NEGRETTI & ZAMBRA
'LILLIPUT'
BINOCULARS
(c.1914)
A pair of Negretti & Zambra 'Lilliput' 6x15 binoculars, dating from c.1914. With a leather covered brass and aluminium construction, bakelite eyepieces, and embossed lettering on the prism covers. The top left hand prism cover is marked: ‘Lilliput, 6x15, No. 35143’, the top right prism cover is marked ‘Negretti & Zambra, London & Paris’. The binoculars have flat aluminium prism covers, and a central hinge and focusing wheel. This model’s objective lens diameter is 15mm, and it has a 6x magnification. The serial number is ‘35143’. Compact binoculars of this type were used by army officers during WW1, often bought as private purchase items. The binoculars come with their original Negretti & Zambra fitted leather case, with the N&Z company details printed in gilt on the inside of the lid.
Specifications:
Magnification: 6x
Aperture (objective diameter): 15 mm
Width: 115 mm
Height: 90 mm
Production date: c.1914
Serial Number: 35143
Negretti & Zambra: were highly successful scientific and optical Instrument makers throughout the Victorian and Edwardian eras. Henry Negretti (1818-1879) and Joseph Zambra (1822-1897) formed their partnership in London in 1850. The company produced scientific and optical instruments and also had a photographic studio based in London. They were appointed opticians and scientific instrument makers to Her Majesty Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, King Edward VII, the Royal Observatory and the British Admiralty. Henry Negretti was the first man to take aerial photographs of London from a balloon. Throughout World War One Negretti and Zambra produced instruments for the Ministry of Munitions and developed many instruments for the Air Ministry, including a mercury-in-steel distance thermometer for taking oil and air temperatures in aircraft which was patented in 1920. During WW2 the company produced large numbers of aircraft instruments for the Ministry of Aircraft Production, with factories in London and a new wartime facility at Chesterfield which employed over 450 people. Negretti & Zambra continued ito produce industrial, scientific, meteorological and aeronautical instruments until the 1980's.
Condition:
In good condition and good working order. The view through the binoculars is very good for a set more than 100 years old, with good focus and a clear, unobstructed view. There is some dust on the interior of the optics, which is not visible in use and does not affect the view. The bakelite eyecups are in good condition - although one of them has some damage (see photos). There is some minor wear to the original black finish on edges of the prism covers. The embossed script is in very good condition. There is some wear and shrinkage to the leather covering, but all the leather is securely attached and in good condition. The leather case is in very good condition, although missing one of the interior supports, and with some wear to the shoulder strap. The binoculars and the leather case are stamped with the initials ‘W.W.'
Date: c.1914
Model: Negretti & Zambra 'Lilliput'
Dimensions: 90mm x 115mm
Magnification: 6x
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