Carl Zeiss (1816-1888) was a German inventor and optical engineer, best known for founding the Carl Zeiss optical company, a leading manufacturer of optical systems and instruments. During World War II, these binoculars, fitted with Zeiss lenses, were especially popular among the German Kriegsmarine (Navy) and were ideal for navigation, target spotting, reconnaissance and helping crew members identify other ships from a distance. The "6x30" designation indicates a magnification of 6 times and an objective lens diameter of 30mm, providing a good balance between magnification and field of view. While the lenses were made by Zeiss, the binoculars were manufactured by Silvamar.

These binoculars were recovered by Chief Warrant Officer Howard F. Tyson in Bermuda, the final stopping place of the U-505 until the end of the war with Germany. They came with a black leather case, and both the binoculars and the case were stamped with “U-505.”