Baby Spotting scope

[Snakeoil]

About 30 years ago, I bought this cute little 20X40 spotting scope at a gun shop. It was in a box with a bunch of misc cast-offs like S&W wood grips. Anything in the box was $5. Scope came in a hard leather case with a tripod. It initially went to our camp in case I decided to go shooting and needed a spotting scope. Soon, it was clear that it was better to just put it in my car and leave it there. Since then it has come in handy more than a few times when a spotting scope was needed, but none were available.

The scope is made in Japan and has the name Observer on it. I did some searches on the web earlier today and could not find any info on it. But I did find a few photos of very similar scopes, several of which were named Selsi. There were some other brands and my guess is these were all made in the same post-WWII factory and branded accordingly based upon who placed an order. My guess is this scope was made sometime in the early 60's.

The lenses are all glass. It is a prismatic scope and the optics are superb. It never fails to impress members at the club when they see this dinky little scope on the bench and chuckle until I tell them to take a look thru it. Wow is the usual response.

The ocular lens is twisted to bring the scope into focus and I'm sure that it still had the original grease with which it left the factory. I had it out to spot for some guys at the club on Wed and it had been so cold that it was almost impossible to turn the lens to focus. So, today, I pulled the ocular lens assembly off the scope to remove the old lube and put it new. I actually had to drizzle a little acetone down into the threads because I could not hold it right enough in my fingers to unscrew the components. It took some doing to remove that former grease, now taffy, from the threads. To my surprise, the focal threads are tiny acme threads. This scope is truly well made. And it was made right around the time when products from Japan were no longer considered cheap junk.

With new grease, the ocular moves nicely. So, back in the case and back into the car for the next time it's called into duty.

Here is a pic of the scope, tripod and case. The scope itself measures a whopping 8-1/8" from end to end.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

The engineering and workmanship that came out of post war Japan is often misunderstood.

There was a U.S. bias against Japan in the immediate post war years (understandable) and it did take some time to rebuild their industrial capability. But there can be little doubt of the high quality the Japanese are capable of, if there’s a market for that quality.

Yes, there were cheap products from the immediate post-war era but that’s understandable. The market wasn’t there for high quality products from Japan, and it took some time to get their industry back on its feet. However, people that automatically turn their noses up at products simply because they were “Made in Japan” often missed some real value.

Optics was one of Japan’s stronger fields as this is evidenced by high quality cameras, telescopes, microscopes, binoculars, range finders, rifles scopes and yes, spotting scopes.

By the 1960’s, Japan was producing some high quality and yet very affordable items. Watches (Seiko comes to mind), Electronics (Sony), measuring tools (Mitutoyo), Firearms (Browning and Howa), Cameras (Nikon), and of course cars and trucks.

 

[fiver]

it takes a while to get things running smoothly when your missing a few million younger male residents.

that looks like a neat little package, and i'd bet money it's about 500% better than the crappy Burris spotting scope i keep trying to lose.

 

[popper]

Germany had the 'formula' for optical clay, Japan had the material but needed better machines to make quality optics. My guess Germany provided a lot of the technology to japan. Just like we did for electronics. We still used (and had to buy) optical stuff from Germany after the war. Then we discovered plastics. Kodak & others went to plastic lens cameras. Japan learned to make cars for US, then Korea got rights and we got more Asian stuff. Wasn't just the labor market costs.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

The Germans had been making high quality glass long before WWII but unfortunately Jena fell inside Soviet controlled East Germany after the war. I’m not sure how much glass making tech they shared with Japan before and during the war.

I’m not sure how much automotive knowledge the U.S. provided to the Japanese versus how much the Brits and others passed on to them, but they damn sure capitalized on that knowledge regardless of the sources.

Japan’s steel making skills pre-date WWII by a century or so and their industrial steel making capacity certainly pre-dates WWII by several decades. So, I’m not sure we can take credit for that.

Their precision instrument and watch making skills go back to the late 1800’s.

For an island nation that was almost totally destroyed and then occupied, they bounced back pretty well.

 

[Snakeoil]

The Selsi scopes that I found were 30X60, yet about the same length. There were a couple for sale on fleabay. If I was not awash in good spotting scopes, I'd probably buy the 30X version just to have it.

While on the subject of spotting scopes, there is a old scope model called the 15-60X B&L Discoverer. There is one on fleabay right now for $75. I've seen them for as low as $35. They don't look like much because they are a shallow conical tube with no prisms. But the optics are truly superb. If you are on a budget, or if you just want another good spotting scope for the car, you won't be disappointed if you pick up one of these. Another brand that is excellent are the old Bushnell scopes back when B&L still owned that brand. I picked one up a few years ago off of CL. I did not need it but I could not pass it up for the price. The optics are superb. My shooting partner has a Kowa and we all know how good they are. My Bushnell can hold its own with the Kowa.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

About 30 years ago, I bought this cute little 20X40 spotting scope at a gun shop. It was in a box with a bunch of misc cast-offs like S&W wood grips. Anything in the box was $5. Scope came in a hard leather case with a tripod. It initially went to our camp in case I decided to go shooting and needed a spotting scope. Soon, it was clear that it was better to just put it in my car and leave it there. Since then it has come in handy more than a few times when a spotting scope was needed, but none were available.

The scope is made in Japan and has the name Observer on it. I did some searches on the web earlier today and could not find any info on it. But I did find a few photos of very similar scopes, several of which were named Selsi. There were some other brands and my guess is these were all made in the same post-WWII factory and branded accordingly based upon who placed an order. My guess is this scope was made sometime in the early 60's.

The lenses are all glass. It is a prismatic scope and the optics are superb. It never fails to impress members at the club when they see this dinky little scope on the bench and chuckle until I tell them to take a look thru it. Wow is the usual response.

The ocular lens is twisted to bring the scope into focus and I'm sure that it still had the original grease with which it left the factory. I had it out to spot for some guys at the club on Wed and it had been so cold that it was almost impossible to turn the lens to focus. So, today, I pulled the ocular lens assembly off the scope to remove the old lube and put it new. I actually had to drizzle a little acetone down into the threads because I could not hold it right enough in my fingers to unscrew the components. It took some doing to remove that former grease, now taffy, from the threads. To my surprise, the focal threads are tiny acme threads. This scope is truly well made. And it was made right around the time when products from Japan were no longer considered cheap junk.

With new grease, the ocular moves nicely. So, back in the case and back into the car for the next time it's called into duty.

Here is a pic of the scope, tripod and case. The scope itself measures a whopping 8-1/8" from end to end.

View attachment 39148

I have exact same scope.

Has been Good for Bullseye. (50' and 50 yards)

CW

 

[Snakeoil]

I have exact same scope.

Has been Good for Bullseye. (50' and 50 yards)

CW

What are the chances of that? I truly did look all over the web for that little scope and found nothing. Maybe you and I have the only two, CW.

So, I have a question for you. In the top of the case, there is a little leather pouch. What was in there? Mine was empty when I got it. I'm thinking that maybe it was for a lens cloth.

 

[JWinAZ]

For an island nation that was almost totally destroyed and then occupied, they bounced back pretty well.

And maybe that gave an advantage when industries were re-built new, such as the steel mills. And now a Japanese steel company is trying to buy US Steel.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

Mine was gotten by one of the older shooters in my club, who gifted it to my wife when he stopped shooting. Its in a mount attached to his gunbox. So no case.

 

[Missionary]

Well let's consider facts.
Early WW2 at Guadalcanal, the jap ships accurately engaged our ships at 7 miles at night with optics they produced in japan. Our ships had little idea what they were fighting until the ranges were getting to near 3 miles.
The larger jap ships were equipped with a massive 50x binocular that turned very dark nights into their favor. It was until 1943 that one of those bino's was "captured" and our Navy no longer wondered how they could do what they did. Even their smaller vessels had superior sighting optics than anything our Navy was equipped with.
If properly used radar sets had not been in place (sadly some officers did not understand radar), that major battle of attrition may have gone on another six months longer than it did.

 

[fiver]

yep that night battle showed what the Japanese could really do.
kind of surprising they didn't pick up on that and try for more night time maneuvers.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

yep that night battle showed what the Japanese could really do.
kind of surprising they didn't pick up on that and try for more night time maneuvers.

With the advantage of perfect historical hindsight, we can see that the Japanese failed to exploit that strength. However, at the time, it probably wasn’t apparent or at least not easily perceived.

The overall reality was that Japan made incredible territorial gains prior to the battle of Midway but their fate was sealed after the battle of Midway and the full mobilization of the United Staes. The campaign at Guadalcanal came shortly after Midway. Japan was still a force to be reckoned with, but they were fighting a totally defensive war after June of 1942.

Japan had been in Manchuria since 1931 and by early 1942 Japan had seized huge amounts of territory in the Pacific / Asian region. However, despite their massive expansion and their advanced technical skills (which were impressive), they had little hope of holding onto what they stole. The Japanese plan was not to keep all of it, but rather fight to a negotiated settlement to keep the important parts of what they seized. That part didn’t turn out well for them.

I have a deep respect for the Japanese culture. They are incredibly disciplined, obedient, and orderly. Leading up to WWII and during WWII these traits were exploited by evil leadership. This evil led to horrific consequences for all involved on all sides. However, those same traits of discipline, obedience and order made Japan easy to occupy after the war and incredibly successful when they pursued capitalistic endeavors. America’s assistance to the vanquished help build a strong democracy and frankly, turned an old enemy into an ally.

 

[Snakeoil]

With the advantage of perfect historical hindsight

Yup, everybody is an expert on Monday, right? Another issue with Japan was they just did not have the production capability to maintain a war against a country like the USA. Couple that will a much small population of war-aged men and as they say, it was simply a matter of time.

Having broken the Japanese and German codes sure did not hurt. Both countries suffered from a culture of "we are better than anyone else" which caused them to underestimate the abilities of their enemies. I forget who it was, but one of the Japanese leaders has been quoted as saying that they would regret Pearl Harbor as having wakened a sleeping giant, or something to that effect.

Another mistake both countries made was they underestimated the importance of fuel in winning the war.

Lastly, the Japanese culture to follow orders without thought coupled with a lower value or human life also doomed them. Americans were not so foolish as to throw bodies at the enemy in hopes that they could wear them down. We fought a strategic war. The Japanese overran places where there was no real resistance. When they tried that with us, it was like trying to overrun a one tank with 1000 tricycles. At the end, both the Germans and the Japanese were putting children into uniforms and equipment and sending them into battle. Once again, their cultures did not allow them to admit that they had failed. Excessive pride and hubris are serious character flaws. When they permeate a nation, they are deadly character flaws.

I see that thread drift is still alive and doing well here.

 

[JWFilips]

Tasco Scopes from the 1960's (Made In Japan) are a premium item! I have one from early 1960's on my 35 Rem 366 JM Marlin and it is super clear and sharp!

 

[Petrol & Powder]

We can drift this thread like a teenager can drift a stolen Honda, so let's get back on track.

The Japanese have great skill, and we didn't give them that skill after the war. They possessed those skills before the war.

It took some time after the war for the Japanese to get back on track. By about the 1960's they had righted their ship and those were the days of excellent value on some of their products. They continue to produce some excellent gear, but competition has reduced the incredible value of those early days. This is nothing new, good value can often be found in the early days of a new market.

CZ is a good example of this. Howa was a good example of high value. Post war German radios were an outstanding value in the late 1950's. German drafting tools were some of the best and often less expensive than their U.S. and Canadian equivalent (in the early days).

Good Japanese optics in the 1960's were far better values than one would assume.

The OP on this thread has something that was considered to be “cheap” at one time but is actually a high quality item that was sold at a very good price.

 

[fiver]

it's not that they have more skill, it's that they are more dedicated to honing the perfection of the craft.
i see a lot of their higher ended craftsmen go back to the beginning and then hone their skills based on the history of other craftsmen, bringing their own skills forward step by step over many years.

nothing more or less than perfecting the basics of each step in the process.