Kodak Limited No. 32 Mark I Telescopes

Greetings All

I need help from the group to see if there is any pattern to what type of scope dials were installed on Kodak Limited Mark I No. 32 telescopes. Yes, there is always a chance they were exchanged in service but l am hoping I can find a trend or just write it off as random.

Kodak appears to have installed two different types of drums, the standard with engraved numbers and a type with the numbers soldered on so they are proud instead of sunken. Examples attached.

Can those who have Kodak Limited Mark I telescopes who are willing to share their serial number and if they have standard or soldered drums post or pm me, please?

Had several years ago and IIRC all that had the unique knurling pattern shown in your second photo also had the distinctive lead-filled markings. All were in the 6000-7000 SN range I believe.

The first scope looks like it is unfinished.

It is finished and well used on a Matlby T!

What i see is that the number engravings are not filled in and the white high light to the drum numbers on the body is not in place. Therefore to me an unfinished scope put out to work or as you imply a later modification.
I dont think the British military system would have missed putting those high lights in place in the specs in the first place but i could be wrong and it was a required update.

Here you go Lance, standard engraved numbers, serial is 7282.

Attachment 138455Attachment 138456

Hi Lance,
Further to our previous correspondence, I've now started stripping the KL scope I mentioned. I still can't make out the serial completely, but it is either 6989 or 7989. I'm hoping that as I clean it more I'll be able to discern the first digit. It is a KL MK1 & it DOES have the raised 'solder' digit markings on both drums. Hope this helps a little.

I say, based on nothing more than having seen a few* of these Kodaks, that the numbers were etched and soldered and wiped. THEN heated again to allow the solder residue to come through the black finish. A total PITA. Too shallow to highlight with QUIKFIL so a) drums left unfinished during overhaul or b) drum replaced from another found in the drawer from a scrapped Mk1 or a Mk2 upgraded to 2/1 in the past.

I am minded to suggest that the right and drum is standard across the Kodak range whereas the left picture shows a decent replacement. Alas, the 'repairer has just given the scope/drum a quick blow-job with a spray can - without bothering to heat the turret up and infil the numbers.

* a few - hundreds!

Peter, have you noticed on these scopes on which you have worked, that in some of them (specifically KL Mk1's) the solder is physically slightly but definitely proud of the surface? Was this the intention, do you think, or just an unintended consequence of that method of marking the drums? All other manufacturers seem to have simply engraved or pressed in the scales & filled with Kwikfil, job done. I won't have seen as many of this variation as you, but I have come across quite a few over the years, & I wonder why KL bothered......?

The solder is fed onto the whole of the outside of the drum and lays in the shallow etching. Then quickly wiped clear. So far so good. Then the drum is chemically blacked - or whatever - and then brought up to solder melt point again when the solder breaks through the chemical finish and causes the very slightly raised appearance. Difficult to re-mark but in the past I have simply over engraved them to suit.

I think that they did it because it was what they were already doing to mark theodolite traversing heads at the time

Off at a bit of an aside, I have also machined the KL drum markings off and machined a Mk3 range or deflection drum to fit. Aligned it and soft soldered in place.

Nothing that they'd do in service but gets the owner out of a hole......

Thanks muchly. If they were already making other kit using this method I s'pose one can see why it was probably considered easier to carry on than to change.

And a good little wheeze if we have some spare Mk3 scope R&D scales! It all keeps these old scopes soldiering on a bit longer......