*British, WW2, A.A. Mk III anti-aircraft identification telescope binoculars, Dated 1941, by Cooke Troughton & Sons London*
A WWII British MkIII anti-aircraft identification telescope (binoculars), dated 1941 and numbered 2141 V.D 0428, with a military cypher mark. Made by Cooke Troughton & Sons London, the green-painted instrument is approximately 81cm in length. These binoculars were used to track the height and bearing of enemy aircraft, aiding in the accurate firing of anti-aircraft guns protecting the British coastline during the war. Typically operated by a crew of two from the Observer Corps and Women’s ATS units.
The rangefinder is made of green-painted metal with brass-shrouded telescopes, prismatic sights, objectives with shade slides, dual pinhole sights, brass calibration, elevation and depression adjustment wheels, and an orientation compass. It has carry handles on top and is mounted on a traverse ring marked with 360 degrees, complete with a detachable traverse wheel. It is finished in its original livery and mounted on a green baize stand.
Markings include: “Telescope Identification. A.A. Mark. III, 1941, CT&S No2141, V.D. 0428, War Arrow and G21 on the other side,” and on one sight, “ATT. Bino No. 9 MKII, CT&S 1943.”
Cooke, Troughton & Simms was a British instrument-making firm formed in York in 1922 by the merger of T. Cooke & Sons and Troughton & Simms. In 1924 the company became a wholly owned subsidiary of Vickers. By 1932 trade was so depressed that had reached a point where the York factory was working at only 40% capacity. By 1933 only 30% of the factory was in use. In 1936 a list of military requirements was issued by the minister for co-ordination of defence. In 1938, the telescope manufacturing part of the business was sold to Grub Parsons. At the outbreak of war in 1939 the UK government placed large orders for military sighting telescopes and theodolites. By 1940 output was only limited by the supply of raw materials and orders exceeded £1,000,000.
*Condition*
Fine original condition with wear commensurate with age. Please see photographs as part of the condition report.
RQMDOOXFEO_5644162773
