1991- Origin of “Oberwerk”- In the late 1980’s,
1999- BigBinoculars.com Opens- In July of 1999, Kevin was visiting Dana Point, CA for a family reunion.
2000- Small binoculars added- Oberwerk gradually added more binoculars to the product line beginning in early 2000. By 2003, Oberwerk offered about 25 models.
2001- Oberwerk’s first 45-degree model- A 45-degree fixed-power 25×100, based on the original 25/40×100, was introduced.
2002- Kevin cuts his hours- Then employed as Senior Network Administrator at EDS, Dayton, Kevin cuts his workday to 4 hours (6am-10am), to devote the remaining workday to keeping up with Oberwerk orders.
2002- The First Production Binocular Telescope- The Oberwerk BT-100, a 1.25″ focuser version of the original 25/40×100, was the first production binocular on the market that was compatible with most telescope eyepieces.
2003- Kevin resigns from EDS- Oberwerk becomes a full-time business.
2003- Oberwerk partners with Miyauchi- Oberwerk quickly becomes the USA’s largest Miyauchi dealer. This lasted until Miyauchi ceased production in 2010.
2004- BT-100-45 Introduced- The 45-degree 25×100 binocular was fitted with 1.25″ telescope focusers and modified for much greater back-focus- and the BT-100-45 was born. Our first fork mount, that allowed viewing to zenith (directly overhead), was included.
2006- Oberwerk Moves to the Russ Research Center- Oberwerk outgrew its original commercial space on Harbert Dr. in Beavercreek, OH, and moved to Bldg. 10 of the Russ Research Center.
2007- Oberwerk / Yunnan Optics Joint Venture- Oberwerk forms a joint venture with their supplier
2009- Oberwerk Announces Lifetime Exchange Program– Customers may now exchange any Oberwerk binocular, regardless of age or condition, for a new binocular of the same model, at 25% off.
2012- Oberwerk Moves to a Former City of Dayton Fire Station-
2012- Oberwerk introduces the BT-70-45- In late 2012, Oberwerk introduced a scaled-down version of their flagship BT-100-45 Binocular Telescope. The BT-70-45 Binocular Telescope was just 13″ long and weighs only 8.5 lbs. Just like its larger sibling, it is equipped with standard 1.25″ telescope focusers.
2013- Oberwerk Installs a Collimator- Kevin Busarow spent a week at Suddarth Optical Repair
2013- Oberwerk BT-70-45 named Star Product by Astronomy Magazine-
2013- Oberwerk Purchases Garrett Optical- Oberwerk acquires the assets of Garrett Optical of Tulsa, OK, and Garrett becomes a division of Oberwerk. Oberwerk also establishes a partnership with Suddarth Optical Repair of Henryetta, OK for out-of-warranty repair work.
2013- Yunnan Oberwerk Optics Joint Venture Ends- Two Yunnan Oberwerk Optics directors, that we had worked with since 1999, break away and establish their own optics assembly plant. The new assembly plant begins manufacturing most Oberwerk models, all exclusively for Oberwerk. For the first time, Oberwerk is intimately-involved with the entire process- from design to production to quality assurance.
2014- Oberwerk 8×40 Mariner named Editor’s Choice by SPACE.COM- Our 8×40 Mariner was named the 2014 Editors’ Choice at SPACE.COM. Our 15×70 Ultra was named a SPACE.COM runner-up (didn’t win only because of its higher cost and weight).
2015- Oberwerk introduces the Sport HD Series- Oberwerk is finally a contender in the Sport Optics market with the introduction of the Sport HD Series. Ideal for bird-watching, these compact and lightweight phase-coated roof-prism binoculars offer excellent image quality, at a price well under competitors.
2015- Oberwerk’s Headquarters Designated a Historic Landmark- Oberwerk’s home in the former City of Dayton Fire Station #15 (circa 1905) was awarded a “Historic Landmark” plaque from the City of Dayton.
2015- Oberwerk introduces the Sport ED Series- Oberwerk introduces our first apochromatic binoculars, the Sport ED Series (8×42 and 10×42). The use of ED (extra-low dispersion) glass eliminates chromatic aberration from the view. Ideal for advanced-level bird-watching and nature observation, when flawless color rendition is required.
2017- Oberwerk forms Oberwerk-USA- Oberwerk stops importing wood tripods and forms Oberwerk-USA, to build custom TR3 wood tripods in Dayton, OH.* Oberwerk-USA tripods feature “Slip-Stop” (U.S. Pat. No. 10,281,081) crash protection, and are built from select American maple and walnut hardwood.
*some parts imported
2018- Oberwerk Surpasses 5000 Sales of 25/40×100 Long-Range Observation Binoculars and Binocular Telescopes- For two decades, Oberwerk has been the world’s leading supplier of high-power binoculars (those capable of 40x or higher magnification), outselling all other brands (combined!) in this category.
2018- Oberwerk Purchases a Navy Mark V Collimator- While Oberwerk had a home-brew binocular collimator since 2013, when an optics collector in San Diego decided to sell his ultra-rare Navy Mark V collimator, Oberwerk jumped at the opportunity to obtain the real deal. These tools help Oberwerk provide the most perfectly-collimated binoculars on the market.
2019- BT-100-45 Retired- After a 17-year run, Oberwerk’s former flagship binocular, the BT-100-45, is discontinued. The BT-70-45 is also discontinued, both models having been made obsolete by the new XL Series.
2019- PM2 Parallelogram Mount Introduced- The PM2, built in Dayton, and crafted in maple, aluminum and stainless steel, is the world’s finest parallelogram mount. Coupled with the TR3 tripod, its great looks and its smooth operation is unmatched by anything before it.
2020- BT-127XL-SD Introduced- The BT-127XL-SD, with triplet objectives using both FCD100 and FK-61, was designed and built without regard to cost to be the highest-quality binocular telescope on the market.
2022- SE (Special Edition) Series Introduced- Due to the popularity of compact roof-prism binoculars, some manufactures are discontinuing Porro-style binoculars. For the fans of Porro-style binoculars, we introduced the 8×32, 10×42, and 12×50 SE. Fully waterproof and nitrogen filled, with a wide FOV, and ED objectives for zero chromatic aberration, they’re the highest-quality hand-holdable binoculars we’ve ever offered.
2023- BT-120XL-SD Introduced- The BT-120XL-SD, with FCD100 objectives, offers optical performance very close to our flagship BT-127XL-SD, at significantly-less cost, and 5 lbs. less weight.