diff --git a/include/boost/numeric/ublas/banded.hpp b/include/boost/numeric/ublas/banded.hpp
index 7ef528c3..7109984d 100644
--- a/include/boost/numeric/ublas/banded.hpp
+++ b/include/boost/numeric/ublas/banded.hpp
@@ -1005,7 +1005,11 @@ namespace boost { namespace numeric { namespace ublas {
     };
 
     template<class T, class F, class A>
-    typename banded_matrix<T, F, A>::const_value_type banded_matrix<T, F, A>::zero_ (0);
+    typename banded_matrix<T, F, A>::const_value_type banded_matrix<T, F, A>::zero_
+#ifdef BOOST_UBLAS_STATIC_OLD_INIT
+        = BOOST_UBLAS_TYPENAME banded_matrix<T>::const_value_type
+#endif
+        (0);
 
     // Diagonal matrix class
     template<class T, class F, class A>
@@ -2035,7 +2039,11 @@ namespace boost { namespace numeric { namespace ublas {
     template<class M>
     typename banded_adaptor<M>::const_matrix_type banded_adaptor<M>::nil_;
     template<class M>
-    typename banded_adaptor<M>::const_value_type banded_adaptor<M>::zero_ (0);
+    typename banded_adaptor<M>::const_value_type banded_adaptor<M>::zero_
+#ifdef BOOST_UBLAS_STATIC_OLD_INIT
+        = BOOST_UBLAS_TYPENAME banded_adaptor<M>::const_value_type
+#endif
+        (0);
 
     // Diagonal matrix adaptor class
     template<class M>
diff --git a/include/boost/numeric/ublas/config.hpp b/include/boost/numeric/ublas/config.hpp
index 93d4af38..25ac9a64 100644
--- a/include/boost/numeric/ublas/config.hpp
+++ b/include/boost/numeric/ublas/config.hpp
@@ -38,6 +38,8 @@
 #if BOOST_MSVC < 1300
 // Cannot access private members from member class
 #define BOOST_UBLAS_NESTED_CLASS_DR45
+// static member data initialisers require = syntax
+#define BOOST_UBLAS_STATIC_OLD_INIT
 #endif
 
 // Version 6.0 & 7.0
diff --git a/include/boost/numeric/ublas/matrix.hpp b/include/boost/numeric/ublas/matrix.hpp
index 214d4e58..7c23de7f 100644
--- a/include/boost/numeric/ublas/matrix.hpp
+++ b/include/boost/numeric/ublas/matrix.hpp
@@ -2410,14 +2410,22 @@ namespace boost { namespace numeric { namespace ublas {
     private:
         size_type size1_;
         size_type size2_;
-        static value_type zero_;
-        static value_type one_;
+        static const value_type zero_;
+        static const value_type one_;
     };
 
     template<class T>
-    typename identity_matrix<T>::value_type identity_matrix<T>::zero_ (0);
+    const typename identity_matrix<T>::value_type identity_matrix<T>::zero_
+#ifdef BOOST_UBLAS_STATIC_OLD_INIT
+        = BOOST_UBLAS_TYPENAME identity_matrix<T>::value_type
+#endif
+        (0);
     template<class T>
-    typename identity_matrix<T>::value_type identity_matrix<T>::one_ (1);
+    const typename identity_matrix<T>::value_type identity_matrix<T>::one_
+#ifdef BOOST_UBLAS_STATIC_OLD_INIT
+        = BOOST_UBLAS_TYPENAME identity_matrix<T>::value_type
+#endif
+        (1);
 
     // Zero matrix class
     template<class T>
@@ -2865,11 +2873,15 @@ namespace boost { namespace numeric { namespace ublas {
     private:
         size_type size1_;
         size_type size2_;
-        static value_type zero_;
+        static const value_type zero_;
     };
 
     template<class T>
-    typename zero_matrix<T>::value_type zero_matrix<T>::zero_ (0);
+    const typename zero_matrix<T>::value_type zero_matrix<T>::zero_
+#ifdef BOOST_UBLAS_STATIC_OLD_INIT
+        = BOOST_UBLAS_TYPENAME zero_matrix<T>::value_type
+#endif
+        (0);
 
     // Scalar matrix class
     template<class T>
diff --git a/include/boost/numeric/ublas/matrix_sparse.hpp b/include/boost/numeric/ublas/matrix_sparse.hpp
index da362e5d..e59da1ba 100644
--- a/include/boost/numeric/ublas/matrix_sparse.hpp
+++ b/include/boost/numeric/ublas/matrix_sparse.hpp
@@ -1309,11 +1309,15 @@ namespace boost { namespace numeric { namespace ublas {
         size_type size2_;
         size_type non_zeros_;
         array_type data_;
-        static value_type zero_;
+        static const value_type zero_;
     };
 
     template<class T, class F, class A>
-    typename sparse_matrix<T, F, A>::value_type sparse_matrix<T, F, A>::zero_ (0);
+    const typename sparse_matrix<T, F, A>::value_type sparse_matrix<T, F, A>::zero_
+#ifdef BOOST_UBLAS_STATIC_OLD_INIT
+        = BOOST_UBLAS_TYPENAME sparse_matrix<T, F, A>::value_type
+#endif
+        (0);
 
     // Array based sparse matrix class
     template<class T, class F, class A>
@@ -2497,11 +2501,15 @@ namespace boost { namespace numeric { namespace ublas {
         size_type size2_;
         size_type non_zeros_;
         array_type data_;
-        static value_type zero_;
+        static const value_type zero_;
     };
 
     template<class T, class F, class A>
-    typename sparse_vector_of_sparse_vector<T, F, A>::value_type sparse_vector_of_sparse_vector<T, F, A>::zero_ (0);
+    const typename sparse_vector_of_sparse_vector<T, F, A>::value_type sparse_vector_of_sparse_vector<T, F, A>::zero_
+#ifdef BOOST_UBLAS_STATIC_OLD_INIT
+        = BOOST_UBLAS_TYPENAME sparse_vector_of_sparse_vector<T, F, A>::value_type
+#endif
+        (0);
 
     // Array based sparse matrix class
     // Thanks to Kresimir Fresl for extending this to cover different index bases.
@@ -3819,7 +3827,7 @@ namespace boost { namespace numeric { namespace ublas {
         index_array_type index1_data_;
         index_array_type index2_data_;
         value_array_type value_data_;
-        static value_type zero_;
+        static const value_type zero_;
 
         BOOST_UBLAS_INLINE
         static size_type zero_based (size_type k_based_index) {
@@ -3837,7 +3845,11 @@ namespace boost { namespace numeric { namespace ublas {
     };
 
     template<class T, class F, std::size_t IB, class IA, class TA>
-    typename compressed_matrix<T, F, IB, IA, TA>::value_type compressed_matrix<T, F, IB, IA, TA>::zero_ (0);
+    const typename compressed_matrix<T, F, IB, IA, TA>::value_type compressed_matrix<T, F, IB, IA, TA>::zero_
+#ifdef BOOST_UBLAS_STATIC_OLD_INIT
+        = BOOST_UBLAS_TYPENAME compressed_matrix<T, F, IB, IA, TA>::value_type
+#endif
+        (0);
 
     // Array based sparse matrix class
     // Thanks to Kresimir Fresl for extending this to cover different index bases.
@@ -5130,7 +5142,7 @@ namespace boost { namespace numeric { namespace ublas {
         mutable index_array_type index1_data_;
         mutable index_array_type index2_data_;
         mutable value_array_type value_data_;
-        static value_type zero_;
+        static const value_type zero_;
 
         BOOST_UBLAS_INLINE
         static size_type zero_based (size_type k_based_index) {
@@ -5148,7 +5160,11 @@ namespace boost { namespace numeric { namespace ublas {
     };
 
     template<class T, class F, std::size_t IB, class IA, class TA>
-    typename coordinate_matrix<T, F, IB, IA, TA>::value_type coordinate_matrix<T, F, IB, IA, TA>::zero_ (0);
+    const typename coordinate_matrix<T, F, IB, IA, TA>::value_type coordinate_matrix<T, F, IB, IA, TA>::zero_
+#ifdef BOOST_UBLAS_STATIC_OLD_INIT
+        = BOOST_UBLAS_TYPENAME coordinate_matrix<T, F, IB, IA, TA>::value_type
+#endif
+        (0);
 
 }}}
 
diff --git a/include/boost/numeric/ublas/triangular.hpp b/include/boost/numeric/ublas/triangular.hpp
index ea642f57..54205154 100644
--- a/include/boost/numeric/ublas/triangular.hpp
+++ b/include/boost/numeric/ublas/triangular.hpp
@@ -934,9 +934,17 @@ namespace boost { namespace numeric { namespace ublas {
     };
 
     template<class T, class F1, class F2, class A>
-    const typename triangular_matrix<T, F1, F2, A>::value_type triangular_matrix<T, F1, F2, A>::zero_ (0);
+    const typename triangular_matrix<T, F1, F2, A>::value_type triangular_matrix<T, F1, F2, A>::zero_
+#ifdef BOOST_UBLAS_STATIC_OLD_INIT
+        = BOOST_UBLAS_TYPENAME triangular_matrix<T, F1, F2, A>::value_type
+#endif
+        (0);
     template<class T, class F1, class F2, class A>
-    const typename triangular_matrix<T, F1, F2, A>::value_type triangular_matrix<T, F1, F2, A>::one_ (1);
+    const typename triangular_matrix<T, F1, F2, A>::value_type triangular_matrix<T, F1, F2, A>::one_
+#ifdef BOOST_UBLAS_STATIC_OLD_INIT
+        = BOOST_UBLAS_TYPENAME triangular_matrix<T, F1, F2, A>::value_type
+#endif
+        (1);
 
     // Triangular matrix adaptor class
     template<class M, class F>
@@ -1844,9 +1852,17 @@ namespace boost { namespace numeric { namespace ublas {
     template<class M, class F>
     typename triangular_adaptor<M, F>::const_matrix_type triangular_adaptor<M, F>::nil_;
     template<class M, class F>
-    const typename triangular_adaptor<M, F>::value_type triangular_adaptor<M, F>::zero_ (0);
+    const typename triangular_adaptor<M, F>::value_type triangular_adaptor<M, F>::zero_
+#ifdef BOOST_UBLAS_STATIC_OLD_INIT
+        = BOOST_UBLAS_TYPENAME triangular_adaptor<M, F>::value_type
+#endif
+        (0);
     template<class M, class F>
-    const typename triangular_adaptor<M, F>::value_type triangular_adaptor<M, F>::one_ (1);
+    const typename triangular_adaptor<M, F>::value_type triangular_adaptor<M, F>::one_
+#ifdef BOOST_UBLAS_STATIC_OLD_INIT
+        = BOOST_UBLAS_TYPENAME triangular_adaptor<M, F>::value_type
+#endif
+        (1);
 
     template<class E1, class E2>
     struct matrix_vector_solve_traits {
diff --git a/include/boost/numeric/ublas/vector.hpp b/include/boost/numeric/ublas/vector.hpp
index 6f7aa6c6..4a31acd7 100644
--- a/include/boost/numeric/ublas/vector.hpp
+++ b/include/boost/numeric/ublas/vector.hpp
@@ -850,9 +850,17 @@ namespace boost { namespace numeric { namespace ublas {
     };
 
     template<class T>
-    typename unit_vector<T>::const_value_type unit_vector<T>::zero_ (0);
+    typename unit_vector<T>::const_value_type unit_vector<T>::zero_ 
+#ifdef BOOST_UBLAS_STATIC_OLD_INIT
+        = BOOST_UBLAS_TYPENAME unit_vector<T>::const_value_type
+#endif
+        (0);
     template<class T>
-    typename unit_vector<T>::const_value_type unit_vector<T>::one_ (1);
+    typename unit_vector<T>::const_value_type unit_vector<T>::one_
+#ifdef BOOST_UBLAS_STATIC_OLD_INIT
+        = BOOST_UBLAS_TYPENAME unit_vector<T>::const_value_type
+#endif
+        (1);
 
     // Zero vector class
     template<class T>
@@ -1061,7 +1069,11 @@ namespace boost { namespace numeric { namespace ublas {
     };
 
     template<class T>
-    typename zero_vector<T>::const_value_type zero_vector<T>::zero_ (0);
+    typename zero_vector<T>::const_value_type zero_vector<T>::zero_
+#ifdef BOOST_UBLAS_STATIC_OLD_INIT
+        = BOOST_UBLAS_TYPENAME zero_vector<T>::const_value_type
+#endif
+        (0);
 
     // Scalar vector class
     template<class T>
diff --git a/include/boost/numeric/ublas/vector_expression.hpp b/include/boost/numeric/ublas/vector_expression.hpp
index 1d2a993d..809c002a 100644
--- a/include/boost/numeric/ublas/vector_expression.hpp
+++ b/include/boost/numeric/ublas/vector_expression.hpp
@@ -33,16 +33,8 @@ namespace boost { namespace numeric { namespace ublas {
         private nonassignable {
         typedef const T const_value_type;
     public:
-        // Linear algebra identities
-        static const_value_type zero;
-        static const_value_type one;
     };
 
-    template<class V>
-    typename expression_base<V>::const_value_type expression_base<V>::zero (0);
-    template<class V>
-    typename expression_base<V>::const_value_type expression_base<V>::one (1);
-
 
     template<class T>
     struct scalar_expression:
diff --git a/include/boost/numeric/ublas/vector_of_vector.hpp b/include/boost/numeric/ublas/vector_of_vector.hpp
index 94c664f4..bbf4b26d 100644
--- a/include/boost/numeric/ublas/vector_of_vector.hpp
+++ b/include/boost/numeric/ublas/vector_of_vector.hpp
@@ -1217,11 +1217,15 @@ namespace boost { namespace numeric { namespace ublas {
         size_type size2_;
         size_type non_zeros_;
         array_type data_;
-        static value_type zero_;
+        static const value_type zero_;
     };
 
     template<class T, class F, class A>
-    typename generalized_vector_of_vector<T, F, A>::value_type generalized_vector_of_vector<T, F, A>::zero_ (0);
+    const typename generalized_vector_of_vector<T, F, A>::value_type generalized_vector_of_vector<T, F, A>::zero_
+#ifdef BOOST_UBLAS_STATIC_OLD_INIT
+        = BOOST_UBLAS_TYPENAME generalized_vector_of_vector<T, F, A>::value_type
+#endif
+        (0);
 
 }}}
 
diff --git a/include/boost/numeric/ublas/vector_sparse.hpp b/include/boost/numeric/ublas/vector_sparse.hpp
index be91e3df..2b7d76ed 100644
--- a/include/boost/numeric/ublas/vector_sparse.hpp
+++ b/include/boost/numeric/ublas/vector_sparse.hpp
@@ -717,11 +717,15 @@ namespace boost { namespace numeric { namespace ublas {
         size_type size_;
         size_type non_zeros_;
         array_type data_;
-        static value_type zero_;
+        static const value_type zero_;
     };
 
     template<class T, class A>
-    typename sparse_vector<T, A>::value_type sparse_vector<T, A>::zero_ (0);
+    const typename sparse_vector<T, A>::value_type sparse_vector<T, A>::zero_
+#ifdef BOOST_UBLAS_STATIC_OLD_INIT
+        = BOOST_UBLAS_TYPENAME sparse_vector<T, A>::value_type
+#endif
+        (0);
 
     // Array based sparse vector class
     // Thanks to Kresimir Fresl for extending this to cover different index bases.
@@ -1268,7 +1272,7 @@ namespace boost { namespace numeric { namespace ublas {
         size_type filled_;
         index_array_type index_data_;
         value_array_type value_data_;
-        static value_type zero_;
+        static const value_type zero_;
 
         BOOST_UBLAS_INLINE
         static size_type zero_based (size_type k_based_index) {
@@ -1284,7 +1288,11 @@ namespace boost { namespace numeric { namespace ublas {
     };
 
     template<class T, std::size_t IB, class IA, class TA>
-    typename compressed_vector<T, IB, IA, TA>::value_type compressed_vector<T, IB, IA, TA>::zero_ (0);
+    const typename compressed_vector<T, IB, IA, TA>::value_type compressed_vector<T, IB, IA, TA>::zero_
+#ifdef BOOST_UBLAS_STATIC_OLD_INIT
+        = BOOST_UBLAS_TYPENAME compressed_vector<T, IB, IA, TA>::value_type
+#endif
+        (0);
 
     // Array based sparse vector class
     // Thanks to Kresimir Fresl for extending this to cover different index bases.
@@ -1862,7 +1870,7 @@ namespace boost { namespace numeric { namespace ublas {
         mutable bool sorted_;
         mutable index_array_type index_data_;
         mutable value_array_type value_data_;
-        static value_type zero_;
+        static const value_type zero_;
 
         BOOST_UBLAS_INLINE
         static size_type zero_based (size_type k_based_index) {
@@ -1878,7 +1886,11 @@ namespace boost { namespace numeric { namespace ublas {
     };
 
     template<class T, std::size_t IB, class IA, class TA>
-    typename coordinate_vector<T, IB, IA, TA>::value_type coordinate_vector<T, IB, IA, TA>::zero_ (0);
+    const typename coordinate_vector<T, IB, IA, TA>::value_type coordinate_vector<T, IB, IA, TA>::zero_
+#ifdef BOOST_UBLAS_STATIC_OLD_INIT
+        = BOOST_UBLAS_TYPENAME coordinate_vector<T, IB, IA, TA>::value_type
+#endif
+        (0);
 
 }}}