Description
For sale is a vintage pair of Negretti & Zambra London 8×30 binoculars, supplied with their brown leather carry case and leather straps.
This is an interesting and collectable pair, with engraved presentation text on the prism plates. One side reads:
“Presented by the Royal National Life-Boat Institution to Captain William Morris Williams”
The other side reads:
“In recognition of his valuable help as Honorary Secretary of the Porthdinllaen Branch, 1938”
The binoculars are marked Negretti & Zambra, London and 8×30. Negretti & Zambra were a well-known London maker of precision scientific and optical instruments, with a long-standing reputation for quality.
The optics are intact. The accessible lenses and some prism surfaces have been lightly cleaned. There appears to be a light internal mist/haze due to age, but the binoculars are still usable and give reasonably clear images when viewed through.
The focusing and eyepiece adjustment work as they should. The binoculars open and close smoothly.
Cosmetically, there are age-related signs of use, including paint loss, surface wear, marks and scuffs to the body, as shown in the photos. The leather straps show age-related wear but remain attached. The brown leather case is included and has surface marks, scuffs and general wear, but remain solid and fully functional.
Main Features:
- Maker: Negretti & Zambra, London
- Serial No. 727445
- Magnification: 8x
- Objective lens: 30mm
- Vintage Porro prism binoculars
- RNLI presentation engraving
- Presented to Captain William Morris Williams
- Porthdinllaen Branch Honorary Secretary inscription
- Dated 1938
- Size (when open): 170mm (W) x 110mm (H) x 50mm (D)
- Weight: 705 g
- Leather strap included
- Brown leather carry case included
A characterful and historically interesting pair of vintage British binoculars, ideal for collectors of Negretti & Zambra, RNLI memorabilia, maritime history, Welsh coastal history, vintage optics or display.
