American Optical Co., Scovill & Adams,
Prop'rs
New
York, NY
Flammang's Patent Revolving Back Camera Front Focus Variation 3.0
6½x8½
Faded celluloid label (intensified): "American
Optical Company New York The Scovill & Adams Co., Prop's."
Stamp on the revolving back:
"Flammang's Pat. Aug. 21, '83 No 288,589"
Stamp next to rod & piston bed mechanism:
"Flammang's Pat. Oct. 20, 1885"
Manufacturer:
American Optical Co. New York, NY
factory
Most front focus cameras seen to have the Flammang Patent Revolving Back
have a all-wooden front standard. This is true of the
Flammang's Patent Revolving Back Camera Front
Focus Variation 1.0 and its stereo version: the
Flammang's Patent Revolving Back Camera
Front Focus Variation 2.0.
The above camera, however, has a front standard comprised of brass
posts, such as seen in other high-end American Optical models, such as
the Compact View, Variation 1, and the
Star View Camera.
At one time, I
thought this camera was the fabled Elm City View, another top of the
line model that previously was only mentioned in the
American Annual of Photography and Photographic Times Almanac for
1897, The Scovill & Adams Co. (New York, NY),
1896, ads p. 61 ("Bargain
Page") and the
American Annual of Photography and Photographic Times
Almanac for 1898,
The Scovill & Adams Co. (New York, NY), 1897, ads
p. 115 ("Bargain Page").
In these references, the Elm City View was not even described, much less
illustrated with an engraving. I had guessed that the above camera
with the Flammang back might be the Elm City Camera. Fortunately,
a Scovill and Adams c.1895 catalog was found having both a description
and engraving of the Elm City View, and the camera above is not it.
The above camera model has therefore been blessed with the name:
Flammang's Patent Revolving Back
Camera Front Focus Variation 3.0.
References:
Back to American Optical
Co. / Scovill Mfg. Co. (alphabetical)
Date Introduced: - ; Years Manufactured:
c. 1890
Construction:
Materials:
Sizes Offered: at least 6½x8½
Notes:
