I'm the first to admit that yes, I tore off the old housing and put the new blue ones on. The old housing was leather and it was literally crumbling off when I bought it. These have undergone the usual Shangas Treatment. They were completely pulled apart right down to their component pieces. If it unscrewed, it came off, basically. I wiped and scoured out all the dust and grime and crud, cleaned the lenses (which are in fantastic condition), and then put them back together. The quality of manufacture on these is absolutely first-class. The threads are clean and straight, and the components screw in and out smoothly without any sort of jamming at all. Focusing is clean and they're a solid piece of hardware, made of brass. They are variously marked: "12 LENSES" (across bridge). "Made in France" (across bridge. Other side). "LUMIERE 121 X" (left barrel). "ARMY BINOCULAR" (right barrel). One of the glare-shields has been scratched in with: "V 945634". I have no idea what that's for. I assume some sort of military code. They date to around 1900-1910, I'd say.
Uuuuh... Not that I go birdwatching, but...at least half a dozen, I'd say. If we threw in opera glasses as well, nearly 20.
I was using bird watching as an example. A silly, round about way of asking how many pairs in your collection.
Well you coulda just asked! Here: This photo is a bit out of date. I've added a couple more since it was taken.
OH! Now I remember the blue enamel guilloche pair. I can imagine a lady in a matching dress at the opera. What got you started on this collecting obsession?
Legal blindness tends to do it. --- Thanks CX. Always looking for more. Problem is they usually break the bank, so I don't look very often.
