WWII Toko 15 x 80 Binoculars
A superb pair of 15 x 80 (15 power magnification and 80 mm objective lenses) military binoculars by Toko (Tokyo Optical Company) of Japan, circa 1940. Originally used for long range land, sea and air observation during WWII. The Japanese companies of Nikko and Toko were the principal manufacturers of binoculars for Japan's military during WWII. To achieve the high standard of optics required for this type of instrument, it is recorded that the Japanese optical industries purchased some 200,000 pounds of optical glass through the duration of the war from the specialist glass manufacturer Schott in Germany, delivered to them via U-Boat.
The binoculars have been stripped of their original paint, the cast aluminium polished to a mirror finish and then mounted on a custom made bracket & cradle fitted to a period wooden tripod stand. The brass lens shades and backs to the prism boxes have been stripped of their original black finish, polished, cleaned and then plated with a thin layer of gold to prevent them tarnishing and minimise cleaning. The optics have been fully refurbished to the highest standards. The binoculars come with a newly made hardwood floor stand to provide stability to the tripod and give protection to floor surfaces.
Estimated delivery time 2 to 4 days
Key Details
Toko
Tokyo Optical Company
Japan
Japanese Military
Circa 1940
World War II
Original; Fully Restored
Excellent Condition
Stripped of the original paint, with the cast aluminium polished to a mirror finish. The brass lens shades and prism box backs were stripped of their original black finish, polished, cleaned, and plated with a thin layer of gold to prevent tarnishing and minimise cleaning. The optics have been fully refurbished to the highest standards.
Cast Aluminium, Brass, Wood
Polished Aluminium with Gold-Plated Brass
17⅞ in
Length of Binocular (45.5 cm)
15x magnification with 80mm objective lenses, originally used for long range land, sea, and air observation during World War II.
Mounted on a custom made bracket and cradle fitted to a period wooden tripod stand, with a newly made hardwood floor stand for stability and floor protection.
Authentic Wartime Optics, Not Reproductions
Original period engineering with its wartime markings intact. The real object, in a market flooded with replicas.
150 Hours of Swiss Watchmaker Restoration
Fully opened, inspected, and revived. Every prism hand polished and microscopically finished to tolerances measured in fractions of a human hair.
Restored as a Working Instrument
A clear, comfortably merged image through both barrels. Built to be used, not displayed as decoration.
Nine Months to Complete
Multiple original WWII donor sets were used to bring this instrument back to life. Over those nine months, original glass, prisms and the markings plate were sourced to replace damaged or missing parts. Often disassembled again after it performs perfectly, not because it failed, but because it can still be refined.
One Serial Number in the World
Original markings make every piece historically rare. No one else in the world owns this exact instrument.
Appreciating as Scarcity Accelerates
Most originals never survived to be collected, meeting their fate at the bottom of the sea and on lost battlefields. The remaining few are disappearing into private collections while demand climbs.
It's all in the details
