20x120 Toko Big Eye binoculars

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Saganwannabe
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20x120 Toko Big Eye binoculars

#1

Post by Saganwannabe »


I just purchased a great looking pair of Vintage WW2 era Toko Big Eye binoculars. I would love to learn all I can about these. They are in fantastic original, non-restored condition and have great optics.

I’m interested in hearing what everyone thinks they’re worth. I want to know if I overpaid, underpaid, etc.

In the end, I really don’t care because I already bought them and no way am I returning them.

I’m not gonna say how much I paid and I won’t get my feelings hurt no matter what estimate anyone makes. I’m happy with my purchase and that’s all that matters to me.

Thanks!
Attachments
6381993D-5BC6-4CBD-B5DF-9D5B821187C8.png
Edgehd 11, Sky-Watcher Esprit 100 ED APO triplet on a Losmandy G11g.
Toko Big Eye 20x120 Japanese Naval binoculars (1944) on a custom made mount.
AP rig: Celestron OAG w/mono Atik Titan autoguider and Full Spectrum Modified (Hap Griffin) cooled Canon T5i.
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Re: 20x120 Toko Big Eye binoculars

#2

Post by Saganwannabe »


Here are some more pictures...
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AA4497EF-B0DB-4480-868B-1F88A0517A3F.png
1C820A55-E681-4D8C-8381-11EC9AC1045B.png
E7E5AB94-E812-4178-AFAE-19E957747C37.png
Edgehd 11, Sky-Watcher Esprit 100 ED APO triplet on a Losmandy G11g.
Toko Big Eye 20x120 Japanese Naval binoculars (1944) on a custom made mount.
AP rig: Celestron OAG w/mono Atik Titan autoguider and Full Spectrum Modified (Hap Griffin) cooled Canon T5i.
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Re: 20x120 Toko Big Eye binoculars

#3

Post by Saganwannabe »


One more...

If anyone knows the English translation of the writing on the brass plate. Please tell me.
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8B26CC2E-98E9-4B14-AF02-5C40D6A5BD09.png
Edgehd 11, Sky-Watcher Esprit 100 ED APO triplet on a Losmandy G11g.
Toko Big Eye 20x120 Japanese Naval binoculars (1944) on a custom made mount.
AP rig: Celestron OAG w/mono Atik Titan autoguider and Full Spectrum Modified (Hap Griffin) cooled Canon T5i.
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Re: 20x120 Toko Big Eye binoculars

#4

Post by Refractordude »


Congratulations on the new antique binoculars. How are they aimed at Orion?

I found these eBay postings .

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Japane ... 3718485365

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TOKO-20x120- ... SwHptcWNtR
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Re: 20x120 Toko Big Eye binoculars

#5

Post by Saganwannabe »


I’ll be honest. I personally haven’t looked through them yet. I’m going on the word of someone I know that has looked through them (terrestrially) and some pics taken through each eyepiece and sent to me. I’m picking them up in person this week.

Also, they were manufactured in 1940 and purchased at an estate sale.
Edgehd 11, Sky-Watcher Esprit 100 ED APO triplet on a Losmandy G11g.
Toko Big Eye 20x120 Japanese Naval binoculars (1944) on a custom made mount.
AP rig: Celestron OAG w/mono Atik Titan autoguider and Full Spectrum Modified (Hap Griffin) cooled Canon T5i.
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Re: 20x120 Toko Big Eye binoculars

#6

Post by Saganwannabe »


A53B3BDA-1990-4816-8449-998512C3FC15.png
Here’s a better picture of the mount and the binoculars with the dewshields retracted.
Edgehd 11, Sky-Watcher Esprit 100 ED APO triplet on a Losmandy G11g.
Toko Big Eye 20x120 Japanese Naval binoculars (1944) on a custom made mount.
AP rig: Celestron OAG w/mono Atik Titan autoguider and Full Spectrum Modified (Hap Griffin) cooled Canon T5i.
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Re: 20x120 Toko Big Eye binoculars

#7

Post by Saganwannabe »


Just found out some more info on my particular Toko Big Eye’s...

*22.5 degree inclined eyepieces
*Erfle eyepieces
*60 degree FOV
*Large, Porro 2 prisms w/exit face angled at 22.5 degrees
*Swiveling Rhomboid Prisms to adjust IPD
*Performance rating= EXCELLENT

This information was acquired from:

http://home.europa.com/~telscope/japanbin.txt
Edgehd 11, Sky-Watcher Esprit 100 ED APO triplet on a Losmandy G11g.
Toko Big Eye 20x120 Japanese Naval binoculars (1944) on a custom made mount.
AP rig: Celestron OAG w/mono Atik Titan autoguider and Full Spectrum Modified (Hap Griffin) cooled Canon T5i.
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Re: 20x120 Toko Big Eye binoculars

#8

Post by DeanD »


They look fabulous, and in amazing condition for their age. Congratulations on the purchase, and even if we do all know how much you probably paid for them thanks to Refractordude's detective work(!) they are a unique item with a great mount and will give you many years of pleasure. I also suspect you won't lose financially if you ever want to sell them.

Looking forward to your "first light" report and review.

All the best,

Dean
Telescopes: 12" f5 dob, Celestron CPC800, 150mmf5 Celestron achro, Tak TSA102, TV76, ETX125...
Binos: Steiner Wildlife XP 10x26, Swarovski 8x30 Habicht, Zeiss SFL 8x40, Vanguard Endeavour 10.5x45, Fuji FMTR-SX 10x50, Tak 22x60, Orion Resolux 15x70
Eyepieces: way too many (is that possible?), but I do like my TV 32mm plossl, 13mm Nagler T6, 27mm Panoptic and 3-6mm Nagler zoom, plus Fujiyama 18mm and 25mm orthos and Tak 7.5mm LE
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Re: 20x120 Toko Big Eye binoculars

#9

Post by Saganwannabe »


Thanks Dean

I have no idea what you’re talking about... what Ebay ad...

What’s Ebay?
Edgehd 11, Sky-Watcher Esprit 100 ED APO triplet on a Losmandy G11g.
Toko Big Eye 20x120 Japanese Naval binoculars (1944) on a custom made mount.
AP rig: Celestron OAG w/mono Atik Titan autoguider and Full Spectrum Modified (Hap Griffin) cooled Canon T5i.
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Re: 20x120 Toko Big Eye binoculars

#10

Post by JayTee »


Greetings,

I moved this topic from the AP equipment forum to this forum because nowhere in any of the posts is AP or astrophotography ever mentioned. It's much easier for folks to find binocular info in the binoculars forum.

Cheers,
JT
∞ Primary Scopes: #1: Celestron CPC1100 #2: 8" f/7.5 Dob #3: CR150HD f/8 6" frac
∞ AP Scopes: #1: TPO 6" f/9 RC #2: ES 102 f/7 APO #3: ES 80mm f/6 APO
∞ G&G Scopes: #1: Meade 102mm f/7.8 #2: Bresser 102mm f/4.5
∞ Guide Scopes: 70 & 80mm fracs -- The El Cheapo Bros.
∞ Mounts: iOptron CEM70AG, SW EQ6, Celestron AVX, SLT & GT (Alt-Az), Meade DS2000
∞ Cameras: #1: ZWO ASI294MC Pro #2: 662MC #3: 120MC, Canon T3i, Orion SSAG, WYZE Cam3
∞ Binos: 10X50,11X70,15X70, 25X100
∞ EPs: ES 2": 21mm 100° & 30mm 82° Pentax XW: 7, 10, 14, & 20mm 70°

Searching the skies since 1966. "I never met a scope I didn't want to keep."

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Re: 20x120 Toko Big Eye binoculars

#11

Post by AbbN »


Nice! You know...in that last pic you posted (9/9)...the handle almost looks like a very small...finder scope.......:D

Abb
TELESCOPES: Celestron Omni XLT 120, Explore Scientific AR102, Orion ST80 Refractors; 8" Skywatcher Dob; Orion Apex 102 Mak; Coronado PST. LENSES: ES 4.7, 6.7, 11, 18 and 30mm 82° EPs; Baader 24mm 68°; Luminos 15mm 82°; Meade 8-24mm Zoom. OTHER: CG4+16" Orion Pier Extension; Celestron Skymaster 20x80 binos etc;
Bortle 8 :(
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Re: 20x120 Toko Big Eye binoculars

#12

Post by Saganwannabe »


Huh..... you’re right. The handle does look like a finder scope
Edgehd 11, Sky-Watcher Esprit 100 ED APO triplet on a Losmandy G11g.
Toko Big Eye 20x120 Japanese Naval binoculars (1944) on a custom made mount.
AP rig: Celestron OAG w/mono Atik Titan autoguider and Full Spectrum Modified (Hap Griffin) cooled Canon T5i.
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Re: 20x120 Toko Big Eye binoculars

#13

Post by DeanD »


Saganwannabe wrote: Tue Mar 17, 2020 11:39 am Thanks Dean

I have no idea what you’re talking about... what Ebay ad...

What’s Ebay?
I didn't mention Ebay. Did you get something on Ebay?... ;)
Telescopes: 12" f5 dob, Celestron CPC800, 150mmf5 Celestron achro, Tak TSA102, TV76, ETX125...
Binos: Steiner Wildlife XP 10x26, Swarovski 8x30 Habicht, Zeiss SFL 8x40, Vanguard Endeavour 10.5x45, Fuji FMTR-SX 10x50, Tak 22x60, Orion Resolux 15x70
Eyepieces: way too many (is that possible?), but I do like my TV 32mm plossl, 13mm Nagler T6, 27mm Panoptic and 3-6mm Nagler zoom, plus Fujiyama 18mm and 25mm orthos and Tak 7.5mm LE
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Re: 20x120 Toko Big Eye binoculars

#14

Post by Saganwannabe »


English translation of the brass plate:

Line #1- Modified 12cm high angle binoculars

Line #2- MARINE weight 23.300kg

Line #3- Number 158

Line #4- SHOWA 19th April

Line #5- Made by TOKO


And.....


English translation of round, brass, desiccant cover:

Open-Close
Desiccant
Cover
Edgehd 11, Sky-Watcher Esprit 100 ED APO triplet on a Losmandy G11g.
Toko Big Eye 20x120 Japanese Naval binoculars (1944) on a custom made mount.
AP rig: Celestron OAG w/mono Atik Titan autoguider and Full Spectrum Modified (Hap Griffin) cooled Canon T5i.
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Re: 20x120 Toko Big Eye binoculars

#15

Post by helicon »


Great binos. Were they mounted on a ship?
-Michael
Refractors: ES AR152 f/6.5 Achromat on Twilight II, Celestron 102mm XLT f/9.8 on Celestron Heavy Duty Alt Az mount, KOWA 90mm spotting scope
Binoculars: Celestron SkyMaster 15x70, Bushnell 10x50
Eyepieces: Various, GSO Superview, 9mm Plossl, Celestron 25mm Plossl
Camera: ZWO ASI 120
Naked Eye: Two Eyeballs
Latitude: 48.7229° N
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Re: 20x120 Toko Big Eye binoculars

#16

Post by Saganwannabe »


I’m not sure Helicon. If they were on a ship, they must not have been used much. These things are in unbelievably good condition for their age (76 years old). They’ve survived a world war, a trip half way around the world to the USA and decades of civilian use.
Edgehd 11, Sky-Watcher Esprit 100 ED APO triplet on a Losmandy G11g.
Toko Big Eye 20x120 Japanese Naval binoculars (1944) on a custom made mount.
AP rig: Celestron OAG w/mono Atik Titan autoguider and Full Spectrum Modified (Hap Griffin) cooled Canon T5i.
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Re: 20x120 Toko Big Eye binoculars

#17

Post by Saganwannabe »


After getting the brass plate translated, I have discovered the true production year is 1944 not 1940.
Edgehd 11, Sky-Watcher Esprit 100 ED APO triplet on a Losmandy G11g.
Toko Big Eye 20x120 Japanese Naval binoculars (1944) on a custom made mount.
AP rig: Celestron OAG w/mono Atik Titan autoguider and Full Spectrum Modified (Hap Griffin) cooled Canon T5i.
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Re: 20x120 Toko Big Eye binoculars

#18

Post by helicon »


I thought ship because when my father took the family on his ship (USS Rathburne) from Oahu to Maui they had similar big binoculars mounted on the bridge and the fore.
-Michael
Refractors: ES AR152 f/6.5 Achromat on Twilight II, Celestron 102mm XLT f/9.8 on Celestron Heavy Duty Alt Az mount, KOWA 90mm spotting scope
Binoculars: Celestron SkyMaster 15x70, Bushnell 10x50
Eyepieces: Various, GSO Superview, 9mm Plossl, Celestron 25mm Plossl
Camera: ZWO ASI 120
Naked Eye: Two Eyeballs
Latitude: 48.7229° N
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Re: 20x120 Toko Big Eye binoculars

#19

Post by Saganwannabe »


The Japanese thought they could rely on their superior optics for warning them of incoming hostile vessels, whereas the US, Great Britain, etc relied on the new radar technology.
The Japanese would place these big binos in a “crow’s nest” 90 ft above the deck to scan for ships, subs, & planes.
Edgehd 11, Sky-Watcher Esprit 100 ED APO triplet on a Losmandy G11g.
Toko Big Eye 20x120 Japanese Naval binoculars (1944) on a custom made mount.
AP rig: Celestron OAG w/mono Atik Titan autoguider and Full Spectrum Modified (Hap Griffin) cooled Canon T5i.
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Re: 20x120 Toko Big Eye binoculars

#20

Post by Saganwannabe »


I finally got them.
I finally got them.

I feel like a kid on Christmas
Edgehd 11, Sky-Watcher Esprit 100 ED APO triplet on a Losmandy G11g.
Toko Big Eye 20x120 Japanese Naval binoculars (1944) on a custom made mount.
AP rig: Celestron OAG w/mono Atik Titan autoguider and Full Spectrum Modified (Hap Griffin) cooled Canon T5i.
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