Scovill Mfg. Co.
American Optical Company
Patent Swing Front View Camera
Asher & Adams Railroad Atlas,
Asher & Adams (New York, NY), dated 1876, p.48 Manufacturer:
American Optical Co. New York, NY factory References:
Back to American Optical
Co. / Scovill Mfg. Co. (alphabetical)
Date Introduced: - ; Years Manufactured:
c.1876
Construction: rear
focus via push-pull with fine focusing screw, single
swing for front standard
Materials:
Sizes Offered: looks like 8x10 in the
engraving
Notes: This camera is
only known from an engraving in an 1876 railroad atlas. The
engraving does not illustrate how this front standard vertical swing was
to be accomplished, except that it is controlled via a curved, slotted
plate, as was used on other Scovill and American Optical cameras of the
day, albeit on the rear standard. As drawn, it appears that one is
obligated to swing a sold block of wood screwed into the platform - an
impossible tasi. It is possible that the engraver did not even
have a working model to draw from. The camera has not been
seen at this writing.
Asher & Adams
Railroad Atlas, Asher & Adams (New York, NY), dated 1876, p.48
