Bolsey B22 (c1953)
A 35mm viewfinder camera introduced as a variant of the Bolsey B2, with the Set-O-Matic system for flash aperture coupling.
Overview
The Bolsey B22 is a 35mm camera made by the Bolsey Corporation and launched in 1953 as an updated Bolsey B2. Jacques Bolsey designed it. He is known for inventing the Bolex motion picture camera. The big difference on the B22 is the "Set-O-Matic" system, which coupled the lens aperture to the flash distance to simplify flash photography. It supported four combinations of film and flashbulb types. The camera has internal flash synchronization and a different back plate than the B2, made specifically for Set-O-Matic use.
Design
The B22 has the Set-O-Matic system, which automatically linked the aperture setting to the focusing distance when using flash. That cut down on manual calculations for correct exposure. It has a built-in coupled rangefinder and a revised camera back with a dedicated plate for Set-O-Matic. The camera is internally flash synchronized, so the timing with flashbulbs is reliable.
Context
Jacques Bolsey designed the B22, and it came out in 1953 as a specialized variant of the Bolsey B2, aimed at making flash photography easier to use. It was an innovative but somewhat complex approach to exposure automation for amateur photographers of the era.
Market
A listed sale for a "Vintage BOLSEY B22 Camera w/ Wollensak 44mm Lens & Leather" was offered at "$49.00 or Best Offer" on eBay. A 1955 newspaper advertisement listed a Bolsey B22 for "352.50", likely a typo for $52.50. One collector noted an example with missing leatherette around the wind knob and some finish loss.
eBay Listings
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