Rochester Optical Co., Rochester, NY
The Ideal Camera Variation 1.0
C.H. Codman
Catalog, 1886, p. 4
Ideal
Variation 1.0, Serial No. 8, 4 x 5", brass hardware, c.1886; it has its original tilt-down back as well
as a new-fangled spring back; the tilt-down back is the one that accepts
the Eastman-Walker Roll Film Holder
Ideal
Variation 1.0, Serial No. 10, 5 x 8,
nickel-plated brass hardware, c.1890 (backward facing front standard hardware)
Metal label
on front standard
Unmarked
rapid rectilinear type lens in 1888 model B&L iris diaphragm shutter
marked: "Bausch & Lomb Optical Co. Rochester, New York 435 Pat. May 15,
'88"
Ideal
Variation 1.0, Serial No. 165
6½ x 8½",
nickel-plated brass hardware, c.1885 (forward facing front standard hardware) Label, nickel-plated brass, lower
part of front standard: "Rochester Optical Co.". Stamp, serial number "165", on
the lower part of the inside of the hinged ground glass frame.
Date Introduced: ~1885;
Years Manufactured: 1885-1891
The Ideal
Variation 1.0:
has
an s-shaped tilt mechanism, two top cam buttons to
release the removable back, and two back cam buttons to release the hinged
ground glass frame. The Ideal Variation 1.5: has one of
two types of tilt mechanisms: either a center pivot (as above) or a plate-type
bottom pivot, two top cam buttons to release the removable back, and two
back cam buttons to release the hinged
ground glass frame.
The Ideal
Variation 1.7: has an s-shaped tilt
mechanism, two top cam buttons to release the removable back, and a
spring-type ground glass frame.
The Ideal
Variation 2.0: has one of
two types of tilt mechanisms: either a center pivot (as above) or a
plate-type bottom pivot, two top clips to release the removable back,
and a
spring-type ground glass frame.
It appears that any of the above variations may
have front standard supports of varying style: e.g., three
screws and a short top tab, three screws and a long top tab, or five
screws and a short top tab. References: Ideal Variation 1.0, Serial No. 40, 6 ½ x 8 ½,
nickel-plated brass hardware, c. 1890.
Label, metal, lower part of front standard: "Rochester Optical Co. - THE
IDEAL". Earlier labels identified only the manufacturer, not the
model.
Back to Rochester Optical Group of Manufacturers
Labels on ROC Ideal Variation 1.0 and ROC Variation 1.5 only include the
manufacturer. Labels on ROC Ideal Variation 2 include the model
name as well as the manufacturer.
Construction: front focus
via rack and pinion (two gear tracks on top of base rails);
single or double swing; three-piece lens board; reversing by removable
back
Materials: mahogany body; cherry base;
black fabric bellows; nickeled brass hardware
Sizes Offered:3 ½x4 ½; 4x5; 4 ½x6 ½;
5x7; 5x8; 6 ½-8 ½; 8x10; 11x14; 14x17; 17x20; 18x22; 20x24
Notes:
American Journal of.
Photography, March 1885, p. 9
Catalog P, Photographic Material, J. W.
Queen & Co. (Philadelphia, PA), 1886, p. 56
Illustrated Catalogue of Photographic Apparatus,
Rochester Optical Co. (Rochester, NY), distributed by C.
H. Codman (Boston, MA), 1886,
p. 4-6
Photographic Materials 1889, James
W. Queen & Co. (Philadelphia, PA), 1889, p. 58
Illustrated Catalogue of Photographic Apparatus,
Rochester Optical Co. (Rochester, NY),
June 1890, p. 4-5 (one engraving is Variation 1 while a second engraving
is Variation 2)
Photographic Material,
Catalogue O & P, James W. Queen & Co. (Philadelphia,
PA), 1891, p. 44
