WW1 War Office Model binoculars by Lumiere of Paris in their leather carry case.
£155
An interesting pair of WW1 War Office Model binoculars by Lumiere of Paris in their leather carry case. Small body ‘Opera glass’ size instrument with black leather covered body has central focus wheel and fixed frame with factory set eye pieces. No provision for a carry strap on the body indicating the derivation from opera glasses. The draws signed to the underside LUMIERE PARIS to the left and WAR OFFICE MODEL to the right. Retractable sun shades to the front lenses. In its British manufactured brown leather carry case with strap, the body stamped HAND SEWN GENUINE COW HIDE MADE IN ENGLAND, these French made optics typically being purchased on their own from optical manufacturers, and then put in British cases on arrival with the Ordnance in England. Very low powered (about 1.5 to 2X magnification) these French made instruments are in effect Opera Glasses offering a clear wide angle view which was ideal for theatre goers but also as it happened well suited to scanning the broad expanses of no mans land between the trenches looking for enemy activity. The outbreak of the Great war and the huge expansion of the British army left the ordnance desperate for any binoculars at all to equip the officers and NCO’s who required them and the Ordnance purchased hundreds of pairs of these quincuncially French binoculars under the generic name of the War Office Pattern. The famous Paris optical maker of Lumiere supplying this particular pair. In very good condition with good clear optics, good mechanics and retaining much original paint finish. A good pair of WW1 issue binoculars by a famous maker.
