HISTORY:
Passed "down" to me a LONG time ago, way back in my NZ days when it came in handy to look closer at what was happening around me in Central Otago (vast open areas until a lot of it went underwater due to dam they built). Bought over to Australia 50 years ago but used very infrequently to watch some of the birds in the gumtree's surrounding the property - especially the one and only Tawny Frogmouth that has come to visit us every single year, way up in the gumtree near the house. Perfect to watch as it just sits on the branch and watches watches watches for hours on end. Of course other birds such as Kookaburra's and Sulphur Crested Cocktoo's are interesting too but they move around a bit, it can be a bit tricky keeping up with a moving object of interest when using binoculars.
If these binoculars were to be used for other purposes, looking at the moon and night-sky comes to mind, they are quite "weighty".
There are two issues, these being detailed below - while they don't really affect the overall usefulness of the binoculars, it would nice to have these two issues "sorted" if someone felt inclined.
Let's get on with the description ...
REGENT - Porro prism Binoculars
Most likely (not 100% certain) assembled in Hong Kong using Japanese optical components, apparently some of these (I do not know which ones) used Nikon optical lens.
Note: these are stamped EMPIRE MADE, that was a "trick of the trade" so that lower duties or tariffs would be paid on the binoculars when shipped overseas, particularly to UK. Hong Kong was at this time considered as a Crown colony, so the British considered that this item qualified for this special import tax treatment. These were NOT made in the British Empire as such.
Circa 1950's
Solid all metal body construction, which unfortunately equates to being weighty
10 x 50 (10x optical magnification & 50mm Objective lens diameter)
Black 'stiple like' coating on the central area of the binoculars, something like a vinyl - I do not think it is leather.
Standard features such as:
Coated lens
NOT considered to be waterproof - beware if using these near water
Central focus control (changes the focus of both lens at the same time)
Diopter focus control (Right eyepiece only, to allow for individual differences in the users Left-Right vision)
Adjustable angle or distance between the two eyepieces for comfortable viewing - not everyone has the eyes set the same distance apart!
These are quite large, with the dominant lens barrels and an overall maximum width of 210mm - don't mistake these suitable as "Opera glasses" - when you are looking at an object with these, it is like broadcasting to all and sundry "Hey, I am looking at you!" Not for the discrete visual snooper.
Weight:660g
There is no carry case or even a carry strap supplied.
Here are a couple of photographs of the text which is stamped & colour infilled (not just a stick-on label) at the rear of the binoculars
.
EMPIRE MADE is stamped into the central shaft, at the front.
"TESTING"
While these have been used infrequently over the last 20 years in particular, for quite a while now they have been sitting in one of my many, many boxes of "oddities" so I have taken them out and had a "look around" with them.
Looking at the large Gumtree's around me, the closest being around 10 metres away - I had no problems at all with the focus and other adjustments. The adjustment movements are smooth, not sticky, and do what they are supposed to. I then used these at night-time to view an object about 750 metres away (we are up on a hill and look downwards towards a lit up signboard on a 'nearby' building) and could easily view the bright image and just make out the text - to the naked eye this signboard looks all blurry as the light is very bright. The images look to be fine (to me) although there is something that may need attention, please read below about this
COSMETIC CONDITION:
USED
Clean
Some (just a couple) of scuff marks on the body but no dents or dings and certainly nothing is broken - these are actually pretty tough little beasties!
Here is issue #1
Lens front and rear look to have NO scratching BUT when viewed from the front, Yes I can see the dreaded mildew lurgy! The Left has 3 small "dots" inside and the Right has around 10 small "dots"
When I was testing the binoculars (viewing objects at a distance), I didn't find these little dots interfered with the images but if it was desired to clean the inside lens on both sides, perhaps it can be done although I don't know about optical equipment repairs. I do see a number of small screws in the body so I guess it can come apart for servicing ... but that would be up to the new owner to sort out.
Here is issue #2
The other "issue" which is most obvious, is the rubber eyepiece boots are missing! While the binoculars last and last, rubber does not and it tends to crumble or even "melt" - this happened to these eyepiece boots around 15 years ago. If the new owner can find some replacement boots then this would make using the binoculars much more comfortable! The boot simply friction fits over the eyepiece, the outside diameter of this section of the eyepiece is 30.45mm
There is no strap or carry case - another issue that happens with the passage of time, leather cracks and falls to pieces after many years (and not kept lubricated properly) so I had to discard both the strap and carry case a long time ago.
Now that I have tested these once more, taken some photographs etc ... these binoculars are now in a SEALED clear plastic pack with soft foam pads protecting the front lens area and added some Silica Gel satchels (to reduce moisture build up inside the sealed plastic package) awaiting a new owner.
