Scovill Mfg. Co.

Tourist Amateur Outfit
Amateur Photographic Outfit (#610-641)

Date Introduced: - ; Years Manufactured: c.1882-1885
Construction: back focus; 0/1 swing; reversing ?; no or three-piece lensboard; no gears
Materials: ebonized (painted white wood) or mahogany body; ebonized or cherry base; black rubber bellows; brass hardware
Sizes Offered: see below
Notes: McCollin's cameras are not identified in the catalog as being made by Scovill, as per the common practice of the day, but used a common Scovill engraving. This series seems to be a mish-mash of dissimilar models and finishes - some folding, some rigid, some mahogany, some painted.  Some of these seem to be identical with the Ne Plus Ultra, made during the same period.  This model may have morphed into the Favorite, which started being advertised in 1886. 
References: Thos. H. McCollin's Cat., 1882, p. 31-32 offers (as "New Tourists' Photographic Amateur Outfit"): #610=4x5 rigid bed; #612=5x8 rigid bed; #618=5x8 stereo or single rigid bed; #626=4x4 mahogany folding bed rising front; #627= 4x5 mahogany folding bed rising front; #631=4.25x6.5 ebonized; #641=5x8 stereo or single mahogany.
Am. J. Photo. from 1884-1885, (as "Amateur Photographic Outfits") offers #'s 610, 612, 618, as above, but also: #625=4x5 mahogany rising front folding bed; #630=6.5x8.5 ebonized folding bed w/ focus screw; #633=8x10 ebonized folding bed w/ focus screw; and #635=5x8 mahogany stereo folding bed w/ extra lensboard for single
not in the 1886 Am. J. Photo.
 

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