Rochester Optical Co.

The Ideal Camera, Variation 1

Date Introduced: ~1885; Years Manufactured: 1885-1891
Construction: front focus via rack and pinion (two gear tracks on top of base rails); single or double swing; three-piece lensboard; reversing by removable back
Materials: mahogany body; cherry base; black fabric bellows; nickeled brass hardware
Sizes Offered:3.25x4.25; 4x5; 4.25x6.5; 5x7; 5x8; 6.5-8.5; 8x10; 11x14; 14x17; 17x20; 18x22; 20x24
Notes: 14x17 and larger were back focus and had no rack and pinion gears; w/ canvas case and holder normally.  The photographed cameras are both 6.5x8.5.   The Ideal was the top of the line camera of this style, while the almost identical Empire State Camera was more moderately priced.  This variation had a hinged ground glass and cam-buttons that drew the plateholder tight against the back, while Variation 2 had a spring back.
References:
American Journal of. Photography, March 1885, p. 9
C.H. Codman Catalog, 1886
Illustrated Catalogue of Photographic Apparatus, Rochester Optical Co., Rochester, NY, June 1890, p. 4-5 (one engraving is Variation 1 while a second engraving is Variation 2)
Photographic Material, Catalogue O & P, James W. Queen & Co. (Philadelphia, PA), 1891, p. 44

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