Difference between revisions of "Bolsey B"

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* [http://www.collection-appareils.com/appareils/html/bolsey_35b.php The Bolsey B at Sylvain Halgand's website]
 
* [http://www.collection-appareils.com/appareils/html/bolsey_35b.php The Bolsey B at Sylvain Halgand's website]
 
* [http://www.mediajoy.com/en/cla_came/bolsey_modelB/index.html The Bolsey B at the Guide of Classic Cameras]
 
* [http://www.mediajoy.com/en/cla_came/bolsey_modelB/index.html The Bolsey B at the Guide of Classic Cameras]
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* [http://home.kabelfoon.nl/~enduin/cameracatalogus/htm/bolsey-co_bolsey_b2.htm The Bolsey B2 at Cameracatalogus]
 
* [http://www.cameraquest.com/nikonmil.htm US Military 35's at cameraquest], with photos of the military Bolsey's
 
* [http://www.cameraquest.com/nikonmil.htm US Military 35's at cameraquest], with photos of the military Bolsey's
  

Revision as of 22:06, 11 March 2006

The Bolsey B was a 35mm rangefinder camera with a cast aluminium body, introduced by Bolsey in 1947. The lens was a fixed Wollensak Anastigmat 44/3.2 with helical focusing, and the Wollensak leaf shutter had speeds from 1/10 to 1/200 plus T and B. The rangefinder was of the split-image type, coupled to the lens but separate from the viewfinder.

A version named Bolsey B Special, with MODEL B SPECIAL engraved on the front, had a removable lens and shutter assembly, to insert an extension ring for close up work. In Richard Sanford's book, there are pictures of a Bolsey microfilm reader kit including a Model B Special, and of a medical kit with a rim flash and Model B Special camera in white leather covering.

The Bolsey B2 was the successor of the model B, made from 1949 to 1956 with double exposure prevention. It had MODEL B2 engraved on the front The shutter was synchronized, marked Synchro Matic with a red lightning painted on each side. Minimal aperture was 22 instead of 16.

The Bolsey B22 was a variant of the B2, launched in 1953, with a system called Set-o-matic to couple the aperture to the distance for flash photography. It was marked BOLSEY B22 SET-O-MATIC on the front.

The Bolsey Jubilee was a modernized model, launched in 1955. It had a coated 45/2.8 lens made by Steinheil, marked BOLSEY-STEINHEIL ANASTIGMAT, and a shutter made by Gauthier, marked AUTO-SYNCHRO DUST-TIGHT SHUTTER BOLSEY-GAUTHIER, with speeds from 1/10 to 1/200. The release button was moved from the shutter to the top plate.

The Bolsey B3 was a simplified version of the Jubilee, without the Set-o-matic system. Apparently it existed with clear leather covering.

The sales of the whole B series stopped in 1956. In 1957, the watch company Wittnauer sold the Festival, a Bolsey Jubilee under another name. The top plate was changed, and the Bolsey markings on the lens and shutter were removed.

There were military models of the Bolsey B series:

  • a US Air Force version, with normal alu finish, of the B2 and the B Special;
  • a US Army version of the model B, in black with olive leather and strap lugs, military code PH-324A.

P-H Pont suggested that the Bolsey B body shape could have been designed with an SLR in mind, and supports this with pictures of the Bolsey B side by side with an Exa. A 35mm TLR was made with that same body, the Bolsey C series.

Bibliography

  • Bolsey, the man behind the camera, by Richard Sanford, home edition
  • Le Bolsey, Fotofiche n°9, P-H Pont, ed Fotosaga

Links