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Schütz Ruf & Co. Kassel Heliolith 10x50

Manufacturer/Model: Schütz Ruf & Co., Kassel, Heliolith 10x50

Field of View: estimated 5 deg = 87 yd/1,000 yd; APFOV 50 deg

Weight: 870 gr

Exit Pupil: 5 mm

Serial #/Year of Manufacture: 73208 = Circa 1930

Notes: This binocular has a Porro II type prism system but unlike most other Porro II systems its prisms are not cemented together but secured by a retaining plate with a paper baffling insertion between them. See www.flickr.com/photos/binocwpg/4331663026/in/photostream/ for a picture of the prism assembly from a Schütz Kassel Heliolith 8X32.

 

Per the following link, Schütz manufactured binoculars of same air-spaced Porro II design sold under other labels including C F Foth Berlin and Aitchison. www.flickr.com/photos/9658763@N07/3504383509/ . Note that the central focusing mechanism on the Foth is similar to that on the Schütz.

 

Build quality is good. Collimation is done by moving prisms. There are no objective eccentric rings. Its view is very pleasing.

 

An almost identical 10x50 binocular by the same manufacturer named "Uranus" is pictured on page 110 of Dr. Rohan's book (See "Interesting Books, Articles and Websites about Binoculars" at end of this section). The only outward difference between the two appears to be the slightly shorter length (2 mm) and wider objective decorator caps on the Heliolith (aside from the absence of garish red swastika decorations on its objective barrels).

 

During WW II this company had the 3 letter wartime code "gkp". From the late 1940's - the mid-1960's the company continued to manufacture binoculars under the trademark "Schütz Kassel".

 

Revised March 4, 2018

 

Note: If you have a vintage binocular you either wish to sell or would just like some information about, I can be contacted at flagorio12@gmail.com .

 

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Uploaded on January 26, 2010
Taken on May 10, 2014