Bushnell Featherlight II

The Featherlight II series was in Bushnell's lineup in the mid to late 1960's.  The original Featherlight series used traditional B&L style bodies and were produced by FPO.  The Featherlight II series used a more robust body style like in the 7x35 Custom.  The models in this series include: 6x35, 7x35, 8x35, 9x35, 7x50, 10x50.  It appears that the Featherlight II series evolved into the Custom series in the 1970's.

Featherlight II 6x35

Mfr: J-B138 (Toyo Jitsugyo or Oriental Trading Company, Ltd.), J-E4

Date: circa 1965

AFOV: ~46 degrees

TFOV: 7 degrees 40'

Eye Relief: ~16mm

Prisms: high index

To me, this is not a very interesting binocular except for historical reasons.  This is the first Bushnell binocular I have seen marked with both a "BOL" and a J-B number.  The marking is worn on the sample but I am fairly sure it is J-B138.  I have been told that BOL was a company that assembled binoculars from parts purchased from various manufacturers (thanks to Binocular Bill).  I welcome any more information on BOL from readers.  The body style, as mentioned above,  is that of the Custom, but without twist-up eyecups.  The eyepiece instead is deeply inset which negates much of the eye relief.  The optics are good but the narrow FOV results in "tunnel vision".  I am not sure why anyone would want a 6x35 binocular with such a small FOV when one can get the same real field in a 7x35.

Featherlight II 7x50

Mfr: J-B138, J-E4

Date: circa 1965

AFOV: ~52.5 degrees

TFOV: 7 degrees 30'

Eye Relief: ~18-19mm

Prisms: high index

The 7x50 Featherlight II appears to be essentially the same as the later 7x50 Custom except it has fixed eyecups about 10mm deep.  Its markings are similar to others in the series (see above).  The optical properties are very similar if not identical to the Custom, in other words, very good views though with only a moderate field of view.