Rochester Optical & Camera Co., made for American Camera Mfg. Co.

Rochester View, Poco View Variation

Date Introduced: - ; Years Manufactured: c. 1902-1903
Construction: front and rear focus via rack and pinion (two gear tracks on top of base rails); single swing; three-piece lensboard; reversing by removable back
Materials: mahogany body; cherry bed; black fabric bellows; brass hardware;
Sizes Offered: 5x7; 6.5-8.5; 8x10; 11x14; 14x17
Notes: Appears to be the very similar to Rochester View, Variation 3, in that it has the short extension in the rear, but differs by bearing the practical corner reinforcements of the Empire States of the era, e.g., Empire State, Variation 3.  If it had a full-size front and rear extensions, it would be identical to the Empire State, Variation 3.  However, the label reads "Poco View Made for American Camera Mfg. Co."  This is odd, since the American Camera Mfg. Co. (Northboro, MA 1895-1899, Rochester, NY 1899-c. 1904, a Thomas Blair company) is known for their line of Buckeye box and folding cameras, which were folded into the Kodak company by 1908, but did use the Poco name c. 1904 according to McKeown 12th ed., p. 51.  Note that the label specifically does not state that the camera was made by the American Camera Mfg. Co., but rather made for the firm.  The Poco name was first used by the Rochester Camera Mfg. Co. and their successor Rochester Optical & Camera Co., but in the Poco Cameras catalog of 1902 (Rochester Optical & Camera Co.), this very model is referred to as the Rochester View, despite the fact that the remainder of the catalog is filled with one Poco camera after another.  Are you confused yet?  Below is an identical camera, but in 5x7 format, except that the rise for the front is now behind the standard instead of inside, apparently done at the last minute, since the hole for the thumbscrew was already drilled, and has had to have been covered with a plain brass plate.
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