Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/12/26

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Subject: Re: [Leica] B
From: Bernard <5521.g23@g23.relcom.ru>
Date: Mon, 27 Dec 1999 10:44:22 +0300
 
Martin Howard wrote:

> It is commonly said that the "B" on the shutter speed dial stands for
> "bulb".  This doesn't seem to make much sense.  Does anyone know the
> story behind this, or what the "B" *really* stands for?

It's a bit of a mystery, but it's commonly accepted that originally it
did not stand for "bulb". It possibly stood for the German "beliebig".
This is what I was told; I have no quotable sources.

In any case "B" predates various things like Speed Graphics and Kodaks.

Bernard