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Historical Review of Swift 804 Audubon Binoculars
Just thought I'd mention there's a SWIFT AUDUBON 804 HR/5 FMC 8.5X44 BINOCULAR on eBay (auction 403749467582) that looks to be in excellent condition at a very good price. They are getting hard to find nowadays. Ed -
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Historical Review of Swift 804 Audubon Binoculars
Ah, so what you have may be from the last year of issue of the 804s. It's a great binocular, so enjoy using it. Make sure to treat the eyecups with ArmorAll periodically. :t: Ed -
Historical Review of Swift 804 Audubon Binoculars
Hi, Could you attach photos? Something doesn't jibe. The US version of 804R was introduced in 1985 and retained that designation until about 1989. However, it was labeled "Multi-Coated Optics," not "Fully Multi-Coated." As for the serial number, — it is what it is. Your instrument fills in... -
Historical Review of Swift 804 Audubon Binoculars
Bruce, It appears that you have Swift's "alpha" of the day. $125 in today's money is $1,193. I have a rare original 1958 Audubon made by Tamron that's also quite amazing. Fantastic build quality, but insufficient eye relief for me. Even without multi-coatings it presents an outstanding... -
Historical Review of Swift 804 Audubon Binoculars
Hi Bruce, I'm not sure that I can add anything insightful about Erfle eyepieces, which seem to have been used in the earliest Audubon's and other Swift products as well. What interests me a great deal more is your 8x40 Medalist binocular itself and the 1956 Swift catalog (brochure?). The... -
Historical Review of Swift 804 Audubon Binoculars
Hello Bruce, I'll be back with you in the next day or so. Just saw your post. Ed -
Historical Review of Swift 804 Audubon Binoculars
Hi dozercsx, Nice hearing from you. As I recall, my interest was to compare your Type 4b(2) with my air-spaced 804ED, which now happily resides with someone else. Moreover, due to age related vision changes, Audubons now only occupy prominent places in my office closet. ;) I'm using... -
Historical Review of Swift 804 Audubon Binoculars
So, the first two digits indicate that your SCE binocular was made in 1984. I've reposted your photo below, along with the cover of the 1980 Swift catalog showing a Type 2 with the focus wheel above the top hinge. (Note that it came from Captain's Nautical Supplies, Portland, Oregon — and may... -
Historical Review of Swift 804 Audubon Binoculars
Joker, Would you mind posting the serial number of this one? So far, the mystery to me is how to classify it, since it has properties of both Type 2 and Type 3 series. The markings themselves strongly indicate US distribution by Swift Instruments, but the location of the focus wheel is... -
Historical Review of Swift 804 Audubon Binoculars
Mystery solved. Ed PS. As a wild guess, the company used the marker to identify its own equipment, which may have been used to evaluate power line problems. -
Historical Review of Swift 804 Audubon Binoculars
Wow, that was quick. Ed -
Historical Review of Swift 804 Audubon Binoculars
Audubon collectors might be interested in a 1959-60 "original" Audubon on SALE HERE for the next two days. Ed -
Historical Review of Swift 804 Audubon Binoculars
Hi Ad, Congratulations on actually having worn out a 1981 Audubon. At this point it would be questionable repairing what you have considering what they sell for on eBay. For example, [see HERE]. Even so, keep in mind that modern coating make a big difference and the HR/5 models are more... -
Historical Review of Swift 804 Audubon Binoculars
The best technical explanation that I've come across for "RLE" appeared in Dr. Henry Paul's 1965 book: "BINOCULARS and All-Purpose Telescopes."* There was a reasonable rationale for the metric, but it doesn't appear to have been applied correctly or uniformly, even though Swift used it into... -
Historical Review of Swift 804 Audubon Binoculars
Hi Renze, Yeah, I remember doing a marginally productive analysis of our Swift database. My current thinking is that after the transition from Swift & Anderson to Swift Instruments in 1960, the early Type 1a, and possibly Type 1b, continued to be provided by Tamron-Zuiho until changed to... -
Historical Review of Swift 804 Audubon Binoculars
I suspect that on your specimen the bayonet mounted eyecup is frozen. Since it's mounted above the diopter, when you forced it to turn the diopter cover came out with it. The left and right eyecups are identical and interchangeable. Ed -
Historical Review of Swift 804 Audubon Binoculars
Not sure what's going on with yours, but my white model has bayonet mounted eyecups on both sides. Please elaborate. Ed -
Historical Review of Swift 804 Audubon Binoculars
Hi, SMark, Welcome to Birdforum. I believe there is a little confusion here. By coincidence I own exactly the same model Audubons, although my green one has a slightly earlier s/n, 70851. I'm not at all sure that the part you removed was intended to be an adjustable eyecup. As can be... -
Historical Review of Swift 804 Audubon Binoculars
Hi Pierre, This is a Type 1c, just like the one I own that is shown on pg. 10 of our paper. The s/n = 6513933 is somewhat earlier than mine (s/n 6514032), but otherwise I don't see any difference. Two things for collectors to note: (1) The eyecups screw up on very fine threads for 2.5 mm... -
Historical Review of Swift 804 Audubon Binoculars
I'm sorry to say the article has not been updated, although a number of clarifications have been posted on this thread over the years. We've had it in mind to complete a rewrite, although it's been a challenge. Overall, the manufacturing dates of several variants need to be corrected, but... -
Historical Review of Swift 804 Audubon Binoculars
Hello Arthur, Yes, Fully Coated optics. I've made the correction. Ed -
Historical Review of Swift 804 Audubon Binoculars
Hi Pierre, Sorry to take so long, but ... oh, you don't really want to know. Let's just say that Renze and I last worked on this in late September 2013, and, because of the interval, a few memory traces had to be coaxed out of hiding. Actually, it became evident yours isn't the lowest s/n... -
Historical Review of Swift 804 Audubon Binoculars
Hi Pierre, Sorry not to respond sooner. I'll comment at greater length in the next few days, but for right now I believe the answers to all your questions are "yes," with the possible exception of #4. Thanks for pointing me to this thread, Renze. Ed -
Historical Review of Swift 804 Audubon Binoculars
Renze and I were discussing this issue recently. I think the confusion stems from the fact that a model looking like a Type 4b(1) was issued by Pyser in 1985, at the same time the Type 4a (804R) was issued by Swift Instruments in the US. Except for plate markings, the two had the same watery...