Bolsey Model C (1950-1956)

The Bolsey Model C was sold by the Bolsey Corp. of America from 1950 to 1956. Unusual for a 35mm camera it was a twin lens reflex. The great majority of twin lens reflexes used medium format 120 film, a few used the smaller format 127 film, and very few used 35mm film. The camera has a coated f/3.2 44mm Wollensak Anastigmat lens in a Wollensak Alphax shutter. In addition to the waist level reflex viewfinder, it has an eye level viewfinder and a coupled split-image range finder. The back is removable to load film and has a combined film reminder dial and depth of field calculator. List price in 1950 was $99.50 or about $1,067 in depreciated 2018 dollars. Bolsey cameras are small and cute, and supposedly were popular with lady amateur photographers.

Front

Back

Reflex Viewfinder with Focusing Magnifier Flipped Down

Film Chamber

Jacques Bolsey (1895-1962) also designed the famous Bolex motion picture camera and the first of the Swiss-made Alpa 35mm single lens reflex cameras.