American Optical Co., Scovill Mfg. Co., props.

Flammang's Patent Revolving Back Camera (Back Focus)

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Date Introduced: - ; Years Manufactured: c.1883-1898
Construction: rear focus via push-pull; 0/1/2 swing; reversing by revolving back (the Flammang patent); three-piece lensboard
Materials: mahogany body; mahogany base; black fabric bellows; brass hardware
Sizes Offered: #550A=4x5; #551=4.25x5.4; #551A=5x7; #551B=5x8; #552=6.5x8.5; #553=8x10; #554=10x12; #555=11x14 (illustrated in photos above); #556=14x17; #557=17x20; #558=20x24; #559=25x30 (1889 #'s 120-132)
Notes: This model shares the same basic construction as the Scovill Acme only better construction and finish, but its main difference is the presence of the patented revolving back.  It could use either SGC plate-holders (for wet plates) or Daisy plate-holders (for dry plates).   The revolving back is usually stamped "Flammang's Pat. Aug. 21, '83 No. 283,589", not to be confused with Flammang's other major patent, the rod and cylinder device for making a folding bed rigid, which is usually stamped "Flammang's Pat. Oct. 20, 1885" (#328,664).  Cameras have been erroneously sold as "Flammang's Patent" cameras merely because they were marked with the folding bed patent date.  They came in a canvas bag. The 8x10 camera is pictured above and the 11x14 version below.
References:
American Annual of Photography and Photographic Times Almanac for 1883, p. ix
Scovill's Dry Plate Making for Amateurs, 1886, p. 14
How to Make Photographs and Descriptive Price List, C.H. Codman & Co. (Boston, MA), April 1887, p. 36
How to Make Photographs and Descriptive Price List, C.H. Codman & Co. (Boston, MA), September 1888, p. 28
Buchanan, Bromley & Co. (Philadelphia, PA) Catalog, 1888
How to Make Photographs and Descriptive Price List, Scovill & Adams Co. Catalog, January 1889, p. 27
Buchanan, Bromley & Co. (Philadelphia, PA) Catalog, 1889
Photographic Material, Catalogue O & P, James W. Queen & Co. (Philadelphia, PA), 1891, p. 61 (as Revolving Back Camera Back Focus)
How to Make Photographs and Descriptive Price List, Scovill & Adams Co. Catalog, January 1892, p. 20 (as Revolving Back Camera Back Focus Pattern)
How to Make Photographs and Descriptive Price List, Scovill & Adams Co. Catalog, 1896, p. 34
American Annual of Photography and Photographic Times Almanac for 1897, p. lxi (bargain page)



1891 James W. Queen (Philadelphia, PA) Back Cover (Flammang Rear Focus Camera with Eastman-Walker Roll Holder

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