Jacques Bogopolsky (also Jacques Boolsky or Jacques Bolsey; born Yakov Bogopolsky; December 31, 1895, Kiev, Kiev Governorate, Russian Empire – January 20, 1962, Long Island) was an engineer and camera designer.
Early life He was born into a Jewish family.
Career He was an inventor of movie cameras. The brand name Bolex comes from his name. He was also instrumental in the initial design of the Alpa-Reflex Camera 35mm single-lens reflex camera that later was developed into the Alpa cameras.
Bolsey Camera Company In 1947, Jacques Bolsey founded Bolsey Camera Company, after making cameras for US military during WW2, making the Bolsey B, a consumer 35mm, similar to the mil-spec devices. In 1956, the company closed, when Bolsey sold to Wittnauer.
35mm rangefinder Bolsey B (1947-1949) Bolsey B2 (1949-1956) Bolsey B22 (1953-1956) Bolsey Jubilee (1955-1956) Bolsey B3 (1956) Wittnauer Festival (1957), sold by Wittnauer
35mm TLR + rangefinder Bolsey C (1950-1956) Bolsey C22 (1953-1956)
35mm viewfinder Bolsey A La Belle Pal Bolsey Explorer (made by Braun)
8mm subminiature Bolsey 8 Bolsey Uniset 8
120 pseudo-TLR Bolsey-Flex Bolseyflex
Further reading Bolsey at Pacific Rim Camera Bolsey .pdf manuals at butkus.org's orphan cameras Various Bolsey cameras at collection-appareils.fr (French) Bolsey page at Collection G. Even (French) Bolsey 126 patents
References
External links Documentary on Jacques Bogopolsky Alpa Reflex Camera Bolsey cameras camera-wiki.org