Artillery binoculars for night observations of the company "Votkey" in St. Petersburg, complete with a case

The original binoculars are in excellent condition. The binoculars were intended for use in marine and land fortresses in conjunction with electric lighting installations (searchlights) and are almost an exact copy of the Thalattoscope binoculars of the optical factory E.Kraus." The magnification of the binoculars is about 6 times, the lens diameter is 65 mm. Guarantee of authenticity.

The equipping of fortresses with searchlight installations began in Russia in the 70s of the 19th century. At the same time, binoculars for night observations began to be purchased for fortresses. Initially, binoculars were purchased from the French company Bardou, then (in 1888) it was decided to purchase binoculars from the St. Petersburg company Oscar Richter. In 1896, 300 binoculars were already needed for use with electric lighting installations, and the State Agrarian University turned its attention to the binoculars of the French company E.Kraus" under the name "Thalattoscope" with very good characteristics for night observations. The binoculars were tested and the company "E.Kraus has become the sole supplier of night binoculars for RIA. In 1898, the factory "K." decided to participate in the bidding for the supply of night binoculars for fortresses.Okay."  From a letter from the company "K.Votkei" to the Main Artillery Directorate dated March 24, 1898:" Having learned about the assumption of the procurement of binoculars by the Main Artillery Directorate according to the model adopted for electric lighting devices, orders for which have so far been fulfilled by a foreign company, I have the honor to humbly ask for admission to the price competition on the grounds that more than once the devices manufactured at my, hitherto the only binocular factory in Russia, have been delivered to the treasury significant benefits at a reduced price against the stated price of foreign firms, which I assume is possible at the present time."The petition was reviewed and the Artillery Committee decided: " ...1) Invite the Krauss company, which has supplied these binoculars so far, and the Votkey company, which has established itself as a manufacturer of binoculars for field artillery, to bid for the supply of these binoculars. 2) Binoculars should be ordered of the same sample as those supplied so far for electric lighting devices and manufactured last year by Krauss for fortresses."  On October 9, 1898, "K.Votkey has received the first contract for the supply of 120 binoculars to the St. Petersburg Gun Factory within a 4-month period. However, the firm could not meet the deadlines, and only in November 1899 they were handed over with further distribution to the fortresses. Another order for the manufacture of 100 such binoculars was given to the company already in 1903. About the subsequent orders of night binoculars to the factory "K.There is no information available.