Antique J. D. MOELLER MINIATURE BINOCULARS THEATIS 3.5X c.1920s w/CASE

Description

FABULOUS ANTIQUE J.D. MOELLER “THEATIS 3-1/2 X ” OPERA / THEATRE GLASSES
Ca. 1920’S, WITH A PRODUCTION NUMBER OF 7898
MARKED WITH MOELLER LOGO
APPROXIMATELY 3.5 INCHES ACROSS WHEN LAID FLAT
THE OBJECTIVE LENS IS 16MM IN DIAMETER
SOME WEAR  TO THE BLACK PAINTED BRASS HOUSING
COMPLETE WITH ORIGINAL BROWN LEATHER CASE.
GLASSES ARE IN VERY GOOD CONDITION WITH CLEAR LENSES AND AN EXCELLENT VIEW
CASE - THE LEATHER IS RUBBED AND WORN IN PLACES, HOLES
THE THEATIS WAS REBUILT BY ZEISS IN A SIMILAR DESIGN, WHEN MÖLLER, WEDEL WAS TAKEN OVER BY ZEISS.
Johann Diedrich Moeller founded his company in 1864 and continued producing high precision optical instruments and components in Wedel near Hamburg, Germany for many years. Although now part of a much larger group, the company still exists today and remains a leader in precision optical engineering. Moeller introduced the Theatis 3.5x in 1920. Following legal action between Moeller and Zeiss, Zeiss continued with this model name up until 1980. There were several versions of the Theatis including black painted crackle finish, gold plated and silver plated. I assume that this is the gold plated model.