Flakglas 10 x80 Leitz ( Beh).

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It took almost three years to complete this outfit.
Flakglas 10 x80 made by Leitz makers code "Beh". The binocular weights almost 14lb , quite common - can be found frequently on a certain auction site which has cornered the optics market "e**y"

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The complete outfit comprises of :
Double telescope / Binocular of 10 x80 size. (Doppelfernrohr).
Cradle Mount to hold and manipulate the binocular. (Trager).
Turntable on which the cradle is mounted. (Messkreis).
Compass ( Se base of the turntable). (Bussole).
Rainguards/ Shades for the binocular. (Regenschutzrohr).
Quicksight / Auxillary sight. ( Mounted on the binocular). (Notvisier).
Padded headrest. (Stirnschutz).
Light unit and electrical lead. ( Anstecklampe).

These parts are shown in the 2 jpgs and are held together by a number of clips and screws.
The disc and cradle mount allow for 360 degree rotation of the unit and elevation to 90 degrees or minus 10 degrees.
The gearing system in the cradle side allows for smooth and easy use of what is a very heavy binocular.

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Rear 3/4 view of the binocular.
At "11 o'clock" to the left eye piece , a circular knob which operates the filter system.
The circular element of the cradle contains the gearing sytem.
The cradle was made by Riefler, Clemens, Fabrik mathematischer Instrumente , Nesselwang/Bayern.
( My thanks to Dr. Hans Seeger who identified the maker for me).
The battery box and lead attachment is common to all German optics and will illuminate the graticule of any German optic , box and lead is interchangabale with MG42 etc , 12x60 units etc.
The lead does not tangle as the whole unit turns as one.
Compass on base of disc is in black , on top of the disc mount is a small spirit level this allows for fine adjustment to level the unit- the 3 x bakalite knobs shown in the photo make a fine adjustment on each of the three legs.

[Frans H.]

A very nice outfit

Frans

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Side view of the binocular. DF = Double telescope.
Beh the Leitz makers code.
The blue O and red X are lubrication codes.
The knob on the top allows the interoccular / pupil distance to be set , the right side of the binocular moves to allow for this setting to be made.
The handle is spring loaded and can be folded up when stored in the transit case.

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Elevation scale on side of the cradle.

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The binocular with its parts in the transit case.
The set stores neatly into what was / remains a well thought out system.
Its a two man job to carry this unless you want a hernia.

The " multi coloured" parts , very common.

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The unit on its tripod with transit case.
The tripod is heavy , extends to over five feet in height, as mentioned previously each leg can be adjusted to level the optic.
Missing the canvas and chainlinked carrying case / ends for the tripod.

The unit was mainly used for aircraft identification although all services used it as a general observation optic.
It produces a sharp and detailed image , the 80mm objectives are huge and are very efficent at gathering light, the occulars are large easy to adjust.
There is a built in filter sytem allowing for the selection of 4 differnet filters depending on light conditions.( Loacted beside the left occular).
When I got this "girl" there was cement failure in both objectives and a resulting dilateral lens seperation , this manifested itself as large "snowflake" patterns on the optical surface.
Mr. Dougie Biggarts at Glasgow Binocular Repairs did a great job in cleaning and recementing the lens which first had to be slowly " cooked" in an oven prior to being cemented back into place.

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View of the rear of the unit and transit case.

The gathering of the "supporting parts" was the major problem .
The binocular can be obtained on ebay although condition of the units vary greatly , quite often the shades, headreast and mounting block are missing.
You can be sure as Hades that a clean and lubricaton will be needed on any bought , cost wise for the maintance approx. £150 , but well worth it.

I am grateful to several excellent collectors for their help in obtaing the missing parts.
Mr. Simon Lannoy from whom I obtained the Transit case.
Dr. Peter De Laet who kindly did a paint job on the quicksight and from whom I bought the battery box, quicksight and tripod.
Peter gave the tripod its own identity - " Mother" - when it arrived in the mail it resembled a " Mummy" - the name stuck
The cradle came from German dealer Herr Klaus Peter Emig www.kpemig.de
The disc mount came from Mr.Lindsay Kaing in the USA.
The inventory plate from Mr. Earl Osbourne of Osborne Optics USA.
Mr. Will Gerrard for drawing my attention to some parts I would otherwise have missed and for his sound advice and friendship which I much appreciate.

Would it have been easier to have bought a complete unit , certainly but for some reason 90% of German optics seemed to have been taken to the USA after the surrender .
Air mail back to Europe is a killer and H.M. Customs would have asked for a considerable sum by way of duty .

Was it worth it , I think so...must go " Mother " is calling.

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Last one , a view through the objective lens.