Rochester Optical Co. Standard View Camera, Wood & Brass, 6½x8½”, 1890’s For Sale

Rochester Optical Co. Standard View Camera, Wood& Brass, 6½x8½”, 1890’s

A classic-looking back-focusing view camera from ~125 yearsago.

Model History:

The RochesterOptical Co. started manufacturing view cameras in 1883. The Standard View is their only offering ofa back-focus, tapered bellows view camera.It was advertised from 1890-1899.In 1899, Rochester Optical Co. merged with 4 other camera manufacturersto form the Rochester Optical & Camera Co.The Standard View model was dropped in favor of the almostidentical Favorite (a product of one of the other mergingcompanies). And, within a few years,all back focus only cameras would become extinct, in favor of cameras capableof both front and back focusing.

This camera is rear focus only via a push-pull arrangementand locked by a thumbscrew on the right of the base rail.

The back is double swing, the front to back swing controlledby a thumbscrew on the right side of the rear standard, and the side to sideswing controlled by thumbscrews on the underside of the rear standard. There is a rising front, controlled with asmall thumbscrew on each side of the front standard. The rear track hinges up for compact storage. The back is square and clips off so that theformat can be changed from horizontal or vertical. The plate holder is inserted under the spring-held ground glassframe just like more modern view cameras, but modern film holders will not fitthis camera exactly (and therefore leak light around their edges). You have to have a Rochester Optical-typeholder, and none comes with this camera.There is a tripod screw on the bottom that does fit modern tripods.

Materials and Condition:

The base of this camera is cherry. The remainder is fine-grained, plain mahogany, as befits thissimple, workhorse camera. It has beenwell used. Even though it has numerousnicks and bumps, and the lacquer is very slightly checkered, its overallimpression is that of a nice wood and brass display piece.

There is acelluloid label on the front that reads: “Standard Rochester Optical Co.Rochester, NY”. It does not have a lens installed. The base is also stamped: “Made byRochester Optical Co.”

The hardware isbrass, retaining about 75% of its bright lacquer finish, the rest an even dullpatina. ROC had a method of securingthe folding base that involves a lever-hook catching a metal rod that is insidethe main base portion. This arrangementwas an engineering disaster, in that almost every camera that I have seen withthis arrangement (probably 100) has had some part of that base broken andmissing. This camera is no exception,in that some wood is gone in the area, but it has been repaired with a flatpiece of brass and a replacement rod that work perfectly with the originallever-hook. The base is made quiterigid this way, which is more than you can say for most of the cameras with alloriginal parts. All the hardware ispresent, except one of the two thumbscrews that control the side to side swing(the one remaining is quite sufficient to keep it rigid).

The lensboardlooks original to the camera (same color, finish type and shine). It has a cute little Low- or Packard-typeshutter behind it that still works smoothly.

The bellowsappear to be made of black fabric; they are somewhat rubbed on theiredges. I expect that they probably leakat their corners, but I didn’t check.There are no apparent tears, mis-folding, or glue degradation. They feel stiff, but are flexible enough tobe cranked out to the end of the base.

The ground glassis present and looks old, but I am not 100% sure it is the original.

The camera has adeeply stamped serial no: 13181,

Size:

~15½” long in operation, ~5½” long when folded x ~11 wide x12” high.

Shipping weight: 6lb0oz; Box size: 14x13x9”

Domestic Shipping: USPS as calculated

Shipping to USA or Canada only