Description
You are bidding on a VERY NICE example of a WW2 German Kreigsmarine Doppelfernrohr (D.F.) 10×80 Ship-Mounted Flakfernrohr Spotting Binocular Data Plate!
The Doppelfernrohr 10×80 – 20° was originally produced by Carl Zeiss, Jena, around 1940. Intended for anti-aircraft batteries, it was installed on Kriegsmarine warships. This doppelfernrohr was designed to allow the identification of enemy aircraft in the distance with extreme promptness and precision. Thanks to a field of vision of 122 meters at a distance of 1000 meters, as well as the 20 degrees of inclination of the eyepieces, it was possible to have binoculars that not only allowed high performance in the field of vision, but it brought the operator a more natural observation position, intended to extend viewing times without tiring easily.
It was essential to use binoculars on board ships that had a perfect seal against infiltration and consequent serious fogging of the optics. As such, the Kriegsmarine decided to entrust the project, under Zeiss license, for the creation of the Doppelfernrohr 10×80 – 20° field of view 7° 122 meters at 1000 meters, to three other companies, in order to better optimize the watertightness. Those companies were:
Voigtländer & Sohn A.-G Braunschweig (ddx)
Optische Praezisions-Werke of Warsaw (eug)
Ducati of Bologna (mlr).
It was thanks to the invention of the pressurization system using two valves for the introduction of compressed air inside, conceived by the Italian Ducati in 1942, that all the problems encountered up until then on the first production ended.
This data plate as located next to the right eyepiece, showing all the specifications, type, serial number, and manufacturer.
Made of steel, this VERY RARE Ducati-made plate is in EXCELLENT used condition! As this plate was mounted on an optic that served in the German Kriegsmarine, there is slight pitting, due to the age. The previous collector painted this with a red primer to prevent further corrosion. Markings clearly indicate:
D.F.
10×80
m. schr.Einbl.20°
-0.1 atu
mlr
00081
Production figures suggest that only a few hundred of these were ever made by Ducati, making this a VERY RARE plate! If you are missing a plate from your original 10×80 KM Flak Binoculars, now is your chance to complete them! I have shown the exact type of optic it was mounted on, as well as its location. A VERY NICE addition to any collection or display!
