Beobachtungsfernrohr Ernst Leitz Wetzlar 15xL16 60=3,4°, about 1908

Doppelfernrohr or Beobachtungsfernrohr 15x60, produced by Ernst Leitz around 1910, to be used for sighting, signaling and optical/light transmission positions during the First World War.
In fact, this optical apparatus was equipped with particular and innovative "Ocular Tubes" rotating 360° which allowed the binoculars to be used simultaneously by 2 distinct observers: it was probably considered appropriate that the information detected was verified, sometimes, by 2 soldiers.
The Germans and Austrians, in fact, were not new to this type of data acquisition and detection, an example on all Feldtelefon Mod. 09 equipped, in addition to the handset, of a listener for a second operator.
The 15x information, "L16 60=3.4°", indicates the available magnifications, the brightness and the field of view detected in meters and degrees, making it a truly unique Doppelfernrohr.
It was probably produced in a limited number of copies also given the considerable cost of 550 RM at the time.
During the Second World War, this particular optical observation system was put back into production by some companies of the Japanese war optical industry.
The vision is clear and collimated and all the mechanisms work perfectly.