Comprehensive Review of the Audubon 804 Type 4 Stephen Ingraham (1994)

Renze de Vries

Max,

Cheers. The 1968 mentioned for type 1c's introduction to the market awaits correction indeed as nosotros have seen 1c'southward from equally early as 1965. Unfortunately this is just one example of many more than errrors, gaps and imperfections we need te address in an updated version of our Audubon survey.

Renze

Timedrifter

Max,

Thanks. The 1968 mentioned for type 1c's introduction to the market awaits correction indeed as we have seen 1c'south from as early every bit 1965. Unfortunately this is only one instance of many more errrors, gaps and imperfections we demand te address in an updated version of our Audubon survey.

Renze

Thanks Renze. If you would be interested in photos once I receive them, please let me know.
Regards
Max

elkcub

Brock,

If yous're looking on I'd appreciate if y'all would contact me at [email protected]. I miss you, man.

Ed

elkcub

I accept been reading this thread with interest, and accept on the spur of the moment bought a pair of I recollect 1c'due south. Rense and Edward appear to say that the 1c started in 1968, merely the serial number on the pair I take just purchased, simply not even so received, starts 67. Is this already known?
I can give more details if required, but they appear to exist identical to treemans on mail 157.
Max

Hello Max,

I'thousand hoping you might have a Type 1b, or fifty-fifty a 1a. If there are 2 white bands at the front of the objective cap, withal, information technology could as well be a Swift-Pyser "Audubon, " BWCF, which was marketed in 1966 or earlier. If so, I don't believe it would say Model 804 on the right cover plate. Practiced pictures would actually help.

What do you lot think, Renze?

Ed

Timedrifter

Hi Ed,
I accept been informed that this pair of bins has been posted and will exist here either today or tomorrow. I volition gladly accept piccies. Exercise you want me to post them hither, or send them to you privately? If privately send me your electronic mail address via PM.
I am completely intrigued by this series of bins already!
Max

Timedrifter

How-do-you-do All,
OK, they have arrived and the condition is good. The just blemish is a nasty knock on the focussing wheel. Looking through them the 'wrong' mode they appear to be very clean internally with no fungus present. Merely, in that location appears to exist a small marker like a short scratch on the left prism (?). For some reason likewise, the left optic volition not come up to perfect focus/resolution. The correct optic is fine. Collimation appears also to exist OK. Any suggestions as to why the left optic isn't clear/focussed would be appreciated. I approximate it's possible that they aren't as clean I recall they are. I'm tempted to have them stripped and cleaned, only I'd detest to meet them come dorsum with screwdriver marks on the spiral heads and other possible signs of entry. If anybody knows of a really good repair shop in the Britain I might consider it.
From a collectors viewpoint the simply thing that appears odd is the hinge mark JLB26 on ane side, with the more usual JLE45 on the other. Comments please.
Regards
Max

Timedrifter · Jan vii, 2011

2 extra piccies I couldn't load on the previous post.

elkcub · Jan 8, 2011

Hi Max,

The pictures are quite useful, and Renze is quite right, we demand to update the paper. In fact, my very own 1c is dated 1965, and yet the newspaper says it was marketed starting in 1968. How did this happen? :h?:

Well, at the time the paper was written in '05 we did non yet know that the date of manufacture was encoded in the series number. That brainstorm occurred on this forum (probably earlier in this thread). As tin be seen in the second photograph, the JL mark(southward) were also quite faint on my specimen, only E45 being legible. So, information technology was easy enough to leave out the B26, which shows conspicuously on your specimen.

I have also attached the list of Japanese makers marks, downloaded from http://domicile.europa.com/~telscope/jbcode.txt x/. Although the writeup says that "...'JB' and 2 or three digits identifies the manufacturer of the finished binocular, and 'JE' identifies the maker of the body...", only Bxxx marks are listed. This suggests that Tamron made the trunk of the binocular and Futaba put together the finished product. However, we know that the design was developed past Mr. Tamura of Tamron Optical Co. for Swift-Anderson, Co. in the mid-1950s. Moreover, since the original Type-0 Audubon predated this marking organization, which began in the early 1960s, it'southward possible that Type-1a or 1b likewise had no such marks. Thus far, however, no 1 has claimed to be the owner of a 1a or 1b, so the conjecture can't exist verified.

To add even more confusion, notation that the list of Japanese marks shows that

two

companies share JB-45: Taisei Kogaku Kogyo Co and Tamron Co., Ltd., Tokyo.

Ed

Cleme

Is is possible to say how the Audubon Mk 11 with the bluish ribbon compare to modern porros?

I still get a very crisp image from some Opticron 10X42s marked High Resolution... doubtless some newer binoculars are better - simply much better?

elkcub · Jan 12, 2011

How-do-you-do Clem,

I take it that you have a Type-3a large torso model fabricated in the 1970s or 80s, correct? Please tell the states the first two digits of the serial number, which volition signal the year of manufacture. (Run across pg. 13 of our 804 article.)

All of the big-body types that I've examined, including Types 0 through 3, endure from serious prism/eyepiece reflections and glare that would not be tolerated today. As well, by comparing with the improved Blazon 4 design (and the 820), manual is compromised severely past coating deficiencies. In my opinion, the but 804s that are seriously bird worthy today, therefore, also have some level of multi-coating, eastward.m., the 804R, Hr/5, 804ED, and 820.

Now, that's not to say the 3a and earlier models aren't usable, but in that location's no signal in understating the significance of design improvements either.

Regards,
Ed

Cleme

That's helpful, elkcub.

I was considering buying a 'cheap and cheerful' pair but my money's at present going to something a bit more than modern - and expensive, of course!

elkcub · May 18, 2011

I recently bought the Swift Audubon Mark 2 Model 804 binoculars at a k sale. I have compared them to the different types found in the first-class history of these binoculars written by Edward Thousand. Huff and Renze de Vries. There is non an verbal friction match with any of the types shown.
Attached are pictures of these binoculars in hopes that the type tin be identified.

Hullo Javan,

Going from left to right, Pict. #1 shows that this is a Type 2, because of the location of the focusing wheel. Pict #2 shows it was marketed in the United states of america because Model 804 is on the right cover plate. Pict. #iii shows characteristic amber and UV coated objective mark, and Pict. #4 shows the date of manufacture to be 1983. It is truthful that "Feather Weight" isn't shown on the left comprehend plate as it is on my 1981 model, — but this is clearly a Blazon 2b variant.

Practise you employ it and how practise you like information technology if you do?

Ed

James Bean

When you exercise, you'll feel you can simply "attain out and touch" the leaves on those copse...

Sandy Leng

Swift Audubon 804 useful accompaniment

How-do-you-do everybody,
This is my get-go mail service on this (or any other) forum, so please be gentle with me!
I have really enjoyed reading the history of the Swift Audubon. I own a large body Type 3a with a bluish band which seems to have been made for the European marketplace.
The serial number on the hinge cap is No.26-713353 and the body is stamped B56.
I bought my binoculars on the advice of an old chap who I piece of work with, who has been birding for over 30 years and actually knows his eyes. I won them on ebay and paid £55 for them. They are superb as everybody reading this will already know, but I take massively improved the image of my bins with a very unproblematic modification.
I don't know if it's the shape of my face up but I was always aware of reflections in the eyepieces when viewing through my bins varying from hardly noticable to quite annoying depending on the fourth dimension of day, angle of the sunday etc.
I take solved this problem by fitting winged eyeshields, and the difference really is outstanding.
The eyeshields are fabricated in the U.S.A past Field Eyes Inquiry and their website is www.clearbirds.com. I bought mine from Ace optics in Bath, and they cost £21 inc.stamp.
When you want to store the bins or fit a rainguard or caps the eyeshields flip down out of the manner. They really are very skillful.
I bought a quality padded strap and an Opticron rainguard,and these binoculars now serve me very well equally my primary birding bins.
I have looked through a lot of very expensive binoculars, and it only makes me realise simply how skillful these 40 yr erstwhile classics really are.
I will never part with them, and I believe they will get fifty-fifty more collectable.

chartwell99

Howdy everybody,
This is my beginning post on this (or whatsoever other) forum, so delight exist gentle with me!
I have really enjoyed reading the history of the Swift Audubon. I own a large trunk Type 3a with a blue band which seems to take been made for the European market place.
The serial number on the hinge cap is No.26-713353 and the body is stamped B56.
I bought my binoculars on the advice of an old chap who I work with, who has been birding for over thirty years and actually knows his optics. I won them on ebay and paid £55 for them. They are superb as everybody reading this will already know, but I have massively improved the image of my bins with a very simple modification.
I don't know if it's the shape of my face up merely I was always aware of reflections in the eyepieces when viewing through my bins varying from hardly noticable to quite annoying depending on the time of mean solar day, bending of the sun etc.
I take solved this problem by fitting winged eyeshields, and the difference really is outstanding.
The eyeshields are fabricated in the U.s.A by Field Eyes Research and their website is world wide web.clearbirds.com. I bought mine from Ace eyes in Bathroom, and they toll £21 inc.postage stamp.
When you desire to store the bins or fit a rainguard or caps the eyeshields flip down out of the way. They actually are very good.
I bought a quality padded strap and an Opticron rainguard,and these binoculars at present serve me very well as my main birding bins.
I have looked through a lot of very expensive binoculars, and it only makes me realise merely how good these 40 yr old classics actually are.
I volition never role with them, and I believe they will get even more collectable.

I have used Field Optics eyeshields on a number of roof glasses with keen success (they really do sharpen the image and, in some cases, aid with eye relief coma bug), only I've always been skittish nigh using them on porros for fright of loosening the bridge. Glad they worked for y'all. Your Audubons really are remarkable optical instruments.

Steve C

I have a type 1c AUdubon that I use the FOR winged shields on. Why the would damage the Swift bridge I don't quite get, unless ane is constantly picayune with taking them on or off. Just run the focus where the bridge is down all the fashion and put it on.

Nixterdemus · Feb 7, 2012

Mine looks similar a 4b(1) 804 from pg 17 equally it has multi-coted optics on the left cover, all the same the serial # 9603XX. Came w/rainguard w/Swift inside reticle and so Audubon due west/r in a circle & a blue Swift strap.

Also says 89-92 evah so roughly for the 4b(i) & 92-99 for the 4b(2). Are y'all notwithstanding claiming the first 2 digits of the SN are the yr?
I have 804 on the right cover. But curious how long they made the MC.

Renze de Vries

Mine looks like a 4b(1) 804 from pg 17 equally it has multi-coted optics on the left cover, yet the serial # 9603XX. Came westward/rainguard west/Swift inside reticle and then Audubon w/r in a circle & a blueish Swift strap.

Also says 89-92 evah so roughly for the 4b(1) & 92-99 for the 4b(two). Are you still claiming the first two digits of the SN are the twelvemonth?
I have 804 on the right embrace. Only curious how long they made the MC.

Hi nixterdemus,

You're right, the manufacturing dates in our Audubon survey are pending correction. For blazon 4b-1 nosotros have seen dates ranging from 1985 through 1996. For type 4b(2), the fully multicoated version, we have dates from 1997 up to 2000.
It is very well possible though that your late 4b-1 is fully multicoated although it isn't yet printed on the binoculars. Ed has reported on this several times I believe. Check the reflecting colors of the coating on ocular and objective lenses, if there's red in them I believe they're multicoated. Withal Ed tin can say more on this.

Renze

Claycomb Forienionly

Comprehensive Review of the Audubon 804 Type 4 Stephen Ingraham (1994)

elkcub

Silicon Valley, California

elkcub

Silicon Valley, California

elkcub

Silicon Valley, California

elkcub

Silicon Valley, California

elkcub

Silicon Valley, California

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