American Optical Co., Scovill Mfg. Co., props.

Waterbury Type Camera

4x5

5x8 ground glass hinges at bottom

5x8 ground glass hinges at sides

Date Introduced:  ; Years Manufactured: c. 1887
Construction: rear focus via push-pull; single swing; reversing by second tripod mount; three-piece lensboard
Materials: mahogany body; cherry base; black fabric bellows; brass hardware
Sizes Offered: at least 5x7, 5x8 (cut for stereo septum)
Notes: Often, American Optical Co. produced can be found producing a similar model to one produced by its parent company, Scovill Mfg. Co.  Such is the case here, which appears to be an American Optical version of the popular and common Scovill Waterbury View.  As is usual, the American Optical version is a superior quality camera: in this case, it has 1) better quality mahogany than the Waterbury, 2) dark-colored French polish lacquer finish (on the body; the base is varnished), rather than the light-colored varnish used on the Waterbury, 3) two rod and cylinder devices (usually) which are also more tightly made to make the bed rigid, rather than the one used on the Waterbury (but still only one used for 4x5), 4) larger bellows and body than the Waterbury for the same sized ground glass, 5) a different swing mechanism, and 6) a different ground glass hinge mechanism than the Waterbury.  Below are comparison photos, the American Optical on the left and the Scovill Waterbury on the right.  The third example above is stamped on its base "AMER. OPTICAL Co. SCOVILL MFG. CO. N.Y.", and stamped on its ground glass back and lensboard (same stamp) "SCOVILL MANUFACTURING Co. NEW YORK".  There are two ground glass hinge types, as shown in the examples above.

References:

comparison of American Optical manufacture (left) to Scovill manufacture (right)

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