U.S. Army binoculars: WWI. M3. Ingalls, 1944. 9 x 50.

Aberdeen Proving Grounds. History through WWII. M19. M22.

Recent developments.

By Peter Abrahams, with contributions from

David Gaddy, Steve Harris, Brian Haren, and others.
=========================

Visual Signaling, Manual No. 6, 1910.

The Signal Corps Manual No. 3 (1916).
Field glasses issued by the Signal Corps are not for personal use.
Officers are to have a personal field glass, which can be purchased from
the Signal Corps, who have purchased for testing many samples, which can
be inspected.
5 binocular types were in use by the U.S. Army in 1916:
Type A. Magnification 5.6 (day, 5.4 degree field), 3.8 (night, 8.3
degree field, plus lenses drop in front of eye lenses); Galilean, 1.5
inch objective, aluminum & brass. Two issued to each company of
infantry, cavalry, coast artillery, Scouts, and Signal Corps. Price,
$12.15. Later Model 1910 has interpupillary adjustment, price $14.75.
Type B. Magnification 4.5 and 6.5, Galilean, 1.75 inch objective,
interpupillary adjustment. Field of view at 4.5x, 90 yards at 1,000
yards; at 6.5x, 60 yards. Price, $17.50. For field artillery.
Type C. Magnification 10, 1.75 inch objective, field of view 80 yards
at 1000 yards, Porro prism. 1910 issue was the Terlux 10 power. Price
$39.90. Issued to artillery reconnaissance officers, Signal Corps, and
all machine gun platoons.
Type D. Planned in 1910. Magnification 8, field of view 5 degrees 40
minutes, estimated cost $27. 1916 issue, Busch 8-power Stellux, 1.75
inch objective.
Type EE. Issued by 1916, Porro prism, magnification 6, 1.1875 inch
objective, mil scale reticle on one side.
Telescopes issued in 1910 were the Type A, 2 inch, 18x and 24x, prism
erector, alt-az on folding tripod; and Type B, 2 draw spyglass, 19-27
power.

The Signal Corps Storage Catalogue (1920):

Type E - "binocular, 6 by 30; same as Field glass, type EE, except for
omission of the mil and range scale"
Type E-1 - "binocular; Galilean: 4.5 inches diameter magnification;
object lens 1.75 inches...formally designated type B"
Type E-9 - "Galilean; magnification approx. 3.5 and 5.5 diameters; object
lens 1.5 inches...formally designated type A '1910' "
Type E-10 - "prismatic; 'Terlux' 10-power; object lens, 1.75
inches...formally designated type C"
Type E-11 - "prismatic; Busch 8-power 'Stellux'; object lens, .75-
inch...formally designated type D"
Type EE - "binocular, 6 by 30; object lens, 1.1875-inch...one barrel
equipped with mil and range scale"
(Steve Harris)
=========================

At the onset of WWI, the Signal Corps was responsible for distributing
binoculars to the Army. They were issued to noncommissioned officers and
sold at cost to commissioned officers who were engaged in combat. It
became clear that many thousands would be needed, but U.S. manufacturing
capacity was far smaller and used German and other European glass. In
1914, the U.S. imported $641,000 worth of optical glass, and in 1915,
almost none was imported. Thus, in late 1914, production of optical
glass was developed at Bausch & Lomb, Spencer Lens, and Pittsburgh Plate
Glass Co., assisted by the U.S. Bureau of Standards and the Carnegie
Institute's geophysical laboratory.
Binocular production was established in Rochester at Bausch & Lomb,
Gundlach - Manhattan, and Crown Optical. B & L's connection with Zeiss
was dissolved in 1915, when B & L began manufacture of binoculars for the
British, French, and Russian governments. As of 1914, B & L had made up
to 1,800 binoculars in a year. By November, 1918, 3,500 binoculars were
made each week at B & L, and at the armistice, the factory had 6,000
employees and measured 32 acres. Gundlach - Manhattan produced up to 600
binoculars per week during the war. Crown had difficulties in increasing
production, and the factory was commandeered by the Navy in late 1917,
with production reaching 1,200 Army Signal Corps binoculars a week, in
addition to production for the Navy. To staff these three factories, the
Signal Corps often used draftees who had some related experience.
The Weiss Electrical Instruments Co. in Denver had made surveyor's
levels and engineering equipment, and made binoculars for the Army at
this time.
The Talbot Reel & Manufacturing Co. in Kansas City made fishing reels
in a factory that was 30 square feet in area. It was purchased in 1917,
a new factory was built, and production of Army field glasses was
accomplished before armistice.
The standard Army binocular was 6 power, prismatic, individual focus,
with a field of 150 yards at 1000 yards; issued with a leather case with
attached compass. Total shipments of these were about 106,000 units.
Artillery units were supplied with an 8 power binocular, all of which
were made in France.
(Source: Benedict Crowell. America's Munitions 1917-1918. Washington:
Government Printing Office, 1919. p577-9)
=========================

The M3 was a standard U.S. Army binocular of WWII. It was made by

Nash-Kelvinator and Westinghouse; and B & L, Universal Camera and
Wollensak are also mentioned as manufacturers. B&L and other optical
giants made most of the optics for the various manufacturers. There were
minor differences in weatherproofing, reticles, and possibly some were
coated. The M3 incorporated an improvement, a set screw to hold the
eccentric ring objective cell, to keep it from rotating during heavy use.
The M3 has a 8 degree, 30 min. FOV, an f 4.4 objective, and the reticle
is graduated in mils (horizontal) and hundreds of yards (vertical).
311,263 were made, with a price of $71. Wollensak is well known in the
US as a maker of photographic equipment, and made many products for the
military during WWII. They split off from B & L in 1899 to make
shutters. They had 1200 employees in 1958, but were bought by Revere and
then 3M and were closed in 1972.
=========================

All about Binoculars, by Albert G. Ingalls. Scientific American,

August, 1944
OFTEN THIS department is asked for instructions for making a
binocular. No such thing exists; nor would the job be very
simple on a single instrument. Quite the contrary. The optics
would be those of two refracting telescopes of short focal
ratio; plus two Porro prism systems which erect the image,
shorten the tube and, by increasing objective separation,
enhance the stereoscopic effect (the dear public largely thinks
they are put there to magnify); plus a mounting. In time and
money, too, the job would far out cost a purchased instrument,
and thus it is practically impracticable. That is just why some
enterprising, nose-thumbing amateur will ultimately make a
binocular. While the following résumé of recent improvements in
U. S. Army binoculars, which was obtained from Frankford
Arsenal, Army Ordnance Department, gives no how-to-make-it
instructions, its background data should interest all readers.
THE EMERGENCY precipitated by the impending World War II
presented the United States Army Ordnance Department with the
problem of immediate procurement of a large quantity o
binoculars. Because of the urgency for setting up production it
was necessary to select the most adaptable mode for which
tooling existed and to produce approximately 350,000 instruments
as quickly as possible. The model selected was the 6 X 30
commercial binocular being manufactured by the Bausch and Lomb
Optical Company with whom an initial order for 20,000 binoculars
was placed. This binocular was given the official nomenclature
"Binocular, M3," indicating Standard Army Issue model No. 3 in
the "M" series of binoculars. The 6 X 30 denotes six power
magnification and 30mm objective diameter.
The only change necessary in the commercial model was the
incorporation of a military reticle. The reticle shown below is
a glass disk, both surfaces of which are polished parallel to
within two minutes of arc. On one surface lines and figures,
presenting a graduated scale, are etched and filled with an
opaque material to make them visible. The crossline pattern and
the dimensions of the reticle are determined by the type of
binocular in which the element is to be used. The element is
usually made of baryta light flint or spectacle crown glass. The
function of the reticle is to place the crossline pattern in the
same focal plane as the real image formed by the objective so
that the distance between two points or objects in the field of
observation may be calculated.
Since it was apparent, even prior to placing the initial
order, that the resources of the experienced Bausch and Lomb
Optical Company would be necessary for the production of more
critical precision optical instruments than binoculars,
arrangements to set up separate facilities to produce
binoculars, solely and on a large scale, were inaugurated. Nash-
Kelvinator, Ranco Division, and Westinghouse Electric and
Manufacturing Company were selected on the basis of Industrial
Service surveys indicating their ability to utilize their
existing equipment.
As neither Nash-Kelvinator nor Westinghouse had previous
experience in making military optical instruments or the
facilities for the manufacture of the optical elements, the
Ordnance Department instituted an elaborate program for
procurement of the essential optics to be furnished to the two
companies for assembly with the mechanical elements into
complete binoculars. Optical elements included in the binocular
are Porro prisms spherical lenses, cemented doublets- that is, a
crown and a flint lens cemented together-and a reticle. The
complete assembly is shown below.
 Fortunately, binocular optics do not require the extreme
accuracy of optics such as Amici prisms and other special
elements used in higher powered instruments.
Despite the fact that optics were being manufactured by
approximately 50 different companies, surprisingly little
difficulty through rejections and disputes between the optics
processors and the instrument assemblers was experienced. This
may be attributed largely to an efficient inspecting system.
Inspectors especially trained at Frankford Arsenal for
inspection of fire control instruments were sent out to each one
of the 13 ordnance districts in the United States. Since
inspection of an optical surface cannot be measured with a
graduated instrument, but must be based on the judgement of an
inspector, occasional controversy arose regarding acceptability.
In such case, a standardization meeting was held, whereupon
master inspectors from Frankford Arsenal rendered final
decision.
Today's Army operates in the humid moisture-laden climate of
the South Seas, in the icy climates of Greenland and Alaska, and
in the African desert where night temperatures are below zero in
sharp contrast to the extreme heat of the day. Binoculars used
in World War II are subjected to terrific vibration and shock in
transport and in action and often are completely immersed during
military surf landings. From the viewpoint of World War II,
Binocular M3 is a superlative instrument However, after a
quantity of the M3 binoculars were issued and in use many
difficulties due to the nature of military operations of World
War II were reported.
As a result of these reports, a concentrated study of the
most minute details of Binocular M3 was conducted, which
eventually resulted in the development of Binocular M13.
The first problem to be considered in the development of the
M13 from the basic M3 was that of waterproofing the instrument
to withstand submersion. This was accomplished by redesigning
the cover plates to provide for the use of a synthetic rubber
gasket and a greater number of fastening screws. In addition, a
new military wax, capable of withstanding extreme high and low
temperatures, for sealing the objective lens and objective
assembly was developed by the Ordnance Laboratory. This
compound, Specification FXS, replaces Navy Black Sealing
Compound No. 3A. It resists cracking at -50 degrees F. and has a
melting point of 210 degrees F., as against 150 degrees F. for
No. 3A compound. The formula includes a fungicide to repel molds
and insects.
Shock and vibration tests revealed that severe shock caused
shifting of the original prism mounting, affecting the optical
alinement of the instrument. Experimentation with methods of
mounting prisms resulted in the use of a dental cement. This
cement is a blend of cupric oxide powder, phosphoric acid, and
zinc chloride in solution. The ingredients are mixed in the
ratio of three parts of powder to one part of liquid. Additional
tests proved that prisms mounted with this agent were locked
firmly against all shock remained free of strain, and could be
removed readily for cleaning.
Another very serious problem, applicable to all telescopes,
was the formation of moisture on the optical elements within the
finished instrument. In any binocular, moisture may eventually
enter and condense on the optics, because no instrument with an
adjustable threaded eyepiece movement can be sealed perfectly.
Such formation is most objectionable on tee graduated reticle,
upon which the most trifling speck is visible and distracts the
user. A plane high in the sky first appears as a tiny pinpoint
which looms very like a fleck of dust under magnification of the
binocular eyepiece.
Experience gained in packaging complicated items for export,
using dehydrating agents, was utilized in solving this problem.
A special cartridge, shown in the small illustration, containing
a small amount of silica gel, was placed within the body of each
binocular. The instruments so treated were tested by subjection
to most adverse conditions of humidity and rapid changes in
temperature, which proved that the desiccant eliminated
formation of moisture on the optics over an extended period of
time.
A means of making the binocular more usable under conditions
of fading light was undertaken. American binoculars effective an
hour later in the evening than those of the enemy would be of
great advantage to American soldiers. Therefore, a development
of the optical industry-coating optical surfaces with a
magnesium fluoride film to reduce loss of light by reflection-
had been under study by the Army and Navy for some time. By
exerting the full power of research of the Army, Navy, and
associated commercial facilities toward perfection of magnesium
fluoride and other coating techniques, coatings were produced to
withstand cleaning and all field conditions. The magnesium
fluoride coating is applied to the optical surfaces at high
temperature under a high vacuum, the fluoride becoming a part of
the glass surface. This coating reduces light reflection and
permits a greater amount of light to pass through the optical
system, enabling the use of the binocular at dusk, when light is
fading.
After the time and money spent in producing a fine binocular,
an improvement in the export method was incorporated as further
insurance that the binocular will reach the ultimate user in
factory-new condition. The binocular is placed in its special
leather carrying case and sealed, together with five ounces of
silica gel, in a moisture-vaporproof bag and cushioned in a
corrugated carton. Twenty-four such cartons are then packed in a
steel-strapped wooden box having a submersion-proof bag lining.
This new M13 binocular is now mass production. Thousands of
them are being shipped every month to American fighting men
overseas to aid them in seeing the enemy before the enemy sees
them. Of course, the Ordnance Department is never satisfied with
the degree of perfection of the fighting equipment of our Army.
Even now additional improvements to assure that the American
binocular is the best the world are in progress.
=========================

WWII 9 x 50
Late in WWII, the U.S. Army considered supplementing their 6 x 30 with
a larger binocular, smaller than the Navy 7 x 50. A 9 x 50 was produced
by adding a conical extension to the front of the prism housing of a 6 x
30, to hold a 50 mm objective identical to that used in the 7 x 50.
Apertures were bored out in the removable prism shelf. The original
ocular was retained, with the longer focal length resulting in higher
power. Perhaps under 100 of these were made by an unknown firm, possibly
Edmund. Some of these are marked Bausch & Lomb, Binocular M13 A1. The
body might be a Universal 6 x 30, with characteristic seals &
waterproofing. At war's end, Edmund bought the surplus parts, and
Douglas MacDougal bought them from Edmund for his 'London Bridge Trading
Corp' of Virginia Beach, VA (now an electronics business). His employee,
Kent Ferguson, built some number of these binoculars, and sold one as
late as 1989. (Source: conversation with Larry Tieger).
One example of a 9 x 50 has a prism housing cover marked only "9 x 50
COATED OPTICS", and is possibly a prototype military model. It was
partially sealed with cosmolene. Straps, hardware, etc. are identical or
similar to B & L binoculars. The hinge pin is tapered & pinned, and
marked A-185454. The serial number on the rear of the axis is A 11830;
and if it is a B & L, the A would mean 1941 production of the body (the
lens coatings would not be that old). The objectives measure +4 diopter
front surface and +2 1/4 diopter rear surface, identical to a Navy 7 x 50
objective. The objective mounting is the same as the B & L, with lock
ring & seal, but the objective cell is threaded on the outside, front and
rear, and can be 'screwed in or out' within the barrel, to match the left
& right sides for focal length. There is a lock ring for this
adjustment. Prisms & prism shelves are identical to a 6 x 30. Prisms
are beveled on the top corners (later prisms had sharp 90 degree
corners).
It is reported that these 9 x 50s were made by Anchor and by Edmunds,
and that a 1948 American Rifleman, carried an advertisement that they
were 'now available'.
=========================

Optical testing at Aberdeen Proving Ground is shown in the booklet:

Ordnance School. Foreign Materiel, volume 3. (fire control instruments &
sighting equipment, German & Japanese, B.C. scopes, range & height
finders) Published by The Ordnance School: Aberdeen Proving Ground,
Maryland, July 1943. (OS 9-61, vol. 3) 100p.
This has photos, breakdown photos, and brief descriptions of use for
these instruments:
German: aiming circle Rkr 31; B.C. type stereoscopic telescope; range
finder EM 34; illumination lamp for fire control instruments; Z.F.
antitank telescope; 81mm mortar sight.
Japanese: coincidence range finder 75cm base; stereoscopic height finder
2m base.
This is vol. 3 of a series, the first two concerned foreign small arms &
artillery. They were written for use in courses taught at The Ordnance
School. Subsequent volumes were planned.
(Most of the optical related work done at Aberdeen was in the realm of
verifying work done and carrying any overload for Frankford Arsenal,
which has been the principal site for the design, development and repair
of Army optics since approximately 1921. --Earl Osborn)
----------
Since 1917, Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG) has been a military center
for research, development and testing of Army material including
vehicles, ordnance and weaponry.
US Army Ordance Museum, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Building 2601,
Interstate 95, Exit 85, East on Route 22, Aberdeen, Maryland 21005-5201,
Phone: (410) 278-3602 (No Web Site found) The museum contains an
impressive collection of over 200 tanks, artillery pieces, armored
vehicles, etc. The museum is open seven days a week (except Federal
holidays) from 10:00 am to 4:45 pm.
 The museum has a historian on staff, who said that most optical firing
aids were 'ordnance', but that binoculars would not be in that category.
In 1962, Aberdeen's older records were shipped off to an archive or to
'Materiel Command'. He was not aware of any optical testing, but the lab
at Aberdeen was extensive & capable of such tests.
-----------
An experimental binocular from Aberdeen is a modified B & L Mod 21
7x50. They are 15 power, and the 70 mm coated objectives are on tube
extensions. Both objectives and eye pieces can be focused, using a screw
running in a rotary groove. The hinge is extended through the front
crosspiece to another about 4 inches in front (three total crosspieces).
Eyepieces are slotted in a circular pattern and have a raised screwhead
that rides in the slot for focusing. The only markings are '3554-L' on
both eyepieces, the previous owner stated they came from Aberdeen. This
is a well made glass with a fitted wood case, and definitely not a garage
project. (Dick Martin, Bob Bibb)
-----------
Optics & Photonics News, June 2000, p17. US Army Research Laboratory,
ARL, sites at Aberdeen Proving Ground APG, and Adelphi MD. Including
basic research, technology generation, and spectroscopy group developing
tests for detection of chemicals.
=========================

The development of optical equipment by the Army is described in the

booklet:
Frankford Arsenal. Encyclopedia of Army Ordnance Binoculars.
Philadelphia, no date, after 1944. 84p. No date, the last model
discussed is the T8, some details indicate wartime publication.
Page 1, "future procurement officials should not permit Industrial
Service business reasons to add to the number of models in the field. An
example of this was prevented from being perpetuated by the cancellation
of plans to procure Binocular M10, a Navy design 7 x 50 Binocular, from
Anchor Optical for purely financial or business reasons in order to save
financial investments of the Ordnance Department in the facility. The
procurement of Binoculars M9 from Universal Camera Co. as a commercial
design after Ordnance designs were available, may also be considered a
mistake....(instead of) giving maintenance requirements greater
consideration, before deciding to add to the multiplicity of models".
"The standard binocular for issue to all Army Forces prior to World
War II was the Field Glass, Type EE. The E and EE Field Glasses are
based on a commercial design of the Bausch and Lomb
Company....manufactured by the Bausch and Lomb Company, the Naval Gun
Factory, Talbot and Reel Company, and Crown Optical Company.....The Type
E Field Glass is a larger and heavier predecessor of Type EE. Both the
metal parts and the optics are larger and heavier than the Type EE Field
Glass, although the optical characteristics, magnification, etc., were
the same....Procurement and issue of these glasses was the responsibility
of the U.S. Army Signal Corps until the early part of 1921 when this
responsibility was transferred to the Ordnance Department....when....the
following makes and types constituted the majority:"
B & L Type EE; USNGF EE; Talbot Reel E; Crown E; Busch 6x; Krauss 16x;
Huet 12x & 16x; Lemaire 6x & 8x; Alpine 7.5x & 8x; Busch Millux 6x;
Colmont 8x; Afsa 8x.
"an extended series of tests of the various types of Field Glasses was
made by the Field Artillery at Fort Sill and that another test was
carried out by the Coast Artillery at Fort Monroe."
"By 1937, practically all the non-standard binoculars had been
disposed of by public sale and there remained on hand approximately
100,000 Type EE....many were reconditioned....Frankford Arsenal in 1941"
"in 1940 the Ordnance Department was faced with the necessity of
adopting a commercial model binocular for which tooling existed....the
model selected was the 6 x 30 commercial Binocular" by B & L, and 18,617
M3 binoculars were bought from B & L, none engraved M3 since B & L
changed the name to M8. Only the addition of a reticle was made to the
commercial model; however, parts were not interchangeable between the B &
L model & those made elsewhere, so the B & L model was designated M8.
Nash-Kelvinator - Ranco Division and Westinghouse Electric &
Manufacturing Company were chosen as additional manufacturers; neither
had made optics & these were furnished other companies. The production
of these two makers was made of interchangeable parts, according to
Ordnance Drawings, and they were designated M3.
In the "Optical Elements Code Chart, 9 March 1944, Ordnance Fire
Control Sub-Office, Frankford Arsenal", the glass parts were required to
be identified by maker on the rough ground edge of the optics, using a
two letter code in black ink or a color code in 2 or 3 dots, as described
below: manufacturer; color code; letter code.
B & L; blue; B & L. Bell & Howell; red-blue; BEH. Bonschur &
Holmes Opt. Co; yellow-black-purple; BHS. Carter & Bray Optical Co.;
purple; CBR (Max Bray). Delaware Association; purple-blue; DLA.
Dioptric Instrument Corp; green-red-green; DI. Eastman Kodak; red; EK.
J.W. Fecker Optical Co.; white; FX. Frankford Arsenal; purple-red; FA.
C.P. Goerz American Opt. Co.; white-red-green; GCP. Gundlach
Manufacturing Co.; white-red; GMC. Ilex Optical Co.; white-black; IP.
International Industries, Inc.; green; IN. F.W. Judge Optical Works;
white-yellow; JG. Kollsman Instrument Co.; red-blue-red; KO.
Liberty Optical Co.; white-red-blue; LOC. Mack Optical Co.; purple-
green; MOC. May Oil Burner Co.; yellow-purple; MAY. Wm Mogey & Sons
Co.; red-blue-yellow; MWS. Mount Wilson Observatory; red-blue-green;
MWL. Murch Electrical Co.; yellow-blue; MHE. National Research,
Inc.; white-blue; NRC. Optical Instrument Corp.; white-red-white; OPC.
Optical Research, Inc.; red-green; OPR. Panocular Corporation; red-
white-purple; PAN. Perkin-Elmer Corporation; yellow-white-purple; PEC.
Pinkham & Smith; black-purple; PSC. Ritholz & Sons; yellow-white-
green; RZS. Robinson-Houchin Optical Co.; blue-green; RHC.
Scientific Specialty Co.; black-blue; SSY. Shuron Optical Co.; red-
yellow; SOC. Simpson Optical Manufacturing Co.; yellow-white-red; SIC.
St. Louis Optical Co.; black-green; SAL. Tinsley Laboratories; white-
green; TLA. Ultima Optical Co.; blue-white-green; ULA. John Unertl
Co.; yellow; UJ. Univis Lens Co.; red-black; UV. U.S. Instrument
Corporation; yellow-blue-yellow; USI. U.S. Optical Supply Co.; yellow-
white-blue; UD. Vard, Inc.; white-purple; VA. W.R. Weaver Co.;
yellow-black; WWR. Winters-Jones Co.; yellow-white-black; WJC.
Zenith Optical Co.; black; ZC. Norman Ford Co.; blue-white-blue; NFD.
U.S. Management & Eng. Co.; green-white-green; UME.
Delaware Association built a plant in Miami, made machinery from scrap
& automobile parts, and "within three months after breaking ground, were
shipping acceptable optics".
"7 x 50 and 6 x 30 Binocular optics do not require edge blackening."
Letter coding is recommended on edge-blackened optics, color coding on
thin edged optics; and the color code needs to be applied after lens
coating.
The British Government bought 6 x 30s directly from Universal Camera,
designated M6. The M9 was made at Universal, identical to the M6 except
with a left side reticle, instead of the British right side reticle.
Threads were not standard and the prism mounting was developed at
Universal. Optical parts were made at Universal.
Research Enterprises, Ltd., in Canada, made the M12, based on the B &
L M3, for British use only.
In 1943, a review of the M3 was done, in response to many problems
encountered under severe military conditions. The Navy had engaged B & L
to review their 7 x 50 for the same reason; and Universal to review the 6
x 30. Universal suggested to the Army that all services should adopt a
more rugged & waterproof model, since conversion would otherwise be
impossible. This might have meant yet another model with unique
maintenance requirements. The M13 was made the standard 6 x 30, with
parts that were interchangeable between all manufacturers (for the first
time).
The EE binoculars mounted the prisms in a machined, full width slot,
with screws through the body that pushed the prisms into alignment. This
permitted collimation without disassembly, but the screw tips placed much
stress on the glass prisms. The B & L system of mounting the prisms with
triangular wire wrapped around the prism and adjusted via the slanted
shoulders of flat head screws, was deemed inadequate, as these models
became out of collimation in transport. Universal developed a method of
staking the prisms by 'chiseling' a peel of metal from the prism shelf;
very secure but imposing stress on the glass that resulted in chipped &
cracked prisms. The M13 and later models adopted a cementing procedure,
with an undercut shelf that was packed with cement.
Prisms do not reflect a light beam at an exact right angle, and so
they were marked to indicate the deviation of a beam of light; a prism
marked '2-6' meant that in a text fixture, the prism showed a deviation
of 6 minutes of arc in the direction of 2 o'clock on a clock dial. The
prisms were grouped according to their numbers & when the binocular was
assembled, pairs were matched to compensate for the imprecision.
In 1943, the Army ordered 50,000 binoculars for the Army Air Force,
and for this order the new M14, a waterproofed M3, was adapted to include
rubber eyeguards and Polaroid filters, and designated the M15.
Westinghouse began production and in addition a small quantity of M7s
with sand cast bodies were made. In March, 1944, the 6 x 30 was
terminated, manufacture of the M15 (Westinghouse) and M16 (Nash-
Kelvinator) began, and 15,000 Navy Mark 21 models (Kollsman) were
obtained. 16 different optics manufacturers supplied the glass parts for
the M15 and M16.
Anti-reflection coatings were used on most binoculars made during
1944.
Aluminum was in short supply and a few cast parts were made of zinc
alloy, which did not hold paint as well.
EE field glasses cost an average of $39. per unit.
The M1 was an 8 x 56, with oculars set at about 80 degrees to the
body, made by Keuffel & Esser for use with Height Finder T9E1, which was
cancelled and 'no more than a pilot Binocular M1 was ever made'.
The M2 was an 8 x 56 by B & L, for searchlight control, issued to the
Engineer Corps, and 2,476 were procured at $70.
311,263 Binocular M3s were procured at an average of $71. each.
Binocular M4 was cancelled. The T4 was an M3 made with pressed steel
instead of die cast aluminum parts, and six were made.
Binocular T6 was a 6 x 20, 8 degree F.O.V., of magnesium alloy,
weighing 8 ounces, mounted in rubber-lined goggle frames, used hands-
free, for field artillery air observers. The T7 was a T6 with 3.5 power
magnification. They were both made by Universal Camera, and are noted in
Cynthia Repinski's 'The Univex Story', where the two patents are listed
(2,436,574 Feb. 14, 1945; and 2,436,576 Feb. 14, 1945) and the two
developers, George Kende and Sten Johanson, are noted.
--------
Another source for prisms during WWII for Frankford Arsenal was Albert
Ingalls' 'Roof Prism Gang'. About 28,000 roof or Amici prisms were
produced for the US military during the war by this group of professional
and amateur opticians.
=========================

The Optical Instrument Committee was formed in 1942 to resolve

problems in procurement of optics for the Army. The Binocular Sub-
Committee consisted of representatives from B & L, Ranco (Nash-
Kelvinator) of Columbus Ohio, Universal Camera in N.Y., Westinghouse of
Mansfield Ohio, and Wollensak of Rochester. The Optical Element Sub-
Committee included representatives from American Lens, B & L, Bell &
Howell, Bray Optical, Kodak, Fecker (J. Fecker), Gundlach, Wm. Mogey &
Sons (W. Mogey & F. Kimsey), Perkin-Elmer (R. Perkin), Tinsley, Unertl,
and others. These two sub-committees met on 15 December 1942 at Ranco,
and the agenda was: "The deterioration in the quality of binocular optics
being supplied OFE to the binocular manfacturers and the refusal by five
of the processors to accept the return of rejected optics were the
reasons for calling this general meeting to discuss optical
quality.....it was agreed that new test fixtures were essential, that the
standardization of inspection procedure was vital"
(Source: Optical Instrument Committee, A Brief History.) n.d., ca. 1943.
(33p)
=========================

Thomson, Harry and Lida Mayo. The Ordnance Department:

Procurement and Supply. Washington: Office of the Chief of
Military History, Dept. of the Army, 1960. (p96-7).
(page 95): The Army's Ordnance purchases of optical fire control
instruments from 1940 to 1945 totaled over $1,000,000,000.
Industry was not enthusiastic about producing the more complex
instruments, which were small-run and high-risk; and they had to be
persuaded to manufacture them.
(page 96): The major products were binoculars & telescopes, range
finders & height finders, and directors.
"the quality of American fire control materiel came in for a good
deal of criticism from British forces in North Africa....that was
soon echoed by U.S. troops who landed in North Africa in November
1942."
"Early in 1941, to meet an urgent requirement for 350,000
binoculars, Ordnance took the unusual step of standardizing for
military use a commercial design of the Bausch and Lomb Optical
Company. This design closely approximated the old World War I
binocular, known as type EE, that was still standard. Other
commercial models were also standardized and produced in quantity
for shipment to Allies. But this policy soon proved to be a costly
mistake. Designed for normal civilian use, the commercial
binoculars failed to stand up under combat service where they were
subjected to rough handling, submersion in water, and exposure to
extremes of temperature. Using them was, in the words of one field
commander, "like looking through two dirty milk bottles." ....a
new military model was adopted early in 1943.......When the Bausch
and Lomb binocular was adopted in 1941, it was understood that the
Bausch and Lomb company could not be counted on for large-scale
production of binoculars because its resources were needed for more
critical precision optical instruments. Ordnance therefore turned
to the Nash-Kelvinator Company, and the Mansfield Ohio works of the
Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company. Neither firm had
any experience in making optical instruments, nor any facilities
for manufacture of optical elements, but plant surveys had
convinced Ordnance that the two concerns could readily adapt their
equipment and buildings to binocular production. Optical elements
-- lenses, prisms, windows, reticles, and other parts made of
optical glass -- were to be procured from optical glass
manufacturers and turned over to Nash-Kelvinator and Westinghouse
as government free issue materials. Production was slow to start.
"We were told by old line binocular manufacturers," Westinghouse
later reported, "that they questioned if we would ever be able to
produce satisfactory binoculars, let alone produce them in the
quantities called for under our contract." But by the first
anniversary of Pearl Harbor the two contractors were producing at
the rate of 8,000 binoculars each, per month. During 1943, the
peak year for production, 245,672 were turned out, including both
old and new models."
(page 98): "The competition for optics (lenses & prisms) almost
resolved itself into a 'free for all' between the Army, Navy, and
Air Corps, with the British Purchasing Commission interfering with
all three. Because of the shortage of optical elements, and the
instrument makers' lack of experience in procuring them, Ordnance
decided to procure optical elements from qualified producers and
turn them over to instrument manufacturers as government free issue
material. One of the most successful procurements under this
policy flowed from a contract with the Optical Research Company of
Long Island City. This concern produced most of the optical
elements for the binoculars made by the Nash-Kelvinator Company and
the Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company. As
requirements for optical elements mounted after Pearl Harbor and it
became necessary to bring many small manufacturers into production,
Frankford Arsenal and the New York Ordnance District arranged with
the Mergenthaler-Linotype Company to attempt an unusual experiment.
Mergenthaler set up the U.S. Optical Supply Corporation, with an
office in New York City, to provide central control of numerous
contracts with small producers. Its officers were also officers of
Mergenthaler, the parent company, and received no compensation for
their services. Operating on a cost-plus-fixed-fee contract with
the government, the company placed subcontracts with many small
producers, helped them get into production, provided storage space
for optical pressings, and eventually delivered some $4 million of
material......The Fire Control Sub-Office encouraged the optical
glass industry by arranging government financing of plant expansion
and administering an optical machinery pool which procured some
1,000 machines for use by optical glass producers. It arranged for
Corning Glass Works to build a government-owned, contractor-
operated plant at Parkersburg, W. Va., and to operate a glass depot
there. In October 1943, when the coating of optics to improve the
performance of instruments under poor lighting conditions was made
mandatory, the Fire Control Sub-Office supervised the procurement
of equipment and provided technical instruction to contractors on
this difficult project.
=========================
The M19
The T14E1 binocular was developed at Frankford Arsenal beginning in
1956, through the 1960s. The T14 had a 7 degree field, using an eyepiece
with 3 cemented doublets. The prisms were of heavy flint, with an index
of refraction of 1.649, which allowed increased correction for
spherochromatism & eliminated the need for silvering (in a fast, f3
system, using small prisms, silvering might ordinarily be used). The
optics weighed 13.3 oz., one ounce less than standard 7 x 50 glass, and
further weight loss was achieved in the metal parts.
The T14 was adopted in 1970s as a replacement for the M17 and with
some changes, was mass produced as the M19, beginning in 1975. The M19
has 5 interchangeable, nonmaintainable modules: eyepiece, objective, left
& right housings, hinge pin assembly. Vinyl covering. It uses helical
focus at each ocular, sealed by rubber bellows. The objectives are air
spaced f3 triplets.
Sources:
Yoder, P.R. Two New Lightweight Military Binoculars. Journal of the
Optical Society of America, vol. 50, no. 5, May 1960, pp491-493.
Yoder, Paul. Opto-Mechanical Systems Design. N.Y.: Marcel Dekker, 1986;
pages 26-7, 409-11. (Yoder was one of the designers of the M19.)
-----
Publicity from Farrand Optical Co. describes their work with Frankford to
develop & manufacture the T13 binocular, which was a 6 x 20 weighing 10
oz. (compared to the standard M13 6 x 30 at 24 oz.) and the T14 7 x 50 at
25 oz. (the standard M17 7 x 50 weighed 53oz.)
-----
Mil Specifications for the M19 include: Shock, no physical failure after
12 shocks of 75 G. Collimation, +-15 arcmin dipvergence, 40 arcmin
divergence ("20 +-20 arcmin"), at any IPD. Image tilt, 30 arcmin between
images. Resolution, 6 arcsec. Focus, plus or minus 4 diopters.
----
The biggest maintenance problems with standard 7 x 50s are sealing &
hinge wear. Repair shops must stock 250 spare parts and 125 special
tools.
Small quantities of the T14 were built by Farrand in 1959 & 1960.
Frankford Arsenal re-designed the T14 in 1960 as the T14E1, which, with a
few changes, became the M19.
In 1980, production of M19 binoculars was at 2,000 per month.
The M19 has an aluminum body The objective lenses are mounted into
their housings, and after assembly & sealing, the metal base is machined
to provide bearing & flange surfaces. The objective cells & eyepiece
cells are sealed with 'elastomeric seals', and the focusing eyepieces are
sealed with O rings.
One prism is bonded to the prism shelf, the second prism is then
bonded to first, and the shelf mechanically fastened to the binocular
body. Final machining of the objective bearing surface on the body is
done after the prisms are installed. Machining uses numerically
controlled machines. The binocular is coated with a fused vinyl.
The tolerances for construction of the M19 are very tight because of
the modular design. Standard binoculars are assembled using parts
selected to match each other, and are then collimated to proper
alignment. If 'worst case' misalingment of all parts was taken as
guideline for establishing limits, tolerances of 0.0002 inch would have
been required, which was not economically feasible. Lower tolerances
were established and a quantity of rejected binoculars was accepted as a
consequence.
"The Army has recognized one possible problem with modularity....it
was feared that, piece by piece, an entire unit could be pilfered and
reassembled with common hand tools. If this becomes a problem, the Army
will not purchase both body housings as spare parts."
--Trsar, W.J., R.J. Benjamin, and J.F. Casper. Production Engineering and
Implementation of a Modular Military Binocular. SPIE vol. 250, 1980,
pp27-36. (Trsar & Benjamin at Bell & Howell, Casper at US Army, Picatinny
Arsenal, N.J.)
--------
Bell & Howell in Chicago was the contractor for production of the M19,
using Japanese optical elements. Policy required U.S. assembly of the
binoculars. The first M-19 Contract Stocks were delivered by B & H to
the Army at Chambersburg Carlisle Army Depo in late 82. The M-19 was
probably in service by mid 1984, and full issue was accomplished to the
Army and Marines by 1986. The Navy received models with black coating,
without a reticle, by 1987, and are probably the highest quality
examples. Most M-19s that went to Ft. Ord had problems in the left prism
cluster because B & H had assembled the prism clusters using too much or
too little cement. The right side prism clusters will not interchange
with the left clusters.
Other problems were found in the sealing of the eyepiece O ring from
inadequate tightening during assembly, causing fogging of the prism
clusters at the time of issue. The vinyl coating is too thin and chips.
Hildago,Inc. of Texas sold new M19s for $900. in 1984. Based on
contract, the U.S. goverment paid $525 to 600. per unit.
(Various sources, unverified)
=========================

The M22
The current (year 2000) CD that references use and repair procedures
for all Army binoculars lists only the M19 & the 7 x 50 M22 by Steiner.
The Army user's manual for the M22's states that they are warranted for 5
years by Pioneer & Co. (Brian Haren)
--------
Pioneer Marketing & Research is the U.S. marketing arm for Steiner
Optics. Steiner wanted to disassociate themselves with the military
model. They weren't getting what they felt was a comfortable enough
profit margin and didn't like the idea of surplus units showing up in the
commercial market, since the used military surplus units generally look
very poor cosmetically, which degrades their image. The same situation
surrounded the M-22.
-------
Pioneer stated that the Army and Marines had the M-22, basically the
Commander II civilian model without compass and using different coatings.
The optics were from Japan, brought to Germany and coated and assembled
in Bavaria.
Our Vietnam and subsequent Police actions were ill equipped with
optical assistance. In my unit, we individual soldiers bought civilian
binoculars because there were none, I mean none , in the Army. Mine were
always being borrowed. No officers had them, strange. (Edward Kennedy)
---------
Regarding the comments from active duty personnel about not having
binoculars available when they need them. As an active duty soldier I
can vouch for the shortage of binoculars in units. The one item I can
never get authorized is binoculars. In the Army binoculars hold the
same accountability status as trucks, tanks and machine guns; they are
considered "non-expendable major end items" and must be inventoried,
safeguarded and accounted for in the same manner. Some units even
consider them "sensitive items" and insist they be locked up in safes or
arms rooms. The number of binoculars a unit may have is determined by
the unit's modified table of organization and equipment (MTOE). Keeping
track of them is felt to outweigh the benefits of having them available
to soldiers. We take our own binoculars to the field to get the job
done. I've had lieutenant colonels ask if they could borrow my Steiners,
even though I knew full well their unit had bino's sitting back in
garrison, locked in a safe!
Huge numbers of binoculars showed up on the market after the Gulf War
because the Army is about half the size it was in 1990. Normal property
disposal rules were bent in the name of expediency.
The Army's "Digital Battlefield" concept included a system with the
Leitz Vector binoculars (with digital compass & laser rangefinder), a
laptop computer, and a GPS receiver, linked with GIS software, to collect
accuate positioning data in the battlefield. The GPS receiver feeds the
operator's position to the computer. The Vectors have a serial port
connected to the computer, and the azimuth and range to an object in the
field of view allows the computer to calculate the position of the object
within a few meters. (Brian Haren. 2000)
-------------
Steiner M-22G’s appeared for sale after Operation Desert Storm, later
as official surplus, and later still were offered as new units with
accessories intact. Quantities went to the Border Patrol, DEA, BATF,
state police and larger metropolitan police departments.
Steiner made the M-22 with green, black and white colored rubber
coatings. The military/marine unit were green rubber, a few highly
modified black rubber units were made exclusively for the German
GSG-9, and some white units for artic troops.
The M-22 body is made of Macrolon, polycarbonate reinforced
fiberglass, which has had problems with quality control and durability,
and is very brittle to puncture. The M-22G is a tough and reliable
binocular. To disassemble one for internal cleaning is very difficult,
but almost all are very clean internally; although collimation &
lubrication will be difficult.
Parts for the M-22G and other Pioneer binoculars are available through
Optic Options (800-872-0273).
Deutsche Optik had unissued, Steiner M-22G polarizing filters that
replace the original laser filters for $60 a set. These polarizing
filters were sold as part of the original Steiner/DoD contract and went
unissued.
There is a glint problem from the M-22G’s laser filters, with a pink
reflection that can be seen for up to a mile, referred to as “shoot-me
filters” by many who used the binocular in combat. The glint problem was
finally corrected in mid-1997 by the Tenebraex Corp. (Boston, MA)
http://www.camouflage.com/front.html
This Web site has many photos and diagrams of US Army binoculars and a
interesting bit of history on glint. Tenebraex sold the killFlash Anti-
Reflective Device (ARD), but the ARD lowers the resolution of the image.
The first models of laser filters were very limited in the bandwidth of
the protection that they offer, causing the user to be vulnerable to
multi-bandwidth lasers of the 1990s.
In the mid-1990s, Kama-Tech Corp. of Chula Vista, CA
http://genyosha.com/JCTN/Advertisers/HL/Kamakura/Kamakura.html
started producing a replacement for the M-22G, using the Fujinon Nautilus
7 x 50 AR body with a multi-bandwidth laser filter located in each
objective tube, directly behind the objective lens. The binocular has
black body armor (thus the M-22B designation) and the Fujinon name is
embossed on the left top plate. The objective coating is very bright
green, creating another glint problem. The laser filter can be seen
behind the objective lens and it also has a high glint factor. The Kama-
Tech binocular is still being assembled in the US using Japanese body and
parts, with laser filters manufactured in the U.S. by Corion Optical
Filters of Franklin, MA
(mid-1990’s), OFC Corp. division of Corning in Natick, MA (1998), and
Litton of Dallas, TX.
The Leica Vector 1500 Laser Rangefinder binocular
http://www.leica-geosystems.com/optronics/product/vector1500.htm
is the military version of the civilian Leica Geovid 7X42 BDA, and has
been used by Special Forces forward observation units and tactical teams.
An even more advanced Vector 1500 (code named “Viper”) was described in
the article “Talking Binoculars” in the March 1997 issue of Armed Forces
Journal International
(http://home.europa.com/~telscope/talkin~1.jpg)
which described a Vector 1500 modified by the ThermoTrex Corp. (San
Diego, CA)
http://www.thermo.com/subsid/tkn.html
which communicates with other Vectors via bursts of low power laser
signals. These binoculars have been issued to Special Forces units and
have been seen in use at the Ft. Polk (Alexandria, LA) Joint Readiness
Training Center (JRTC), location of the Army’s Advanced Digital
Battlefield.
Leica’s military binocular applications: http://www.global-
defence.com/pages/leica.html
(Steve Harris)
=========================

("Pioneer developed the M24 Apache with the guidance of the U.S.
military."--advertisement)
The Army has field tested the XM24, Miniature Binoculars. They are 7 x
30, roof prism, individual focus, laser protected, and weigh less than 20
ounces. They are designed to fit in the cargo pocket of BDU's and to
identify a standing man at 1,000 meters. The Army is currently
finalizing the standardization, and is awaiting production funding.
The Army is also proceding with the purchase of the XM25, (now the M25)
14 power Stabilized Binocular by Fraser-Volpe, which is upgradeable to
night vision use, and also made for the NAVAIR branch of the Navy.
They are also proceding with the purchase of the objective lens anti-
reflection covers. This is just a black, honeycomb cover for the
objective lens to keep the bad guys from seeing a reflection off of your
binocular. It's just a rubber ringed slip-on affair. (April 1998, from
Earl Osborn)
--------
Fraser-Volpe bouncing back from cutbacks in military orders.
Philadelphia Business Journal, 4/12/96, Vol. 15 Issue 7, p1, 2p, 1c
Author: Wilen, John
Abstract: Reports on the financial performance of Fraser-Volpe Corp.
after defense cutbacks in the early 1990s. Contract to supply
specialized binoculars to the Army; Cuts in the staff of the company.
-------
Army Times, 3/18/96, Vol. 56 Issue 34, p12, 2p. Author: McHugh, Jane
Reports on the role of the United States Army Material Command (AMC)
Bosnia Technology Integration Cell which evaluates and screens the ideas
and technologies of inventors developing military weapons. ....Includes
‘Super binoculars’.
---------
PS, Jan98, Issue 542, p58, 2p, 5 cartoons Talks about the maintenance of
the US Army's M24 binoculars. Avoiding the exposure of the binoculars to
sudden and extreme temperature changes; Using lens covers; Keeping the
binoculars' exterior clean with lint-free cloth. AN: 159269 ISSN:
0475-2953
------------
ELCAN Canada is building the binoculars for the U.S. Army's ITAS
integrated optical system (Improved Tactical Weapons System), still
classified. (Steve Harris)
=========================

home page: http://home.europa.com/~telscope/binotele.htm

03 November 2002