1930s sports finder RASAL (RASUK with RAMET frame for 10.5 and 13.5 cm lenses)
Toronto. … I pictured my mother saying as I ran out of the kitchen. When I was born, the movie short ‘Our Gang‘ or ‘the little Rascals’ was popular in movie houses.
Leitz began marketing the Leica mid 1924. The tiny camera became very popular quickly and various lenses and accessories were made and marketed.
To simplify ordering, especially for off shore agents, Leitz developed a code word for each product allowing economy and some consistency in the order process via telegraph. For example, the sports viewfinder shown here was a RASAL which combined the viewfinder (RASUK) and a separate ‘screen’ for 10.5 cm and 13.5 cm lenses (RAMET). The viewfinder and mask were first made in black enamel and later chrome (-CHROM added to end of code). Availability started in 1933 and ran into WW2.
The eye piece could be moved up/down for subject distance while the front screen could be rotated 180 degrees for different lenses. I found my copy in like-new condition with the original red box in June, 1980.
