Scovill Mfg. Co./American Optical Co. Field View Cameras (alphabetical)

American Optical and Scovill Mfg. Companies

Field View Cameras

Organized Alphabetically

The companies:
Scovill Mfg. Co., Waterbury, CT (1802- )
Samuel Peck & Co., New Haven, CT (1855-1860)
Samuel Peck & Co., Scovill Mfg. Co., proprietors, New Haven, CT (1860-1880s)
American Optical Co., New York, NY (1858-1867)
American Optical Div. Scovill Mfg. Co. (1867-1871)
American Optical Co., Scovill Mfg. Co., props. (1871-1889)
Scovill & Adams Co. (1889-1901)
American Optical Co., Scovill & Adams Co., props. (1889-1901)
Anthony & Scovill Co., New York, NY; 23 Dec 1901-1907 (see E. & H.T. Anthony Companies)
ANSCO Photoproduce, Inc., Binghampton, NY; 1907-1928
ANSCO-AGFA, Binghampton, NY; 1928-1939

Short Topics:

1. History of the American Optical, Scovill, etc. companies
2. American Optical/Scovill Back Focus Tapering Bellows Field View Cameras - Chronology and Design
3. (Under Construction) American Optical/Scovill Back Focus Straight (Non-Tapering) Bellows Field View Cameras - Chronology and Design

American Optical / Scovill Patents (incomplete):
(assigned to Scovill) 039,432; Aug 4, 1863; camera (this refers to the "John Stock's Patent", which is stamped on American Optical and Scovill hardware in the late 1860's-1880's)
237,246; Feb. 1, 1881; focusing frame using celluloid instead of glass (D.N. Carvalho). Only used for the A.O. Irving camera.
238,669; Mar. 8, 1881; double plate holder with pull-out center divider; load from end (Mathias Flammang).
243,136; Jun 21, 1881; wooden plate holder (original patentee: J. Milton Howe). This patent was also used by Blair.
277,787; May 15, 1883; blackboard slide for plate holder (patent held by Blair, but Scovill used it by royalties paid)
283,589; Aug 21, 1883: Flammang revolving back (always stamped Flammang's)
328,664; Oct 20, 1885: rod & cylinder system for making bed rigid (by Flammang, and often stamped Flammang's Patent)
331,448; Dec. 1, 1885: front & rear focusing, two bellows camera (The Ripley Camera); George Ripley, assignor to Scovill Mfg. Co.
376,983; Jan 24, 1888: plate holder (original patentee: Willard H. Fuller, assigned to Scovill Mfg. Co.).
402,154; Apr 30, 1889: print frame (original patentee: Willard H. Fuller, assigned to Scovill Mfg. Co.).
428,809; May 27, 1890: wooden plate holder (original patentee: Willard H. Fuller, assigned to The Scovill & Adams Co.).
436,891; Sep 16, 1890: view camera having struts, essentially The Irving Camera (Washington Irving Adams, for The Scovill & Adams Co.).

Scans of number of catalogs can be found here. Scans of American Optical and Scovill catalogs are here.

	American Optical Co. 1888 Instantaneous Outfit: (consisting of a "76", Petite or Mignon Camera coupled with an instantaneous shutter)
	American Optical Co. 76 Camera/Centennial Camera/Pocket Camera Variation 1.0 (Formerly Variation 2)- Wet Plate Version (1876 - c.1882)
	American Optical Co. Counterfeit 76 Camera Variation 1.0
	American Optical Co. 76 Camera/Centennial Camera/Pocket Camera Variation 1.2 - Wet Plate Version (1876 - c.1882)
	American Optical Co. 76 Camera/Centennial Camera/Pocket Camera Variation 1.5 - Early Plate Holder Clip Version (c.1882)
	American Optical Co. The 76 Camera 76 Camera/Centennial Camera/Pocket Camera Variation 2.0 (Formerly Variation 1) - Dry Plate Version (No.'s 201-204) (1885 - c.1898)
	Scovill Mfg. Co. The 76 Camera 76 Camera/Centennial Camera/Pocket Camera Variation 3.0 - Dry Plate Version (No.'s 201-204) (1885 - c.1898)
	Scovill Mfg. Co ABC Photographic Outfits The American Scholar Equipment (c. 1888 - 1894)
	Scovill Mfg. Co./Scovill & Adams Co. Acme Landscape View Camera (c.1895)
	Scovill Mfg. Co./Scovill & Adams Co. Acme Reversible Back View Box Variation 1.0 Back Focus Cone (c.1878- c.1895)
	American Optical Co., Scovill & Adams Co., Prop'rs Acme Reversible Back View Box Variation 2.0 Back Focus Cone (c.1885)
	The Scovill & Adams Co. Acme Reversible Back View Box Variation 3 Back Focus Cone (c.1890)
	Scovill Mfg. Co Albion Camera Variation 1.0 (c. 1886 - 1897)
	Scovill Mfg. Co Albion Camera Variation 1.1 (c. 1886 - 1897)
	Scovill Mfg. Co Albion Camera Variation 1.5 (c. 1886 - 1897)
	The Scovill and Adams Co Albion Camera Variation 2.0 (c. 1893 - 1897)
	Scovill Mfg. Co Albion Camera Variation 3.0 The Elm City View (c.1897)
	Scovill Mfg. Co Bierstadt Pantoscopic (Panoramic) Camera (c.1884)
	American Optical Co. Compact View Variation 1.0 (c.1892 - c.1896)
	American Optical Co. Compact View Variation 2.0 or Irving Variation 2.0 (rod front) (c.1895)
	American Optical Co. Cone View Camera (Model No.'s 51-58) (c.1881-c.1884)
	American Optical Co. Double Stereo Box (c.1878)
	American Optical Co. Dry Plate Equipment (#'s 1-8) (c.1882)
Economic Camera	American Optical Co. Economic Camera (c. 1896)
	Scovill Mfg. Co. The Edgewater (c. 1893)
	American Optical Co. Elite View Outfit (c. 1890-1898)
	American Optical Co. Elm City Outfit (c. 1895)
	Scovill Mfg. Co. Favorite (A-DDD) (c. 1886-1898)
	F. Putnam Co. Putnam Marvel Variation 1 (Resale of the Scovill Mfg. Co. Favorite View) (c. 1880's)
	American Optical Co. Flammang's Revolving-Back Camera Back Focus Variation 1.0 (1883 - c.1896)
	American Optical Co. Flammang's Revolving-Back Camera Back Focus Variation 1.5 (1883 - c.1896)
	American Optical Co. Flammang's Revolving-Back Camera Back Focus Variation 2.0 (1883 - c.1896)
	American Optical Co. Flammang's Revolving-Back Camera Back Focus Variation 2.1 (c.1895)
	American Optical Co. Flammang's Revolving-Back Camera Back Focus Variation 2.2 (1883 - c.1896)
	American Optical Co. Flammang's Revolving-Back Camera Back Focus Variation 3.0 (c.1895)
	Unknown Counterfeit American Optical Flammang's Revolving-Back Camera Back Focus Variation 3.0 (c.1895)
	American Optical Co. Flammang's Reversible Back Camera Front Focus Variation 0.9 (c.1884 - c.1895)
	American Optical Co. Flammang's Reversible Back Camera Front Focus Variation 1.0 (c.1885 - 1896)
	American Optical Co. Flammang's Reversible Back Camera Front Focus Variation 2.0 (Stereo) (c.1885 - 1896)
	American Optical Co. Flammang's Revolving-Back Camera Back Focus Variation 3.0 (c.1890)
	American Optical Co. The Flandreau (c.1888 - 1896)
	American Optical Co. Irving Variation 1.0 (wood front) (c.1898 - c.1900)
	American Optical Co. Irving Variation 1.2 (wood front) (c.1898 - c.1900)
	American Optical Co. Irving View Variation 2.0 (rod front) or Compact Variation 2 (c.1895)
	American Optical Co. Kilburn Gun Camera (c.1882 - 1886)
	American Optical Co. Landscape Reversible View Variation 1 (c.1895 - c.1900)
	American Optical Co. Landscape Reversible View Variation 2 (c.1898 - c.1900)
	Unknown Counterfeit American Optical Landscape Reversible View (c.1898)
Leader Camera	American Optical Co. Leader Camera (c. 1896)
	American Optical Co. The Manifold Camera (c.1885 - c.1896)
"76", Petite or Mignon	American Optical Co. 1888 Instantaneous Outfit ("76", Petite or Mignon Camera coupled with an instantaneous shutter) (1888)
Mignon Bicycle Camera	American Optical Co. Mignon Bicycle Camera (c.. 1885-1894)
	American Optical Co. Model Stereo View Camera (c.1878 - c.1884)
	Scovill Mfg. Co Ne Plus Ultra Bicycle (c.1885 - c.1886)
	American Optical Co. Ne Plus Ultra Rigid Platform (A-E) Dry Plate Outfit (A-C) (c. 1881-1883)
	Scovill Mfg. Co. Ne Plus Ultra Folding Platform (A-E) (c.1883 - c.1885) c.1887 - c.1896)
	American Optical Co. Scovill Mfg. Co., Prop'rs New Haven Compact View Camera (c.1870's - c.1884)
	American Optical Co. Scovill Mfg. Co., Prop'rs New Haven Reversible Back View Camera (c. 1880's - c.1890)
	Scovill Mfg. Co. New Haven Stereoscopic Camera Samuel Peck & Co. Stereoscopic Camera (c.1870's - 1884)
	American Optical Co. New Tourists' Photographic Amateur Outfit (No.'s 610-641) Amateur Photographic Outfit (No.'s 610-635) Dry Plate Equipment (#'s 1-8) (c.1882 - c.1885)
	Scovill Mfg. Co. New York (601-603) Outfit (c. 1884-1889)
	American Optical Co. Newton Stereoscopic Box (c.1878 - c.1884)
	Scovill Mfg. Co The Scovill Panoramic Camera (c. 1897 - 1899)
76", Petite or Mignon	American Optical Co. 1888 Instantaneous Outfit ("76", Petite or Mignon Camera coupled with an instantaneous shutter) (1888)
	American Optical Co. Petite Camera (c. 1886-1894)
	American Optical Co. Philadelphia Stereoscopic Box (c.1870 - c.1887)
	American Optical Co. Philadelphia Stereoscopic Box New (c.1871 - c.1882)
	Scovill Mfg. Co Pocket Bicycle Camera (c. 1886 - c.1892)
	F. Putnam Co. Putnam Marvel Variation 1 (Resale of the Scovill Mfg. Co. Favorite View) (c. 1880's)
	F. Putnam Co. Putnam Marvel Variation 2 (Resale of the Scovill Mfg. Co. Waterbury View Variation 1) (c. 1880's)
	American Optical Co. Ripley Camera (c. 1885)
	American Optical Co. St. Louis Camera Variation 1.0 Front Focus Cone Camera Variation 1.0 Front Focus Reversible Back Camera Variation 1.0 (c. 1885 - 1889)
	American Optical Co. St. Louis Camera Variation 2.0 Front Focus Cone Camera Variation 2.0 Front Focus Reversible Back Camera Variation 2.0 (c. 1885 - 1889)
	American Optical Co. St. Louis Camera Variation 2.1 Front Focus Cone Camera Variation 2.1 Front Focus Reversible Back Camera Variation 2.0 (c. 1885 - 1889)
	American Optical Co. St. Louis Camera Variation 3 Front Focus Cone Camera Variation 3 Front Focus Reversible Back Camera Variation 3 (c. 1889)
	American Optical Co. St. Louis Camera Variation 4 Front Focus Cone Camera Variation 4 Front Focus Reversible Back Camera Variation 4 (c. 1885 - 1889)
	American Optical Co. Star View Camera (c.1890 - 1896)
	American Optical Co. Stereoscopic Boxes (c.1860's - c.1871)
	American Optical Co. Tourist Pocket (0206-0207) Outfit (1883 - c.1891)
	Scovill Mfg. Co. Unknown Model (sycamore wood, folding platform, no swing with drop shutter) (c.1883 - 1885)
	American Optical Co. Unknown (c. 1895) Identified! American Optical Apparatus Outfit Camera No. 204
	Unknown 15 - Counterfeit Anthony-Blair-Scovill Combination - (c. 1890)
	Scovill Mfg. Co. Unknown Blair-Utility-Type View Camera (c. 1890)
	American Optical Co. Venus Box/8x10 Improved View Camera Box w/ Extras (c.1874 - c.1882)
	American Optical Co. View Camera Boxes Model Number 1 (Order No.'s 1-7) (c.1871)
	American Optical Co. View Camera Boxes No Model Number (Order No.'s 21-28) (c.1871)
	American Optical Co. View Camera Boxes Model Number 2 (Order No.'s 40-50 & No. 130) Non-Folding Platform (c.1871 - c.1882)
	American Optical Co. View Camera Boxes Model Number 2 (Order No.'s 40-50 & No. 130) Folding Platform (c.1871 - c.1882)
	American Optical Co. View Camera Boxes Transitional to Improved View Camera Boxes (c.1871) Moved - On second or third thought, this camera is probably a New Haven Reversible Back View Camera
	American Optical Co. View Camera Boxes Transitional to the 76 Camera **Identified: American Optical Model Stereo View Camera**** (c.1878 - c.1887)
	American Optical Co. View Camera Boxes New View Camera Boxes Improved New Haven Compact View Camera (1873- c.1882)
	American Optical Co. Walmsey's Photomicrographic Camera (c.1884- c.1896)
	Scovill Mfg. Co. Scovill-Type Waterbury View Camera Variation 1A (sycamore wood) (1885)
	Scovill Mfg. Co. Scovill-Type Waterbury View Camera Variation 1 (1885)
	F. Putnam Co. Putnam Marvel Variation 2 (Resale of the Scovill Mfg. Co. Waterbury View Variation 1) (c. 1880's)
	Scovill Mfg. Co. Scovill-Type Waterbury View Camera Variation 2 (c.1886 - 1898)
	The Scovill & Adams Co. Scovill-Type Waterbury View Camera Variation 3 (c.1889 - 1898)
	American Optical Co. American Optical-Type Waterbury View Camera Variation 1 (hinges on the sides of the ground glass frame) (c.1886 - c.1898)
	American Optical Co. American Optical-Type Waterbury View Camera Variation 2 (hinges at the bottom of the ground glass frame) (c.1886 - c.1898)
	Unknown Craftsman Counterfeit Waterbury View Camera (c.1890)
Wonder Equipment	Scovill Mfg. Co. Wonder Equipment (1890 - c. 1896)

ANSCO/Agfa-ANSCO Cameras
ANSCO View	ANSCO ANSCO View (c. 1920's)
	Agfa-Ansco Commercial View Camera (c. 1920's - c.1938)
	Agfa-Ansco Standard View Camera (c. 1935)
	Agfa-Ansco Universal View Camera (c. 1926-c.1935)
	Agfa-Ansco Universal Junior View Camera (c. 1935)

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