Original Item. Only One Available. This telemetric device, the Entfernungsmesser Rangefinder EM 0,9 MR (not to be confused with the most common Scherenfernrohr) was designed to provide the Panzer Commander with far-reaching information on the exact range of long range distances of a target and to give the operator a 3D position relative to what was surrounding him. In fact, this stereoscopic instrument was realized by providing a three-dimensional vision optics. With the help of this innovative technology, it was possible for the operator (commander) to be able to estimate, judge and calculate distances with reliability, achieving maximum shooting precision, even on targets at very high distances. The reticle, present in the right ocular, provides many details for the stereoscopic evaluation of the target to be hit.

These optics are a "scissor" design, so they would fit easily inside the commander hatch of the tank, and then could be unfolded to their full width once above the cupola. These look to have seen long service, and we can see that they were originally painted with dunkelgelb tan, as used in the North African and Italian Campaigns.

Unlike the last one we had, this one has the original topics covers which are both in good working order and are still unscrewable. One of the two appear to have repairs, but we are unsure of when this happened. We have not fully tested it to see if it’s functional, but the optics appear clear.

This is a really phenomenal example of a very scarce German rangefinder, one meant for use by a Panzer commander. The entire set which includes the small tripod measures roughly 39 x 15 x 27”. The primary center data plate reads:

blc
+
Em 0,9mR
278228

The maker code blc is for Carl Zeiss, Jena, Militärabteilung, a specialist lens maker, and one of the finest makers of optics at the time. They designed many of the optics used by Germany during WWII, and continue to produce world class lenses and other optics to this day. The blue "x" indicates the type of lubricant that should be used with the optics.

Stamped on one of the arms is:

E27c-23401-296
3310 hsj E.N. 5352

And finally, scratched onto the surface of one arm is the crude text:

LAURIS
71 MICH L/C NO.
L.600-887-135-537

We are unsure of the meaning of this inscription, but it could be a museum catalog number or a soldier bring-back number, as the type of engraving is similar to that of import marks. 

Overall condition is very good, and the optics are still clear, though we do not know if the adjustments and range finding portions of the optics are still functional and/or properly calibrated. The tan paint is relatively well retained, with some wear and loss from age and storage. It looks to be complete, however many of the screw holes on the cover assemblies at the ends of the arms are empty, so they were probably lost during a past servicing. The rubber eyepieces are still supple, and show only minor deterioration from use and age with some tears in the material.

A wonderful example and comes more than ready for further research and display!

A stereoscopic rangefinder or stereoscopic telemeter is an optical device that measures distance from the observer to a target, using the observer's capability of binocular vision. It looks similar to a coincidence rangefinder, which uses different principles and has only one eyepiece. German instruments tended to use the stereoscopic principle while British ones used coincidence.

A stereoscopic rangefinder uses two eyepieces and relies on the operator's visual cortex to merge the two images into a single picture. A reference mark is separately inserted into each eyepiece. The operator first adjusts the direction of the range finder so that the fixed mark is centered on the target, and then the prisms are rotated until the mark appears to overlap in the operator's combined view. The range to the target is proportional to the degree of rotation of the prisms.