Rochester Optical Co. Catalog, 1895, p. 8

6 ½ x 8 ½

Date Introduced: 1895 ; Years Manufactured: c.1895-1899
Construction: focus via rack and pinion (gears internal to base); double swing; three-piece lens board; reversing by removable back
Materials: mahogany body; mahogany bed; black fabric bellows; brass hardware;
Sizes Offered: 5x7; 5x8; 6 ½-8 ½; 8x10
Notes: Introduced in the 1895 catalog (and not in the 1894 catalog) to be a new style of English compact style.  It was introduced as the only compact-type view camera on the market equipped (with a wide lens board and notches for a septum) for stereo photography; had two sizes of canvas case (depending on how much space for plate-holders and tripod) ; the least expensive of the English style R.O.C.'s.  The example above is a 6 ½x8 ½ size which has been fitted with a Eastman Kodak Co. 5x7 reducing back which takes modern sheet film holders.

References:
1895 Catalogue of Photographic Apparatus, Rochester Optical Co. (Rochester, NY), 1895, p. 8-9
1896 Catalogue of Photographic Apparatus, Rochester Optical Co. (Rochester, NY), 1896, p. 8-9
Catalogue "G" 1896 Photographic Apparatus and Materials, Montgomery Ward & Co. (Chicago, IL), 1896, p. 20
Catalogue "G" 1896-1897 Photographic Apparatus and Materials, Montgomery Ward & Co. (Chicago, IL), p. 16
Catalogue of Photographic Apparatus, Rochester Optical Co. (Rochester, NY), May 1897, p. 8-9
Dept. 5: Photographic Lenses, Supplies, etc. 2nd ed.; Andrew J. Lloyd & Co. (Boston, MA) catalog, 1897, p. 44
Department 5, Photographic Supplies, Lenses, etc., Andrew J. Lloyd & Co. (Boston, MA), undated c.1898, p.47
Photographic Apparatus, Rochester Optical Co. (Rochester, NY), distributed by Horgan, Robey & Co. (Boston, MA), 1898, p. 8-9
Photographic Apparatus, Rochester Optical Co. (Rochester, NY), 1899, pp. 10-11
Photography has Made the Sun an Artist, Andrew J. Lloyd (Boston, MA) catalog, 1899, p.77

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