed these to retailers.
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