Rochester Optical Co.
New Model, Improved
Date Introduced: 1885 ; Years
Manufactured: 1885-c.1899
Construction: back focus via
rack and pinion (two gear tracks on top of base rails); single or double swing; three-piece
lensboard; reversing by two tripod mounts
Materials: Honduras mahogany body; cherry bed; black fabric
bellows; brass or nickeled brass
hardware varnish finish
Sizes Offered: 3.25x4.25; 4x5; 4.25x6.5; 5x7; 5x8; 6.5-8.5;
8x10
Notes: Rochester Optical
Catalog of Photographic Apparatus, June 1990, states that the New Model has
been on the market for five years. This model is distinguished from the
unimproved New Model
by the presence of gears, reversing capability and the mahogany body, but
it is still an
inexpensive camera compared to the others offered at the time.
The Illustrated camera
above is 5x8, with ROC
"Victor" shutter and brass hardware. Most
cameras have nickeled hardware, as in the 4x5 camera shown below.
Its
holders show very early features, namely that they possess two types of securing pins
(one fat and one thin) to accommodate two
different types of camera back. The thick pins were used earlier than the
thin pins, and a back clip requiring the thick type pins can be seen on the Challenge Wooden Bed Camera.
It may be supposed that the metal, engraved label below is an earlier feature
than the celluloid, printed version above.
References:
American Journal of Photography, March, 1885, p. 9
James W. Queen (Philadelphia, PA) Catalog, 1886, p. 50
C.H. Codman (Boston, MA) Catalog, 1886.
Illustrated Catalogue of Photographic Apparatus,
Rochester Optical Co., Rochester, NY, June 1890, p. 9
Illustrated Catalogue of Photographic Apparatus,
Rochester Optical Co., Rochester, NY, May 1891, p. 9
Photographic Material,
Catalogue O & P, James W. Queen & Co. (Philadelphia, PA),
1891, p. 38 (as Improved Model Camera)
1893 Catalogue of Photographic Apparatus, Rochester
Optical Co., Rochester, NY, 1893, p. 12
1894 Catalogue of Photographic Apparatus, Rochester
Optical Co., Rochester, NY, 1894, p. 12
1895 Catalogue of Photographic Apparatus, Rochester
Optical Co., Rochester, NY, 1895, p. 15
1896 Catalogue of Photographic Apparatus, Rochester
Optical Co., Rochester, NY, 1896, p. 15
Catalogue "G" 1896 Photographic Apparatus and Materials,
Montgomery Ward & Co., 1896, p. 23
Catalogue "G" 1897 Photographic Apparatus and Materials,
Montgomery Ward & Co., 1897, p. 22-23
Dept. 5: Photographic Lenses, Supplies, etc. 2nd
ed.; Andrew J. Lloyd & Co.
(Boston) catalog, 1897, p. 46
Horgan, Robey & Co. (Boston, MA) Catalog, 1898, p. 13
Photographic Apparatus, Rochester Optical Co. Catalog, 1899, p. 15
Back to Rochester Optical Co.