See also The Stand Dating Table | Return to Notes and Queries

Objective Dating Table The following table lists those objectives examined to date. There really is not enough data here to arrive at any sort of conclusion. The key to arriving at a reasonable dating system is more data. It certainly looks as if batches of numbers were released for particular styles of objective, but the batches not in number/chronological order, though the objectives within each batch probably are in chronological order. The column representing the Name Inscription has the following codes used:- A - W. Watson & Son B - W. Watson & Sons C - W. Watson & Sons Ltd D - Overlapping Ws E - WATSON N - No inscription U - Unknown (not examined)

Objective Number | Working distance | Type | Date (if known) | Name | Notes
10240 | 1/6th | Para | - | - | -
10564 | 1/12" N.A. 1.25 | Utility | - | - | Black/Chrome.
11933 | x96 1/12" N.A. 1.25 | Utility | - | - | Black/Chrome. Oil
13615 | 16mm. N.A. .28 | - | - | - | Black and Brass
13679 | 4mm. N.A. .70 | - | - | - | Black and Brass
14695 | 1/12 oil. imm. | Versalic | - | - | -
16153 | 2/3rds | Para | - | - | -
184067 | 1/6 | Argus | - | - | -
18587 | 1/6 in. | Para | 22nd November 1935 | - | Black and Brass
186346 | 2/3" | - | 11.3.37 | - | .
18705 | 2/3 in. | Para | 22nd November 1935 | - | Black and Brass
21695 | 1/6" N.A. 0.70 | Para | - | - | Brass.
26312 | 2/3" | Para | - | - | Brass/Chrome.
26816 | 1/6 | Para | 2nd January 1941 | - | -
27014 | 2/3 | Para | 2nd January 1941 | - | -
45138 | 4mm | Para | 18.3.60 | - | .
48676 | x40 4mm N.A. 0.70 | Para | 26.10.60 | - | .
5036 | 1/6 | Para | - | - | Black and Brass
569813 | x10 N.A. 0.30 | - | - | - | Chrome. Blue ring
9183 | 1/12 | Utility | - | - | -
B1523 | 25mm | Para | 5.1.51 | - | .
B16329 | x6 25mm N.A. 0.21 | - | - | - | Black/Chrome.
B2385 | 6mm | Para | 5.1.51 | - | .
B24344 | 2mm | Para | 19.1.55 | - | .
B24434 | 4mm | Para | 19.1.55 | - | .
B24763 | 16mm | Para | 19.1.55 | - | .
B26422 | x40 | Para | 1956 | - | Black and Chrome - Service II style
B30487 | x10 | Para | 1956 | - | Black and Chrome - Service II style
C5105 | 2mm | Para | - | - | All steel - Service II style [HC]
E1293 | 2mm | Fluo. | 18.3.60 | - | .
E1467 | x10 16mm N.A. 0.30 | Para | - | - | Black/Chrome.
E3944 | 16mm | Fluo. | 18.3.60 | - | .
E3972 | 16mm | Fluo. | 18.3.60 | - | System 70 type.
300 | 8mm N.A. 0.65 | Holos | - | B | Brass. 160mm Tube length
458 | 16mm | Holos | - | B | 250mm Tube Length All Bright Brass
| 4582 | 1/6 | Para | - | D | Black and Nickel[HC]
1046 | 2mm N.A. 1.37 | Apo. | - | C | Brass.
1062 | 1/12" | Versalic | - | C | Brass.
1080 | 1/6 | No type | - | C | Bright Brass and nickel - Tapered Style
1107 | 8mm N.A. 0.65 | Apo. | - | C | Brass. 200mm Tube length
111224 | 4mm | Holos | - | C | All Silver Nickel
11663 | 2in. | Para | - | C | All Black - Tapered pattern
14936 | 1/12" | Versalic | - | C | Black/Chrome. Oil.
1550 | 1/12 | Versalic | - | C | Black/chrome/brass - Tapered Style
15504 | 1/6 | Para | 30th September 1930 | C | -
15718 | 1/12 oil imm. | Versalic | - | C | Black and Nickel with iris
18004 | 1/6 | Para | 10th September 1935 | C | Black and Chrome - Tapered Style
18172 | 1/12 | Oil | 24th May 1946 | C | Black and Chrome - Tapered Style
18197 | 2/3 | Para | 10th September 1935 | C | Black and Chrome - Tapered Style
21685 | 1/12 oil imm. | Versalic | - | C | Black and Chrome - Tapered Style
22173 | 1/12 oil imm. | Versalic Metallurgy | - | C | Black and Chrome - Short - Tapered Style
2355 | 2mm oil Imm. | Holos | - | C | Brass and Nickel
2378 | 1/12th | Holos | - | C | Brass and Nickel
3657 | 4mm | Holos | 11th August 1941 | C | All bright Brass
3658 | 1/6" | - | - | C | Brass. Metalurgical
3684 | 1/6" N.A. 0.74 | Para | - | C | Brass/Chrome. Tapered
4314 | 1/12 | Versalic | - | C | Black and Chrome - Tapered Style
6445 | 25mm | Holos | 11th August 1941 | C | All bright Brass
7212 | 1/6" N.A. 0.74 | Para | - | C | Brass/Chrome. Tapered
7355 | 16mm | Holos | 11th August 1941 | C | All bright Brass
8545 | 16mm | Holos | - | C | All Bright Brass
8649 | 4mm N.A. 0.95 | Holos | - | C | Brass. 160mm Tube length
9276 | 2in. | Holos | - | C | All Bright Brass
10133 | 1/12 | Utility | - | D | Black and Chrome
10552 | 1/12in. | Utility | - | D | Black & Chrome- Tapered pattern
10561 | 1/12" | Utility | - | D | Black/Chrome. Oil. Corr. Collar
10638 | 1/4 | Para | - | D | Black and Nickel[HC]
11690 | 1/12in. | Utility | - | D | Black & Chrome- Tapered pattern
12667 | x40 N.A. 0.85 | Apo | - | D | Turquoise ring.
12790 | x40 N.A. 0.65 | Para | - | D | Phase, green ring.
13192 | 1/6" N.A. 0.70 | Para | - | D | Brass.
13305 | x40 | Para | - | D | MicroSystem 70
13462 | x100 N.A. 1.30 | Para | - | D | Oil, red ring.
14354 | 1/6" N.A. 0.70 | Para | - | D | Brass. Tapered
14768 | x40 na. .63 | Para |  | D | Microsystem 70
15069 | x100 N.A. 1.30 | Para | - | D | Oil, red ring.
15195 | x90 na. 1.3 oil | Fluorite |  | D | Microsystem 70
15743 | x90 N.A. 1.37 | Apo | - | D | Oil, red ring.
165624 | 1/6 | Argus | - | D | Black and nickel - Tapered Pattern
17949 | x50 N.A. 0.95 | Fluo. | - | D | Oil, phase gold ring.
181133 | 1/6 | Argus | - | D | All black - Tapered Pattern
181137 | 1/6 | Argus | - | D | All black - Tapered Pattern
181140 | 1/6 | Argus | - | D | All black - Tapered Pattern
181142 | 1/6 | Argus | - | D | All black - Tapered Pattern
181162 | 2/3 | Argus | - | D | All black - Tapered Pattern
18376 | x90 N.A. 1.30 | Fluo. | - | D | Oil, red ring.
188612 | 1/6 | Argus | - | D | All black - Tapered Pattern
189167 | 1/6 | Argus | - | D | All Black - Tapered pattern
190759 | 2/3" | Argus | - | D | Black/Chrome.
193658 | 2/3 | Argus | - | D | All Black - Tapered pattern
197893 | 1/6 | Para | - | D | Black and Chrome - Tapered pattern
198575 | 1/6" N.A. 0.70 | - | - | D | Black/Chrome.
198875 | 2/3 | Para | - | D | Black and Chrome - Tapered pattern
200835 | 2/3 | Para | - | D | Black and Chrome - Tapered pattern
22043 | 1/6" N.A. 0.70 | Para | - | D | Brass. Tapered
22074 | 2/3" | Para | - | D | Brass.
22809 | x100 N.A. 1.30 | Para | - | D | Oil, red ring.
24920 | 2/3 | Para | - | D | Brass and Chrome - Tapered Style
25367 | 1/6 | Para | - | D | All Bright Brass - Tapered Style
32327 | 2/3 | Para | - | D | Brass and Nickel
32976 | 1/6 | Para | - | D | All Bright Brass
33144 | 2/3 | Para | - | D | Brass and nickel
34632 | 2/3" | Para | - | D | Brass/Chrome.
35281 | 2/3 | Para | - | D | Brass and nickel
36636 | 2/3 | Para | 24th May 1946 | D | -
36751 | 1/6 | Para | 24th May 1946 | D | Black and Chrome - Tapered Style
38381 | 2/3 | Para | - | D | Black and Chrome - Tapered Pattern
38978 | 1/6 | Para | - | D | Black and Chrome - Tapered Pattern
39646 | 1/6 | Para | - | D | Black and Brass - Tapered Pattern
41081 | 1/6 | Para | - | D | Black and Chrome - Tapered Style
41119 | 1/6 | Para | - | D | Black and Chrome - Tapered Style
42019 | 2/3 | Para | - | D | Black and Chrome - Tapered Style
42121 | 1/6 | Para | - | D | Black and Chrome - Tapered Style
46235 | 1/6 | Para | - | D | Black and Chrome - Tapered Pattern
50545 | 1/6 | Para | - | D | Black and Chrome Tapered Style
52506 | 1/6 | Para Metallurgy 22mm tube length | - | D | Black and Chrome - Tapered Style - Short
5588 | 1/6" | Para | - | D | Brass/Chrome.
5594 | 1/6" | Para | - | D | Brass/Chrome.
7248 | 1/6" | Para | - | D | Brass/Chrome. Tapered
9108 | 1/6 | Para | - | D | Brass and Nickel
9635 | 1/6 | Para | - | D | Brass and Chrome
99590 | x42 1/6" N.A. 0.70 | Para | - | D | Black/Chrome.
12495 | x40 NA .65 | Para Phase | - | E | MicroSystem 70
12988 | oil x100 NA 1.30 | Para | - | E | Service III
13290 | oil x90 NA 1.30 | Fluorite Phase | - | E | MicroSystem 70
13764 | oil x90 NA 1.30 | Fluorite Phase | - | E | MicroSystem 70
16456 | oil x100 NA 1.30 | Para | - | E | MicroSystem 70
18333 | oil x90 NA 1.30 | Fluorite | - | E | MicroSystem 70
19634 | x40 NA .65 | Para | - | E | MicroSystem 70
20475 | x40 Phase | Para | - | E | Microsystem 70
2416 | x40 NA .65 | Para | - | E | Service III
3098 | O.I. x100 | Para 1.30 PHASE | - | E | Service III
3661 | x40 N.A. 0.65 | Para | - | E | Phase,green ring, short.
42572 | 40mm | Para | - | E | Black and Chrome Service II style
43293 | 16mm | Para | - | E | Black and Chrome - Service II style
44204 | 4mm | Para | - | E | Black and Chrome - Service II style
44520 | 40mm | Para | - | E | Purple and Chrome - Bactil 60
44986 | 16mm | Para | - | E | Purple and Chrome - Bactil 60
45036 | 4mm | Para | - | E | Purple and Chrome - Bactil 60
46287 | 40mm | Para | - | E | Black and Chrome Service II style
47324 | 2mm x100 | Para | - | E | Chrome Service II style
48812 | x4 40mm N.A. 0.13 | - | 26.10.60 | E | Black/Chrome.
4969 | x40 | Para 0.65 | - | E | Service III
499693 | x10 NA .30 | Para | - | E | Short, all chrome with coloured ring
516318 | x10 NA .30 | Para | - | E | Short, all chrome with coloured ring
51715 | 4mm | Para | - | E | Black and Chrome Service II style
51779 | 4mm | Para | - | E | Black and Chrome Service II style
52148 | 40mm | Para | - | E | Black and Chrome Service II style
525362 | oil x100 1.28 | Para | - | E | All chrome with coloured ring [HC]
5288 | x40 NA .65 | Para | - | E | Service III
5352 | O.I. x100 NA 1.30 | Para | - | E | Service III
54867 | 16mm | Para | - | E | Black and Chrome Service II style
55302 | 16mm | Para | - | E | Black and Chrome Service II style
557452 | x45 NA.0.65 | Para | - | E | All chrome with coloured ring [HC]
557908 | Oil x100 | Para 1.28 | - | E | All chrome with coloured ring
56474 | 40mm | Para | - | E | Black and Chrome Service II style
571878 | oil x100 NA 1.28 | Para | - | E | Short, all chrome with coloured ring
6135 | x100 N.A. 1.30 | Para | - | E | Oil, red ring.
9073 | x60 N.A. 0.85 | Para | - | E | Gold ring.
B10328 | x40 4mm N.A. 0.70 | - 3 | - | E | .
B10861 | 4mm | Para | - | E | Black and Chrome - Service II style
B11320 | 16mm | Para | - | E | Black and Chrome - Service II style
B11806 | 4mm | Para | - | E | Black and Chrome - Service II style
B1188 | x50 4mm N.A. 0.70 | Para | - | E | Black/Chrome.
B12912 | 4mm | Para Metall. | - | E | Black and Chrome - Service II style
B13109 | 4mm | Para | 30th September 1952 | E | Black and Chrome - Service II style
B13190 | x40 4mm N.A. 0.70 | Para | - | E | Black/Chrome.
B13832 | 16mm | Para | - | E | Black and Chrome - Service II style
B14008 | 2mm | Para | 30th September 1952 | E | Black and Chrome - Service II style
B14565 | 16mm | Para | 30th September 1952 | E | Black and Chrome - Service II style
B14621 | x10 16mm N.A. 0.28 | Para | - | E | Black/Chrome.
B1619 | x4 40mm N.A. 0.13 | - | - | E | .
B16755 | 4mm | Para | - | E | Black and Chrome - Service II style
B19768 | 4mm | Para | - | E | Black and Chrome - Service II style
B21559 | 4mm | Para | - | E | Black and Chrome - Service II style
B21587 | 4mm | Para | 2nd September 1954 | E | Black and Chrome - Service II style
B21643 | 16mm | Para | - | E | Black and Chrome - Service II style
B21814 | 2mm | Para | 2nd September 1954 | E | Black and Chrome - Service II style
B21860 | 16mm | Para | 2nd September 1954 | E | Black and Chrome - Service II style
B23132 | 4mm | Para | - | E | Black and Chrome - Service II style
B24260 | 40mm | Para | - | E | Black and Chrome - Service II style
B28728 | x4 40mm N.A. 0.13 | - | - | E | .
B29258 | x4 40mm N.A. 0.13 | - | - | E | .
B29774 | 50mm | Para | - | E | Black and Chrome Service II style
B32211 | 16mm | Para | - | E | Black and Chrome - Service II style
B32816 | 4mm | Para | - | E | Black and Chrome - Service II style
B33309 | 25mm | Para | - | E | Black and Chrome - Service II style
B33445 | 22mm | Para | - | E | Black and Chrome Service II style
B33862 | 2mm | Para | - | E | Chrome Service II style
B38447 | x40 4mm N.A. 0.70 | - | - | E | .
B8330 | 16mm | Para | - | E | Black and Chrome - Service II style
C10292 | 4mm | Para | - | E | Chrome - Service II style
C10586 | 2mm | Para | - | E | Chrome - Service II style
C10588 | 2mm | Para | - | E | Chrome - Service II style
C10593 | 2mm | Para | - | E | Chrome - Service II style
C7854 | 4mm | Para | - | E | Chrome - Service II style
C8318 | 4mm N.A. 0.70 | Para | - | E | .
E3648 | x50 3.6mm N.A. 0.95 | - | - | E | Chrome. Oil. Fluorite
E3762 | x90 2mm N.A. 1.30 | - | - | E | Chrome. Oil. Fluorite
E3819 | 3.6mm | Fluorite | - | E | -
E3886 | 3.6mm | Fluorite x50 Oil. Imm. NA .95 | - | E | -
132360 | x5 Stereo Objectives | - | - | N | Grey, bayonet fitting. These objectives usually bear the same number as the stand they were supplied on, so it may be assumed that a Stereo stand existed with this number and such a stand number has been entered into the preceding table.
134678 | x5 Stereo Objectives | - | - | N | Grey, bayonet fitting. These objectives usually bear the same number as the stand they were supplied on, so it may be assumed that a Stereo stand existed with this number and such a stand number has been entered into the preceding table.
10830 | 1/12 | Para | 7th October 1946 | U | -
15498 | 2/3 | Para | 30th September 1930 | U | -
198886 | 2/3 | Para | 14th December 1948 | U | Black and Chrome - Tapered pattern
20695 | 1/12 | Para | 26th April 1949 | U | -
319763 | x40 | Para | - | U | -
39613 | X42 na .20 | Para | - | U | -
40320 | 2/3 x10 na .28 | Para | - | U | -
42187 | 16mm | Para | 29th May 1959 | U | -
42249 | 1/6 | Para | 12th February 1948 | U | -
45482 | 2mm | Para | - | U | -
46236 | 1/6 | Para | 14th December 1948 | U | Black and Chrome - Tapered Pattern
47522 | 1/6 | Para | 26th April 1949 | U | -
47855 | x10 | Para | - | U | -
48217 | 2/3 | Para | 26th April 1949 | U | -
48444 | 2/3 | Para | 12th February 1948 | U | -
57763 | 1/6 | Para | 7th October 1946 | U | -
88657 | x10 | Para | - | U | -
9317 | 1/12 oi | Utility | - | U | -
B10775 | x40 | Para | - | U | -
B10984 | 16mm | Para | 13th November 1952 | U | -
B14281 | 2mm | Para | - | U | -
B14741 | 40mm | Para | 5th August 1953 | U | -
B17932 | 2mm | Para | 5th August 1953 | U | -
B18033 | 4mm | Para | 5th August 1953 | U | -
B18658 | 16mm | Para | 5th August 1953 | U | -
B29103 | 40mm | Para | 11th May 1956 | U | -
B29464 | 4mm | Para | 11th May 1956 | U | -
B29602 | x100 oi | Para | - | U | -
B29744 | 2mm | Para | 11th May 1956 | U | -
B30308 | 16mm | Para | 11th May 1956 | U | -
B30851 | 2mm | Para | 10th August 1956 | U | -
B31029 | 4mm | Para | 10th August 1956 | U | -
B31412 | 16mm | Para | 10th August 1956 | U | -
B3391 | 16mm | Para | - | U | Associated with stand 103692 (1950)
B37878 | 2mm | Para | 29th May 1959 | U | -
B41314 | 4mm | Para | 29th May 1959 | U | -
B4236 | 4mm | Para | - | U | Associated with stand 103692 (1950)
B5663 | 2mm | Para | 25th July 1951 | U | -
B5665 | 2mm | Para | - | U | -
B5667 | 2mm | Para | - | U | -
B5675 | 2mm | Para | 25th July 1951 | U | -
B5800 | 2mm | Para | - | U | -
B7173 | 2/3 | Para | 7th October 1946 | U | -
B7400 | 4mm | Para | 25th July 1951 | U | -
B7408 | 4mm | Para | 25th July 1951 | U | -
B8613 | 2mm | Para | - | U | -
B9223 | 16mm | Para | 25th July 1951 | U | -
B9226 | 16mm | Para | 25th July 1951 | U | -
B9273 | 40mm | Para | 25th July 1951 | U | -
B9315 | 40mm | Para | 25th July 1951 | U | -
B9495 | 4mm | Para | 13th November 1952 | U | -
B9614 | 40mm | Para | 13th November 1952 | U | -