Swiss WWII M/41 80cm 12x Coincidence Rangefinder with Carry Case & Ranging Bar

Description

11/1/24 - This is a great example of a rare and impressive optical instrument made during the WWII period by Wild of Herrbrugg, Switzerland, a premier optical company. It comes complete with the original carrying case, a ranging bar, the case for the ranging bar, and other accessories. Complete with two tripods, one for standing and the other for prone. A coincidence rangefinder or coincidence telemeter is a type of rangefinder that uses mechanical and optical principles to allow an operator to determine the distance to a visible object. There are subtypes split-image telemeter, inverted image, or double-image telemeter with different principles how two images in a single ocular are compared. Coincidence rangefinders were important elements of fire control systems for long-range naval guns and land-based coastal artillery circa 1890–1960. They were also used in rangefinder cameras. A stereoscopic telemeter looks similar, but has two eyepieces and uses a different principle, based on binocular vision. The two can normally be distinguished at a glance by the number of eyepieces, one for a coincidence rangefinder, and 2 for a stereoscopic one. The rangefinder still bears the original data plate giving the specifications of the instrument and other information. The data plate contains the serial number "1153" and the manufacturing year of 1942. The original manuals are included as well as a copy that has been translated to English.