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1.  State optical-mechanical factory (GOMZ), Leningrad (1940-1941);

Optical-mechanical factory No. 237 NKV (KOMZ), Kazan (since late 1941) .

The GOMZ factory produced binoculars in the 1920's-1930's, it stopped production of their own design B-1 6x30 model in 1936. In 1940 it restored binocular production, but this time it produced the standardized B-6 6x30 model. Production continued until the Autumn of 1941, when due to the German and Finn offensive on Leningrad, part of the GOMZ factory was evacuated to Kazan, and included into the structure of Kazan optical-mechanical factory. Technically, production of GOMZ binoculars ended in Autumn 1941, but during the initial production period in Kazan, the factory still used the GOMZ logo (stylized ray of light).

 

The post-evacuation marking is missing the hammer and sickle, which were used during 1940-1941 production in Leningrad. In early 1942, the factory marking was moved to the bridge instead of the left plate. Also, in early 1942, the factory finally started to use the GOMZ logo on binoculars (also a stylized ray of light). During 1940-1944, the production year was coded into the two first letters of the serial number (40, 41, and so on), starting in mid 1944 and later, a full year marking under the serial number was used.

After evacuation factory introduced many simplifications to construction. Late 1941 - early 1942 binoculars had plates made from silicium - aluminum alloy (sometime alloy plates are mixed with old design brass plates at one binoculars), later in 1942 alloy plates were replaced with steel plates, and steel plates in 1944 were replaced with copper plated steel plates. Also in early 1942 was eliminated rubber finish on the tubes (tubes were painted only with black paint), brass eyepiece diopter adjustment sleeves were replaced with cast sleeves also made from the silicium - aluminum alloy, also alloy was used in production of the other parts instead of brass, brass caps of the objective lens assemblies were replaced with steel caps. Because of these reason original condition early-mid war KOMZ binoculars are very difficult to find, alloy became very brittle after some use, and many of these binoculars had replaced parts.

In 1943 (possibly late 1942) rubber finish of the tubes was returned to production (prewar pattern was changed to unique to KOMZ dot pattern), cast alloy eyepiece sleeves remained in production up to 1945. In 1946 was returned into production prewar pattern with brass parts, also was changed style of the markings - they were moved to the left pate, and hammer and sickle marking was used again.

6x30 model (B-6 modification)

 

1.1. GOMZ factory marking, 1940-1941 (pre evacuation period).

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1.2. GOMZ factory marking, 1941 (early post-evacuation period).

3 from 4 plates are cast alloy plates, plate with marking is made from brass.

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1.3. KOMZ/GOMZ factory marking, 1942 (earliest pattern).

All 4 plates are cast alloy plates, rubber finish of the tube was not used.

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1.4. KOMZ/GOMZ factory marking, 1942 (marking was moved to the bridges).

All 4 plates and obkective caps are made from steel, rubber finish of the tube was not used.

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1.5. KOMZ factory marking, 1943.

Binoculars already have KOMZ-pattern dot shape rubber finish. Plates are made from steel.

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1.6. KOMZ factory marking, 1945.

Late patter cast eyepieces. Plates are made from the copper plated steel.

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1.7. KOMZ factory marking, 1946.

Plates and eyepieces are made from brass.

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2.  Factory of the optical glass No.353 NKV (IZOS),

(1940-1941 - Izyum, 1941-1943 - Tomsk).

Factory started production of the standardized B-6 6x30 model in 1940. At Autumn 1941 because of the German offensive it was evacuated to Tomsk, where it continued production up to 1943. In 1943 optics production capacities were moved to the factory No.355 NKV (Zagorsk optical-mechanical factory, which was located in Tomsk because of the evacuation also). In late 1943 factory No.355 was returned to its original location in Zagorsk, and started binoculars production under with their own logo.

During 1940-1941 binoculars were marked with full production year, since late 1941 up to 1943 it was coded with two first letters of the serial number (41, 42, 43).

After evacuation factory introduced some simplifications to construction. They were not so serious like KOMZ factory simplifications, but some brass parts were replaced with aluminum parts (temporary), also in limited number were used steel plates (while the majority of the used plates were still made from brass). In 1942 pattern of the rubber finish was changed comparing to prewar patter, in 1943 it was changed again.

Also in 1941-1943 factory produced 4x45 Galilean binoculars. But so far none of the survived 4x45 binoculars are known with IZOS marking. However, some known 4x45 binoculars have unique style of marking that was not used at any other binoculars (triangular with model name 4x45 and serial number). Some of these binoculars have rubber finish with patter that was used by IZOS up to mid 1942, same have unique to late IZOS binoculars (later was used by ZOMZ) rubber finish pattern (big dots). With high possibility these binoculars were produced by IZOS.

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6x30 model (B-6 modification)

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2.1. IZOS factory B-6 6x30 binoculars, 1941.

Prewar pattern of marking

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2.2. IZOS factory B-6 6x30 binoculars, 1942.

Prewar pattern of rubber finish, production year is coded with two first numbers of the serial number.

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2.3. IZOS factory B-6 6x30 binoculars, late 1942.

New patetrn of the rubber finish.

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2.4. IZOS factory B-6 6x30 binoculars, 1943.

Plates and objective caps are made from steel.

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2.5. IZOS factory B-6 6x30 binoculars, 1943.

Late pattern of rubber finish (oval dots)

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4x45 model

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2.6. Likely IZOS factory manufactured 4x45 binoculars.

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3.  Optical mechanical factory No.355 NKV (ecacuated from Zagosrk), ZOMZ

(1943 - Tomsk, late 1943 and after - Zagorsk).

In 1943 optics production capacities from the factory No.353 (IZOS) were moved to the factory No.355 NKV (Zagorsk optical-mechanical factory, which was located in Tomsk since 1941 because of the evacuation also). It's unclear, were any binoculars produced before ZOMZ factory was moved to Zagorsk at Autumn 1943, but so far none of the known binoculars with Zagorsk logo are marked with 1943.

Majority of the ZOMZ binoculars have production year on them, but some 6x30 binoculars and early 8x30 binoculars (production of this model was started in 1944) have no production year, such binoculars have specific serial number ranges starting from 6*, 7*, 8*.

Also ZOMZ factory produced 4x45 Galilean binoculars, their production was moved from IZOS. But so far only few of the survived 4x45 binoculars are known with ZOMZ marking, but their pictures are not allowed to be posted online, so they are not shown.

6x30 and 4x45 production was stopped in 1945, 8x30 was continued postwar (modernized version of the prewar B-3 model, which was named B-8).

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6x30 model (B-6 modification)

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3.1. ZOMZ factory B-6 6x30 binoculars, 1944.

Specific pattern of rubber finish typical to ZOMZ (similar to the latest IZOS pattern)

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8x30 model (B-8 modification)

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3..  ZOMZ factory manufactured 8x30 binoculars. 1945

Almost all brass parts in this model are replaced with aluminum (comparing with earlier B-3 8x30 model)

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4.  Optical-mechanical factory No.393 NKV, KMZ (Krasnogorsk).

Binoculars production at this factory was started in mid 1944, when it stopped PU scopes production, and was ended in 1946. Comparing to other factories, production was relatively low-number.

In 1945 and 1946 it produced a number of binoculars which some collectors believed to be "civil" models - they were not marked with hammer and sickle like military models, and they were missing rangefinding graticule. Also, these "civil" binoculars were produced with use of silicium-aluminum alloy up to 1946, while "military" binoculars with hammer and sickle marking were produced used brass parts (they are much more durable).

In 1944 binoculars were marked in bridges, in 1945-1946 - on plates (some binoculars were marked on right plates, some on left). Factory used specific rubber finish pattern, different from other factories. Also, 1945 binoculars with barss parts had objective assemblies with much deeper knurling comparing to other factories.

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6x30 model (B-6 modification)

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4.1.  KMZ factory manufactured 6x30 binoculars. 1944

Marking on the bridges

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4.2.  KMZ factory manufactured 6x30 binoculars. 1945.

Military pattern marking on the left plate.

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4.3.  KMZ factory manufactured 6x30 binoculars. 1945.

Military pattern marking on the right plate.

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4.4.  KMZ factory manufactured 6x30 binoculars. 1945.

Civil pattern marking on the right plate.

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4.5.  KMZ factory manufactured 6x30 binoculars. 1946.

Civil pattern marking on the left plate.

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