Meopta Explained

Meopta - optika, s.r.o.
Former Name:Optikotechna
Foundation:1933
Founder:Alois Beneš
Alois Mazurek
Location:Přerov, Czech Republic
Hauppauge, New York
Area Served:Worldwide
Industry:Optical, opto-mechanical and opto-electronic systems
Products:Consumer, Industrial & Military applications

Meopta - optika, s.r.o. is a Czech-based company that manufactures various products mainly in the field of optics. The company was once well-known for its still and movie cameras, although it no longer manufactures such products.

History

Optikotechna company was founded in 1933 in Přerov, Czechoslovakia. Originally established with the intention of producing a limited range of lenses and condensers, the company rapidly expanded the range of products to include enlargers, composite lenses, binoculars, riflescopes, cameras and slide projectors.

After 1935, Meopta optika became a subsidiary of Zbrojovka Brno and a major supplier of military optics for the Czechoslovak Army. Company retained its focus on military production when it was seized by Germans during the occupation of Czechoslovakia as well as after WW2, when it was nationalized and renamed to Meopta – an acronym for MEchanická OPTická výrobA ("mechanical optical manufacturing"). In 1945 the company merged with Bratislava subsidiary of C. P. Goerz. Apart from military deliveries, the company became one of the world's major manufacturers of cinema projectors between 1947 and 1970. The abrupt halt of military demand after the dissolution of Warsaw pact forced the company to refocus mainly on civilian applications.

The company was privatized in 1992. The majority owners became the members of the Rausnitz family who emigrated from Czechoslovakia to the United States in 1946. During WWII the Rausnitz brothers had been active soldiers of the 1st Czechoslovak Army Corps and were decorated for their service.

Meopta U.S.A., Inc. was founded by the same Czech-American family in New York in 1960 under the name Tyrolit Company, Inc. At that time, its main business was selling grinding wheels in US and Canada. Tyrolit gradually changed its focus to manufacturing various optical products and in 2005 was renamed to Meopta U.S.A., Inc.[1] [2] [3]

In December 2009, the Ministry of Industry and Trade issued a decision to provide a subsidy from the OPEI for the Modernization of Meopta Research and Development project, so that the following year the development building could be reconstructed and research and development capacities were significantly expanded.[4]

In 2013, the company had 2,200 employees in Přerov and 150 in the USA.

Meopta owner Paul Rausnitz received the Medal of Merit for the State in the field of business from the hands of the President of the Republic Miloš Zeman on October 28.[5]

Cameras

TLR 6x6

[6] Folding 6x6

Interchangeable lens (viewfinder/rangefinder) 35mm

Fixed lens 35mm

Stereo 35mm

16mm Subminiature

Large format 13x18

Movie cameras

8 mm Cameras

Supra is an indication for Super 8.

9.5 mm Cameras

16 mm Cameras

Movie projectors

8 mm and 9.5 mm Projectors[7]

16 mm Projectors[8]

35 mm Projectors[9]

Sport optics

Meopta is producing Binoculars, Telescopic sights, Red dot sights and Monoculars on the field of sport optics and caters hunters, birdwatchers and sport shooters.[10] In 2019 the production includes the following series of products:

Binoculars:

Rifle Scopes [12]

Reflex sights

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Série útěků mu zachránila svobodu i život, vrátil se jako přerovský Baťa. May 10, 2015. iDNES.cz.
  2. Web site: Historie | Meopta :: Lepší pohled na svět. www.meopta.com.
  3. News: Generální ředitel Meopty: Biatlonisté nedají na naše dalekohledy dopustit. Iva. Najďonovová. Deník.cz. June 2, 2015. www.denik.cz.
  4. Web site: 2014-04-07 . Meopta :: Modernizace výzkumu a vývoje . 2022-03-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140407072446/http://www.meopta.cz/cz/modernizace-vyzkumu-a-vyvoje-1404042589.html?page=10 . 7 April 2014 . dead.
  5. Web site: Medaile Za zásluhy pro pana Paula Rausnitze Meopta :: Lepší pohled na svět . 2022-03-16 . www.meopta.com.
  6. Web site: Movie cameras | Meopta . Meoptahistory.com . 2013-10-16.
  7. Web site: Projectors 8 and 9.5 mm | Meopta . Meoptahistory.com . 2013-10-16.
  8. Web site: Projectors 16 mm | Meopta . Meoptahistory.com . 2013-10-16.
  9. Web site: Projectors 35 mm | Meopta . Meoptahistory.com . 2013-10-16.
  10. Web site: Meopta Sports Optics - Welcome. www.meoptasportsoptics.com.
  11. Web site: Meopta Optika HD Binoculars. 15 February 2019. Web site: Prikazna. raž. Gradišnik. February 15, 2019.
  12. Web site: Meopta Sports Optics - Knihovna. www.meoptasportsoptics.com.
  13. Web site: Meostar R2 review. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/UC_Of7PTEmw . 2021-12-19 . live. .
  14. Web site: Meopta Optika 6 Riflescopes. 18 February 2019. Web site: Prikazna. raž. Gradišnik. February 15, 2019.
  15. Web site: Meopta Sports Optics - Red dot sights MeoSight III. www.meoptasportsoptics.com.