Scovill Mfg. Co.
American Optical Company

 

Front Focus Cone View Camera Variation 3
Front Focus Reversible Back View Camera Variation 3
St. Louis View Camera Variation 3

 

8x10

 

Manufacturer: American Optical Co. New York, NY factory
Date Introduced: - ; Years Manufactured: c.1889
Construction: front focus via rack and pinion (single gear track on top of middle base rail); 0/1/2 swings; reversing by removable back; three-piece lens board
Materials: mahogany body; cherry base; black fabric bellows; brass hardware
Sizes Offered: 4x5; 4 ½x5 ½; 5x7; 6 ½x8 ½; 8x10
Notes:

St. Louis View Camera:  

     The St. Louis model is identical to the American Optical Flammang's Revolving Back Front Focus Camera, except that it has a removable and reversing back rather than a patent revolving back.

     When advertised, engravings for this camera usually carry a "Scovill" identification rather than an "American Optical" identification.  Yet many cameras exist, such as the St. Louis Variation 1 8x10 example, that are stamped American Optical or have a silver label marked American Optical.  Such AO-marked cameras have the usual high quality construction and finish associated with the AO factory.  Other examples are unlabeled, or have a Scovill & Adams Co. label (see St. Louis Variation 3).  It is possible that St. Lous cameras were made in both the American Optical factory in New York City (where the high quality and craftsmanship cameras were made) and the Scovill factory in New Haven, CT (where the less quality craftsmanship cameras were made).

     At least five variations of the St. Louis exist, based mainly on the location of the swing (bottom or center of the rear standard) and style of spring back.  The odd thing is that both styles of swing are found with both styles of backs.  It is probable that the flatter style of back was an improvement (i.e., later) version of the clunky style of back.  But is the bottom swing an improvement over the center swing?  Or vice versa?.  In any case, the distinguishing features of the four variations are:

Variation 1:  Thick clunky back; single swing is hinged at the bottom of the rear standard.  From the discussion under Variation 3, it would appear that this thick clunky-type back was made c.1885-c.1889.  It appears that all engravings show the bottom swing pivot.

Variation 2:  Thick clunky back; single swing is hinged at the center of the rear standard.  From the discussion under Variation 3, it would appear that this thick clunky-type back was made c.1885-c.1889.

Variation 2.1:  Thick clunky back; single swing is hinged at the center of the rear standard.  Identical to Variation 2, except that the wood throughout is some soft wood, possibly poplar, rather than mahogany.  The example that represents this variation is the only St. Louis camera ever seen that was not mahogany.  That it was made from a non-hardwood is extremely unusual.  Poplar was used only in the least expensive of Scovill's line, e.g., the Ne Plus Ultra.

Variation 3:  Thin four-spring back; single swing is hinged at the bottom of the rear standard.  From the discussion under Variation 3, it would appear that this thin four spring-type back was made c.1889-c.1891.

The American Optical/Scovill & Adams Co. Four Spring Back
     This back consists of a ground glass frame connected to the back of the rear standard using four springs, one in each corner, and each about 2-3 inches long.  As One end of each spring is tightly screwed to the rear standard, while the other end applies pressure onto the middle of a hinge made of sheet brass about 2 inches long, which is attached, one end to the ground glass and the other to the rear standard, via round-head wood screws long enough to act as axles.  Three of the corners appear as in the left hand photo below.  The fourth corner contains the spring, but also an extra bit of hardware attached to the sheet brass that catches in an open position on a post.  This is shown in the right hand photo below.

    This type back found on a number of cameras in this collection, including:   A similar back is found on the 1) Scovill & Adams labeled Acme Reversible Back View Camera Variation 3, 2) unlabeled Albion Variation 3, 3) American Optical, Scovill & Adams Co., Prop'rs labeled Compact View Variation 2 or Irving View Variation 2, 4) American Optical, Scovill & Adams Co., Prop'rs labeled Irving View Variation 1.(known to have been introduced in March, 1892), 5) Scovill & Adams labeled St. Louis View Camera Variation 3, and 6) Star View Camera (introduced 1890) - one example labeled The Scovill & Adams Co., the other example labeled American Optical Co., Scovill & Adams Co., Prop'rs).
     From the example cameras from six models that have four spring backs, we find that all but one camera (and that one is unlabeled and so indeterminate) are labeled and thus can be dated from when The Scovill & Adams Co. were proprietors of the American Optical Co., that is, 1889-c.1899.  It would therefore appear that the four spring back was introduced approximately when Scovill Mfg. Co. changed to The Scovill & Adams Co. in 1889.  The four spring design was patented in 1889 (granted to Scovill Mfg. Co. (W.H. Fuller, assignor), #407587, 23 Jul 1889), but, unlike most of their patents, the patent information is not stamped into the wood or otherwise appear on cameras using the patent.
     That the St. Louis Variation 3 has this four spring back, it represents a chronologically later version than Variation 1 and Variation 2, which have the clunky spring back.

Variation 4:  Thin two-spring back (disturbingly similar to Blair Camera Co. backs); single swing is hinged at the center of the rear standard.  The back on this camera appears to have been made for Blair cameras, given that it has a kerf cut all the way around its perimeter, made a Blair-type large center spring catch (e.g., Blair Combination Reversible Back Camera Variation 3).  This camera example may have started life as a Variation 1, to which the owner added a Blair back.  However, the mystery is that the Blair-type back matches the color and finish of this camera perfectly, as if the entire camera was finished at one time.  Also, Blair camera backs were generally stamped on their interiors with the name of the company, but this one is unmarked.  The camera also appears to have not been used, an odd condition if someone had added a favored back.

References:
Catalog P, Photographic Material, J. W. Queen & Co. (Philadelphia, PA), 1886, p. 73 (As Reversible Back Cone View Camera, but no engraving to check construction)
Not in the Scovill & Adams March 1890 catalog
American Annual of Photography and Photographic Times Almanac for 1897, The Scovill & Adams Co. (New York, NY), 1896, ads p. 61 ("Bargain Page" only, i.e., leftovers - no engraving, but probably has the low profile back at this late date)
American Annual of Photography and Photographic Times Almanac for 1898, The Scovill & Adams Co. (New York, NY), 1897, ads p. 115 ("Bargain Page" only, i.e., leftovers - no engraving)

 

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