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Stasi Zeiss
Foldable micro monocular
TURMON is a portable foldable 8 × 21 monocular telescope, also known as a
spyglass, introduced in 1921 by Carl Zeiss
and produced under various names for nearly 100 years.
It uses the Porro Prism principle and was popular among spies as it could be
concealed and operated in one hand
without attracting attention.
The device shown here was made around 1950 in the DDR.
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The device can be used in folded or unfolded state. When unfolded,
it measures just 70 × 45 × 25 mm, which is extremely small compared to similar
devices from other manufacturers.
In this state it projects the image upside down.
When unused it can be stowed
in the leather pouch.
When folded however, the image is projected straight up and the device is
small enough to be concealed in one's hand.
For this reason the device was popular amoung theatre visitors, but also
amoung spies, as it allowed them to watch an object under surveillance
unobtrusively.
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Despite its small size, the device enlarges the image 8 times whilst
maintaining a crisp and clear detailed image.
Due to the use of a porro prism [8]
(as opposed to a roof prism) the optics do not require phase-corrective
coatings [1]. The device contains two prisms, an ocular
comprising four lenses, and a 21 mm objective lens.
Over the years, Turmon was improved several times.
It was in production from
1921 to 2020. The one shown here was manufactured between 1949 and 1989.
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The Turmon 8x21 was introduced by Carl Zeiss in 1921.
It was produced at the Zeiss factory in Jena in eastern Germany.
At that time it weighed 100 grams and had a Field-Of-View (FOV) of
110m/1000m. This means that at a viewing distance of 1 km, the image
is 110 metres wide.
After World War II (WWII), in 1949, Germany
was split into West-Germany (BRD) and East-Germany (DDR), and the city
of Jena became part of East Germany.
Zeiss Jena was subsequently nationalised and came under DDR control.
It was renamed Kombinat VEB Carl Zeiss Jena (CZJ).
Although most of the Zeiss facilities were relocated to
Kyiv (Ukraine) and became Arsenal (Kiev),
the plant that produced Turmon remained in Jena.
In 1970, the plant was relocated to Eisfeld.
Devices produced in this era (1949-1989) can be recognised
by the inscription DDR.
In Eastern-Bloc countries
they were sold under the Carl Zeis Jena brand,
whilst Aus Jena was used for export.
Following the reunification of Germany in 1990, VEB Carl Zeiss Jena became
Jenoptik Carl Zeiss Jena GmbH. Two years later, in 1992, the plant in
Eisfeld was taken over by Docter-Optic and became Docter-Optic-Eisfeld.
The Turmon was accordingly rebranded and was given a 30-year warranty [1].
Unfortunately, Docter went bankrupt on 15 November 1995.
Eventually, the Eisfeld plant was taken over in 1997 by Analytic Jena GmbH
and continued trading as Docter-Optics. 1
in 2016, Docter-Optics was taken over by Noblex GmbH, who initially
continued the entire Zeiss Jena product line. The products were gradually
rebranded Noblex. From 2018 onwards however, most of the older product
lines were discontinued. Turmon 8x21 was discontinued in 2020.
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Note the addition of the 's' to the trade name.
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Device Portable foldable monocular Purpose Image enlarger for (covert) viewing Model Turmon 8x21 Manufacturer Carl Zeiss Jena Year 1960 ~ Country DDR Production 1921-2020 Principle Porro prism Prism coating n/a 1 Enlargement 8 × Diameter 21 mm (objective) FOV 121 m at 1000 m Focus 1.6 m - ∞ Exit pupil 2.6 mm Dimensions Unfolded: 70 × 45 × 25 mm
Folded: 45 × 45 × 45 mm Weight 84 g
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Porro prisms do not need phase correcting coatings.
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1921 Carl Zeiss 1946 Carl Zeiss Jena (VEB Zeiss Jena), 1970 Aus Jena 1 1989 Zeiss Jena GmbH 1990 Jenoptik Carl Zeiss Jena GmbH 1992 Docter-Optic-Eisfeld GmbH, Jena 2 1997 Analytic Jena GmbH, trading as Docter-Optics 2016 Noblex GmbH [3] 3
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The name Aus Jena was mainly used on products exported from the DDR
from 1970 onwards.
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Docter Optic was declared bankrupt on 15 November 1995.
Parts of it were acquired in 1997 by Analytic Jena GmbH, whilst products
were sold under the Docter-Optics brand (note the 's' at the end).
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In 2016, Docter-Optics was acquired by Noblex GmbH, and gradually
rebranded the products 'Noblex'. Most of the older product lines
were discontinued from 2018 onwards. Turmon 8x21 was discontinued
in 2020.
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- The Docter Monocular - Have You Ever Seen a Folding Monocular?
Optics Reviewer, August 2012.
- Dr. Gijs van Ginkel, A Century of Foldable Micro Monoculars
House of Outdoor & Optics, July 2023.
- Wikipedia, NOBLEX E-Optics GmbH
Visited 17 April 2025.
- Albrecht Köhler, Fernoptik, Turmon 8x21
21 December 2018. Retrieved via WayBack machine.
- Detlev Vreisleben, Personal correspondence
19 April 2025.
- Beschreibung des Gerätes 14607-001 (0.8x converter) 1
Description of device 14607-001 for device 14607 (German).
MfS, 7 July 1981. BStU 000352-000357.
- Bundesbeauftragte für die Stasi-Unterlagen (BStU) 2
Federal Commissioner for the Stasi-Records.
- Wikipedia, Porro prism
Visited 20 April 2025.
- Monoculars, Carl Zeiss Turmon
Website. Visited 20 April 2025.
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Document from BStU [7] kindly provided by Detlev Vreisleben [5].
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Full name: Bundesbeauftragte für die Unterlagen des Staatssicherheitsdienstes
der ehemaligen Deutschen Demokratischen Republik
(DDR) —
Federal Commissioner for the Records of the
State Security Service
of the former German Democratic Republic (GDR) —
officially abbreviated BStU.
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© Crypto Museum. Created: Thursday 17 April 2025. Last changed: Sunday, 20 April 2025 - 08:46 CET.
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