| The serial number of a Zeiss Triotar 7.5cm f/4.5 fitted in this Art Deco Rolleicord image by Dirk HR Spennemann(Image rights) |
- 1Carl Zeiss Jena
Carl Zeiss Jena
Part of the serial number sequence of lenses made by Carl Zeiss Jena [1]
Does anyone know if I can find the serial number for my new Nikon Buckmasters scope on the box somewhere? Need it to register with Nikon. I forgot to get it off the scope before mounting and I hate to take it back off. Already sighted it in. There are some numbers on the box label, but it doesnt say what they are. The Earliest and Latest serial numbers are from lenses I have seen. They help confirm the Start and End numbers or indicate the range where the Start and End numbers are unknown. I don't receive information from Nikon or sponsorship from any other business, this list has been put together from many years of independent research and from details. Here is a link that will help you out.The serial number will help narrow down the years produced if there are several iterations. I own a large number of old MF and AF lenses, some of which I bought used. Speculation on this centered on the ages of the now discontinued SE series of Porro prism binoculars. The second digit of the serial numbers on them were thought to indicate when Nikon changed the coatings on their lenses. The 1st digit identified their format size. The same went for Nikons EII Porro prisms. The history of Nikon binoculars. Updated: 13 Jul 2019 Table of contents. Bearing serial number 4, was installed on a Japanese battle ship in 1894. By May 27, 1905, every single battle ship of Japan’s Imperial Navy was equipped with this range finder, in fact every single cannon!
| Serial nº | Year |
| 137,418-200,520 | 1912 |
| 208,473-249,350 | 1913 |
| 249,886-282,739 | 1914 |
| 282,800-284,500 | 1915 |
| 285,200-288,100 | 1916 |
| 289,087-298,157 | 1917 |
| 298,215-322,748 | 1918 |
| 322,799-351,611 | 1919 |
| 375,194-419,823 | 1920 |
| 433,273-438,361 | 1921 |
| 422,899-498,006 | 1922 |
| 561,270-578,297 | 1923 |
| 578,297–631,501 | 1924 |
| 631,500-648,500 | 1925 |
| 666,790-703,198 | 1926 |
| 722,196-798,251 | 1927 |
| 903,100-908,150 | 1928 |
| 919,794-1,016,885 | 1929 |
| 922,488-1,239,697 | 1930 |
| 1,239,699-1,365,582 | 1931 |
| 1,364,483-1,389,279 | 1932 |
| 1,436,671-1,456,003 | 1933 |
| 1,500,474-1,590,000 | 1934 |
| 1,615,764-1,752,303 | 1935 |
| 1,674,882-1,942,806 | 1936 |
| 1,930,150-2,219,775 | 1937 |
| 2,267,991-2,527,984 | 1938 |
| 2,527,999-2,651,211 | 1939 |
| 2,652,000-c2,678,000 | 1940 |
| 2,678,326-2,790,346 | 1941 |
| 2,800,000- ? | 1942 |
Post-War Production
| 3,000,000-3,200,000 | 1945-1949 |
| 3,200,000-3,470,000 | 1949-1952 |
| 3,470,000-4,000,000 | 1952-1955 |
| 4,000,000-5,000,000 | 1955-1958 |
| 5,000,000-6,000,000 | 1958-1961 |
| 6,000,000-6,000,000 | 1961-1964 |
| 7,000,000-8,000,000 | 1964-1967 |
| 8,000,000-9,000,000 | 1967-1970 |
| 9,000,000-10,000,000 | 1970-1975 |
Carl Zeiss Oberkochen
Part of the serial number sequence of lenses made by Zeiss after World War II at Oberkochen/ West Germany [1]
| Serial nº | Year |
| 10,000-500,000 | 1946-1951 |
| 500,000-1,100,000 | 1951-1953 |
| 1,100,000-2,600,000 | 1953-1959 |
| 2,600,000-3,000,000 | 1959-1961 |
| 3,000,000-4,000,000 | 1961-1965 |
| 4,000,000-5,000,000 | 1965-1969 |
| 5,000,000-6,000,000 | 1969-1971 |
| 6,000,000-7.300,000 | 1971-1975 |
Notes
- ↑ 1.01.1Wilkinson, M, and C Glanfield. 2001. A Lens Collector's Vade Mecum, CD-rom Version 3F. Edited by A. N. Wright. Cornwall, UK: David Matthews Associates. Chapter 7, Page 99-101.
Both Nikon's foundation and restoration eras were supported by binoculars
The first Nikon
From the foundation of Nippon Kogaku (now, Nikon Corporation), the main products marketed were binoculars. In particular, opera glasses and the Tenyu prism binoculars were core products from the times of Fujii Lens Manufacturing, and helped keep Nippon Kogaku profitable in its early stages.
In 1921, Ryuzo Fujii (a director of Nippon Kogaku) invited German engineers to Japan and started to developed new handheld binoculars named MIKRON. The MIKRON was the first binocular model completely developed, designed and manufactured by the company. They were also one of the first products made by Nippon Kogaku, and became especially popular as small high-performance binoculars for commercial use.
Developing many binoculars including the ORION in 1922 and Novar twilight handheld binoculars in 1923, binoculars were Nippon Kogaku's main commercial products.
Nikon has always been loved by its customers
The first products Nikon started manufacturing after World War II were binoculars. In December 1945, production of pre-war models began anew. The redesigned MIKRON was highly acclaimed and exports were also strong. Although there were twists and turns, binoculars had accounted for about a half of the sales of Nippon Kogaku for two and a half years from August of 1946, and after that, had maintained approx. 30% of total sales until photographic lenses and cameras started to receive a higher evaluation.
Binoculars were the motivating force that supported Nippon Kogaku two times, firstly when the company was established and then while it was converting to making commercial products after World War II.
Subsequently, Nikon expanded binocular lineups to meet various customers' needs. In 2017, Nikon released the WX 7x50 IF/WX 10x50 IF binoculars created with optical technologies accumulated over 100 years. These binoculars provide an outstandingly super-wide field of view and achieve incredible sharpness all the way to the periphery, placing them at the very pinnacle of Nikon binocular history.