Lot 6068
Double telescopes 10x, "The Princely Model", Merz, Munich, navy use, circa 1865
A Viennese Collection of Binoculars | A92f | Live auction | 324 Lots
Description
No SN. The left eyepiece marked in script "G. & S. Merz / in München". Smooth diopter adjustment via a wheel operated centre rack-and-pinion focusing system, the stop screw missing. 11 lines, 16 cm focal length. Aluminum case. Extendable eyepieces and lens shades. The original leather cover in excellent condition. Objective covers. Swiveling ocular covers. Braided leather strap. Weight 690 g. Transparency 2-3, rarity 8. Length from 26 to 40 cm.With the original black leather case, the lid missing.
Merz, formerly Utz Schneider & Fraunhofer, built such binoculars until about 1890. This specific model, called the "Princely Model", cost almost 3x more than the brass model and sold only 1-2 units per month according to Merz sales records. The much more compact build of Zeiss prism binoculars made them obsolete. Extremely rare.
Condition: I - II Questions about the lot?