Navy WW2 binoculars

[Mthompson]

My father was given these in 1974 by the Forest Service to use on a fire lookout in Oregon. They allowed him and others to use them for the next 5 years before taking them all back to destroy them. He was able to talk them into letting him keep them and he’s used them for as long as I can remember. He has compared them to other binoculars costing nearly $1,000 but these have been better than any he could find. All this being said, he’s interested in the history of them. Any additional information anyone has on who used them and where, the design of them, how they ended up in Burns, Oregon...etc.

 

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https://www.flickr.com/photos/binocwpg/9518992968/in/photostream/

 

[Retired Sarge]

A lot of these along with other equipment items were surplused to other government agencies and to the civilian sector after WWII and later.

 

[Madmox]

And most USN binoculars were made by Bausch and Lomb, though there were a few more, like Universal Camera Company. American binoculars have never been particularly good, optically, compared to say German binoculars who have always been at the top of the game. Especially military binoculars. It's way cool that your father was able to keep them and that they were passed to you.

 

[Madmox]

Those were made by Hayward of Los Angeles and are some of the if not the best binoculars made by the Americans during WWII

 

[AU Seeker]

Here's a link to some info and history on WWII Military optics, the one you have were made by Hayward Lumber and Investment Co. Chemical Division , Los Angeles California, they were one of 8 companies who made these type of binoculars for the Bureau Of Ships A.K.A. "BuShips" and or "Bu Ships".

Company Seven | SARD 7x 50 Binocular, U.S. Navy BUSHIPS Mark XLIV Mod. 0

Info and history of the Bureau Of Ships.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bureau_of_Ships

 

[A2coins]

Sweeet hold on to those very cool

 

[Mthompson]

And most USN binoculars were made by Bausch and Lomb, though there were a few more, like Universal Camera Company. American binoculars have never been particularly good, optically, compared to say German binoculars who have always been at the top of the game. Especially military binoculars. It's way cool that your father was able to keep them and that they were passed to you.

I sure hope he passes them on to me, but he won’t give them up any time soon. He periodically sends me photos and questions for me to post on here to seek the wisdom of y’all. Thank you all for taking the time to add your two cents!

 

[Mthompson]

I wonder if there is any way to find out which submarine they were used on...?

 

[Back-of-the-boat]

I wonder if there is any way to find out which submarine they were used on...?

Probably in a record of materials issued to a certain ship in government records, could trace serial numbers to find which ship.If they were that meticulous about it.

 

[Madmox]

Probably in a record of materials issued to a certain ship in government records, could trace serial numbers to find which ship.If they were that meticulous about it.

And if those records, if they ever existed, still exist. Tough.

 

[Joe-Dirt]

I have a very similar pair my dad took home after WWII and his time on a destroyer escorte in the North Atlantic. As soon as I can find them, I’ll post a picture.

 

[dognose]

binocular made to the same US NAVY design as the B&L & REL is the Hayward Mk.45 7x50. The USN Mk.45 Mod 0 binocular was introduced during WWII, a 7x50 with a very slightly wider field and a more waterproof housing, extruded aluminium alloy & water-resistant air-tight gaskets. 'Opticalman 3 & 2', 1966, reprinted by Dover as 'Basic Optics and Optical Instruments', notes on p449 that the hinge joint is different, with a straight tube - not tapered - and an expanding bearing that tightens against the hinge lugs, with hinge locks to secure the bearing. A Zerk grease fitting permits lubrication without disassembly. On p462 is noted that weak or faulty hinge tension is corrected with oversize bearings. Some surviving Mk 45s do indeed have a floppy hinge that will not hold IPD.


Navships 250-624-2, Manual for Overhaul, Repair, and Handling of 7 x 50 Binoculars, Nov. 1951, Bureau of Ships:
p8, hinge is illustrated and described.
p13, the hinge was designed so that lubrication did not effect the hinge tension, and the tension could be adjusted without forcing lubricant from the tapered assembly.
p16, The Mk 45 is 'the most waterproof of all the binoculars', designed for underwater service on submarines & demolition teams. It was designed and produced by Hayward Lumber & Investment Co., Chemical & Mfg. Division, L.A. Body is drawn aluminum, not cast. Prism clusters suspended from the cover. Rubber gaskets used on seats of eye lens, objective lens, and between objective & body; eyepiece sealed with O-ring.
pp39-51, disassembly of Mk.45. 'Keep your bench clean'. Disassembly of this glass seems to require special tools, especially for the hinge. There are many gaskets, and presumably they would all need replacement after 50 years.
pp84-98, reassembly, 'keep your bench clean'. Fitting and adjusting hinge takes 4 pages, a bearing press, and if it still doesn't work, 'use the oversize bearings that have been provided'.
p92-3, a very nice prism squaring fixture with a reticle and a grid. That is a fixture that would be very handy. I've not seen one of these in use in a repair shop. These binoculars seem to require an intimidating amount of skill & fixtures to repair. I do not own one, and wonder if the elaborate waterproofing has meant that the optics on these have survived in a cleaner condition than the typical USN 7 x 50s.


Hayward's full name was Hayward Lumber, which seemingly still survives, Corporate Office 1900 Garden Rd, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, 831-643-1900. A few of these 7 x 50s appeared at the Great Western gun show in LA recently, in excellent condition, with case and NASA markings. This model of US BUSHIPS binocular fetches the highest auction price (with the notable exception of the SARD Mk.43 6x42).

SOURCE brayebrookobservatory.org Binocular Collection