10/06/2024
I found another mystery!! I couldn't help myself. I bought these antique/vintage binoculars to use as a prop in a photoshoot, but if you know me, then you know I need to find out as much of the history of the items as I possibly can. To begin with, I really couldn't find much information, not even enough to work out if they were opera or military. One site said German, another said French, and then I looked closer at the box and saw the 'made in England' stamp, so I decided it was a futile rabbit hole to jump down, but whilst packing them way, I noticed numbers written on the inside of the strap, I thought, at first glance it was 34-9-1906 so it couldn't possibly be a birthday, so I thought maybe it was a military service number but an Internet search bought back absolutely nothing. Having another look in a different light, I realised that the three was more likely a two, which meant that it could be both a birth date or a service number. Still not helpful, but this time, when I searched for the service number, it came back with the surname Upfield, who, according to the search results, enlisted after 1950, which still didn't help with any information on the binoculars as military equipment like that, at that time would most likely have circulated and recirculated until it fell to pieces. However, I was still excited by the name anyway, it adds a personal level to objects that seems to make them feel so much more special somehow, though I really can't explain why. I will continue to try and research the old owner to see if I can find any of his service history. I can't imagine I will find much, but I do enjoy the hunt for details and information!
