Stephen
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Post by Stephen on May 31, 2015 10:34:20 GMT -5
It looks as though the Velostigmat might be a four element Tessar, as previously Wollensak had used the Velostigmat name only on this type of lens.
Re-counting the reflections with a single light source shows more element reflections fot the Velostigmat that the Anastigmat version.
So at least some of the early B models may have had a slightly better lens than later models, I expect Bolsey reduced the specification of the lens to lower production costs. It may have been a bit of a marketing ploy to introduce the Bolsey with better lenses, then change to a more mundane lens later.
It will be interesting to test against each other, the wear and tear are about the same on eack Bolsey model.
Stephen
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Post by paulhofseth on Jun 1, 2015 14:03:44 GMT -5
Not sure how to identify early or late production.
The only numbers on my B&B2 are on the bottom and seem suspiciously round, so I thought they might be part numbers. (11800 & T1700). On the other hand my "C" has a less round number. All Anastigmats, but the first closes to f.16, the others to 22.
p.
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Stephen
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Post by Stephen on Jun 1, 2015 15:38:19 GMT -5
The Bolsey B has the Velostigmat 4 element lens and a serial No of 22710 on the bottom of the removable back. The B2 is No 315843, perhaps suggesting the last two are the year. Or the last No is the year O (40) on the B, and 3 (43) on the B2.
The Wollensak Velostigmat, a Tessar 4 element lens, stops to F16, the Wollensak Anastigmat, a Cooke triplet, stops to F22.
Both have cleaned up well, no scratches, just slight wear to the coating.
The better news on the Model B is on the "jammed" shutter, it has now been fully cleaned and burst back into accurate life at all speeds. The Wollensak shutter is a relatively simple design, an everset type, with a long stroke release.
Both the shutters are very quiet, about as quiet as any camera goes with a leaf shutter. The shutters are the same on each model, bar the flash sync. The focusing scale is moved 90 degrees on the B2 so it can be read from the top, but the mechanism for the focus and rangefinder remains the same.
The split image rangefinder works very well indeed, no ghostly centre patches, the whole frame is split at full brightness. The main view is a bit small, but bright.
Now both are up and running I will film test them on a day out soon. The cosmetic polishing will be left to do later, the aluminium is coated with a Cellulose Varnish, and will have to removed carefully with thinners before an attempt to polish the edges is done.
Stephen.
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Post by Rachel on Jun 2, 2015 4:12:55 GMT -5
Stephen, just to say that if the 'plaincolors' theme is used for the forum, which is what I use, your yellow text is just about unreadable against the white background.
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Post by paulhofseth on Jun 2, 2015 4:47:00 GMT -5
Your higher serial numbers would indicate that the 4 element lens came in at a later date. The instruction book for my B2 does not reveal anything about different lenses, but does list a number of accessories.
The B2 also differs from the B in having what is described as "Exclusive No-Double-Exposure Device" - which stops the shutter cock-release button from fully returning.
p.
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Stephen
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Post by Stephen on Jun 2, 2015 13:50:29 GMT -5
Stephen, just to say that if the 'plaincolors' theme is used for the forum, which is what I use, your yellow text is just about unreadable against the white background. I cannot see any other option than the two tone blue theme, there used to be an option to use a plain style, but it says in the help page this is resticted to administrators, so I cannot check what it would look like in another theme. If the change is available to the them, to members, where is the access to it?...I cannot find it anywhere Stephen.
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Stephen
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Post by Stephen on Jun 2, 2015 14:59:10 GMT -5
I have looked in the help section of the Pro board and read all the relevent parts, and it offers no advice on change away from the blue back ground, which the yellow makes far more readable....unless there is a method of changing to another theme that I am missing.
I know a few years ago, prior to the up-grading the software, an altenative was offered, I think on the profile page, but the option vanished after the up-grade.
All I am saying is it was difficult to check if it shows in other formats as I thought they has been dropped. I will use the de-fault if it shows better in other formats, but as I said, where are they?
Stephen.
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Post by philbirch on Jun 2, 2015 16:46:09 GMT -5
I thought the post was eampty. I have to highlight the text to see it. Sorry this has diverted away from your interesting Bolsey topic. I was unaware that there were other settings. However I went to Profile > Edit Avatar > Settings > Forum theme:plaincolors
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Stephen
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Post by Stephen on Jun 2, 2015 17:14:30 GMT -5
Right, found the right setting, a bit deeply buried and not according to the list the "default" viewing option. Test Test Test Test Test Test Test Test
I will stick to the black in the Plain Version for clarity. Since install years ago now it has always been on the blue backgound, which I assumed was the normal view.
On the Blue theme the pots alternate black backgound and then deep blue and all colours work.
I could of course threaten to use Comic Sans!! Stephen
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mickeyobe
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Post by mickeyobe on Jun 2, 2015 18:55:48 GMT -5
I thought the post was eampty. I have to highlight the text to see it. Sorry this has diverted away from your interesting Bolsey topic. I was unaware that there were other settings. However I went to Profile > Edit Avatar > Settings > Forum theme:plaincolors Phil,Thanks for this.Now I am back to the black and blue which my eyes find easier to read than grey.MickeyHey. This is fun.
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Post by Rachel on Jun 3, 2015 3:39:26 GMT -5
Thanks Stephen. Sorry for the diversion.
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Stephen
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Post by Stephen on Jun 3, 2015 9:46:56 GMT -5
I wonder if anybody in CC forum knows the size of the original filters for the Bolsey?
Sellers on ebay offer "Series V" filters with a push on adaptor for 24mm, and the separate adaptor fom Series V to 24mm.
One of the Bolsey cameras, the B2, came with two Series V filters, but no adaptor, but has a fitted case on the stap, that appears original, to take the lager series V, rather than 24mm push on.
So did the Bolsey always use Series V ?
Stephen.
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Stephen
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Post by Stephen on Jun 5, 2015 16:14:33 GMT -5
The first of the Bolsey cameras, the model B has still got intermittant shutter problems, so a fuller service will be needed. But the B2 has now has a full service, and some Nano oil in very small quantities, and is behaving as new. So now I have experience with two, the first can be disassembled further to investigate what is going on. The shutter is self energising, like the old Kodak types, which Wollensak made for Kodak anyway. Wollensak have added a slow speed gear, but only to get it to a 10th of a second.
I notice the later Bolsey Jubilee has a Steinheil Cassar lens in a Gauthier "Dust Proof" German made shutter, so maybe the earlier models are very prone to dust and dirt getting inside the Wollensak shutter.
Stephen.
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Stephen
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Post by Stephen on Jun 5, 2015 17:01:30 GMT -5
From first colour test film on the Bolsey B2, a shot of Rochester Cathederal from Rochester Castle viewing platform. Taken on Fuji/Agfa colour negative, scanned from print, taken at 1/200th sec at F16 (200asa), about the highest film speed it can handle without a neutral density filter. The Wollensak lens works fine, as good as any comparable compact camera Stephen.
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Post by markoverton on Jun 19, 2015 3:51:43 GMT -5
The Velostigmat in Clarus cameras were mediocre triplets.
I've shot with a couple of Bolseys (a B and the TLR), with the usual Anastigmat lens. That lens has severe chromatic aberration (CA) near the corners. Stopped down to f/8 or f/11, results will be acceptable, but the CA won't go away. Despite the mediocre lens, these little cameras are fun to shoot. Plus, they're so small that with care, you can get 40 shots on a roll.
Mark
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