Posted 12 years ago
nickcam
(1 item)
Hi, anybody got a clue that can identify the model name of this camera and and date?--has a Victor shutter (pat Jan 8,91) and R.O.&C. Co. name on top of shutter. Lens is Rapid Rectilinear. The bellows can be extended out on two sliding beds as shown for very long focus.
Camera is from Rochester Optical & Camera Co. Could be a Long Focus Premo from approx 1895 - 1904.
Oddly, I have extensive ephemera for Premo and Poco cameras but cannot find this exact version. However, the split focusing rail design and thin rear-standard is indicative of the Tele-Photo Cycle Poco series. Yet it was not unusual for RO&C Co. to have made cameras for retailers' private brands. I suspect this is something like that because true RO&C Co. cameras would have brass trim wrapping around the front upright sides (as opposed to a simple flat strip as on this camera).
A clue to the camera's age is in the shutter - looks original to the camera. It is a "Victor" (nicknamed flat-top Victor by collectors) and was introduced around 1899 to 1900 (or so).
Finally, this is a triple extension bellows designed to accommodate long focal length (i.e. telephoto) lenses.