Entfernungsmesser 34

Post by **Reichpapers** » Mon Apr 11, 2005 4:17 pm

Here is my latest purchse on eBay. At first I questioned what I payed, but a buddy of mine confirmed the price as acceptable considering it's completeness (don't ask how much). This is known as a Entfernungsmesser 34 (EM34). Basically a rangefinder used by heavy MG companies and artillery units. It came complete with all leather straps, the sling, carrying case, tripod and the calibration board and its case.

Karbinator · Post by **Karbinator** » Mon Apr 11, 2005 4:28 pm

That's a cool rig you got there Rchpprs.
So really, how much did you pay for it? LOL.. just kidding..
I watch this thing on the history channel last night about the end of WW2, and seen a german officer holding a scope type finder up to his eyes. Except the tubes were pointing off to the left and right and he was looking through the middle. At first I thought "how bizzare", but then figured that it might give you a great Huge field of vision for objects in the sky from very far away.

skip

BELTLEAD · Post by **BELTLEAD** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 6:51 pm

I was watching that on ebay a couple of days ago and it was over $380(It seems rare)The Swiss copied that design.Check out the MG34 75rd. drum top cover.I sold one of those two years ago and got $1100.

Post by **TOM R** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 7:52 pm

I see this stuff there but if I were to post links for everything it would be a full time job

Post by **Reichpapers** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 8:00 pm

I have my suspicions about that piece. The guy who is late sending another item recommended him as a friend who would settle with me for the cover out of auction. The item looks suspicious as is, markings, scratched waffenamts.

Post by **Reichpapers** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 11:08 pm

BELTLEAD wrote:I was watching that on ebay a couple of days ago and it was over $380(It seems rare)The Swiss copied that design.Check out the MG34 75rd. drum top cover.I sold one of those two years ago and got $1100.

It ended up costing $760 with secure shipping by the time it was all over. I didn't want to spend so much on something like this, but it is very MG related and something that is becoming scarce (and not a bad price). Now I just have to get some optics for my Lafette 42.

Post by **TOM R** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 11:19 pm

rp you got to keep an eye on the posts I do for mg 42 stuff cause I know I posted a link for ww2 optics a week ago

Post by **Reichpapers** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 11:22 pm

Yeah, I saw it, just no money at the time.

Post by **Reichpapers** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 11:22 am

Well, I found out the set is missing one thing...the tripod is supposed to have its own leather sheath...grrrrr..

Post by **Ed S** » Fri Nov 25, 2005 2:03 pm

The rangefinder you have is very nice. It is early made (pre-war) and is somewhat hard to find as it is marked "em34" and not the more common "em34*"

Post by **Reichpapers** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 11:03 am

A bit of good news. I was able to remove the postwar paint which revealed the dunkelgeld paint below. I'm questioning whether this was a field paint or done by a factory as the lettering is colored very nicely still and areas are painted that would not have been accessible by field personel. Through scratches you can still see the factory feldgrau paint and a winter white wash that reminds me of baby blue and white. Nice to see it as it should be.

Abwehr · Post by **Abwehr** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 12:49 pm

This is only my opinion, but I thing the original paint was the Ordnance Tan and the local Waffenmeister was responsible for additional paint jobs. The Ordnanace Tan could be used in many situations, but if it was in the spring or summer, you needed a green color so they would paint them Field green or a camo color. In the Winter, they may paint them white with the black splotches.

The Waffenmeisters had a wide array of tooling and could handle most jobs of repair for all equipment. We see movies where equipment was abandoned on the field. This is wrong, all Army tried their best to recover equipment and repair it for most use. The same holds true with equipment modifications for any situation, including painting equipment.

Post by **Reichpapers** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 2:11 pm

The lowest level of paint on the EM34 is the feldgrau (dark green)..above that is the white wash, and over this the ord tan. Above the ord tan was the norwegian green overpaint. You can see it where the paint is chipped down to the metal. Remember, this equipment came out in 1934...it would have come out of the factory over the years starting with the feldgrau and ending with the dunkelgelb (ord tan).

www.MG42.us

Entfernungsmesser 34

Entfernungsmesser 34

Neat !

MG34 Double Drum Top Cover

Re: MG34 Double Drum Top Cover