New Model Variation 1.0:
     Wood:  Cherry throughout, rich reddish-orange color.

     Hardware:  Nickel-plated brass.

     Bed:  The earliest engravings of the New Model, here called Variation 1.0, have bed edges that are beveled.  This is the most distinctive feature of Variation 1.0, as all other variations have bed edges that form a shallow tongue & groove joint with the sliding back standard.  Variation 1 also has solid wood between its edges, a trait it shares with only Variation 1.3.  The 1886 Queen & Co. catalog entry states: all sizes above 4x5" have folding bed for compactness, implying that sizes 4x5 and smaller have non-folding beds.  Indeed, examples of the 4x5 size do not fold, and examples of the 5x8 size fold.  A folding bed is made rigid by a cast metal swivel piece attached to the middle of the bed (see cast metal detail photo).

     Lens Board:  Examples greater than 4x5" version of Variation 1.0 have a removable lens board; the 4x5 size (and presumably the 3 ½x4 ½) has a fixed front surface without provision for lens board.  Furthermore, the surface onto which the lens is affixed is contoured to precisely fit the 4x5 Rochester Optical Single Achromat lens, which came with the camera.

      Bellows:  Thin red fabric.  The thin fabric type of bellows are often found slightly collapsed on their top section.

     Rise Slot:  The rise slot of the Variation 1 is bare rather than having a wear shield, as do some of the later variations.

     Label:  Nickel-plated brass, round or square ends.

     Ground Glass Frame:  Variation 1.0, Variation 1.3, and Variation 1.5 have a thin-type frame, rather than the thick-type frame that later Variations have (see thin-thick frame detail photos).  This variation has tiny and elegant quarter-round moldings that hold the ground glass in place.

     Ground Glass Frame Fastener:  The fastener that holds the frame up is the typical small, round, spring-loaded Rochester catch at the center back; a notch in a lever engages a brad on the ground glass frame to hold; an interior spring keeps the notch against the brad.

      Serial or Assembly Number:  Assembly numbers (LP415=No.s26 and 120, LP1030=No. 66, LP465=None)

A 5x8" New Model that looks otherwise like a Variation 1.0 that is on display at the website of the George Eastman House (http://www.geh.org/fm/mees/htmlsrc/mR676600002_ful.html) has some detailing (apparently decorative) on its front edge that other Variation 1 examples do not.  This might represent an earlier variation than Variation 1.

New Model Variation 1.3 (introduction of the tongue & groove-edged bed):
     Wood:  Highly figured mahogany body; cherry bed, rich reddish-orange color, like Variation 1.

     Hardware:  Nickel-plated brass continues.

     Bed:  This variation is transitional between New Model Variation 1.0 and New Model Variation 1.5 in that it retains the top-mounted, cast metal swivel to make the bed rigid as found on Variation 1, and also the solid wood bed, but has the tongue & groove-edged bed as found on Variations 1.5 and later. 

     Lens Board:  Removable lens board.

      Bellows:  Thin brown fabric.  The thin fabric type of bellows are often found slightly collapsed on their top section.

     Rise Slot:  The rise slot does not have a metal wear shield.

      Label:  Nickel-plated brass, round ends.

     Ground Glass Frame:  As in Variation 1.0: the thin-type frame, and the tiny and elegant quarter-round moldings to hold the ground glass in place.

     Ground Glass Frame Fastener:  Small, round spring-type fastener.

      Serial or Assembly Number:  LP1019=None, LP1212=None.

New Model Variation 1.5 (introduction of a metal wear shield for the rise slot):
     Wood:  Highly figured mahogany body; cherry bed, stained walnutty dark.

     Hardware:  Nickel-plated brass continues.

     Bed:  This variation appears to be transitional between New Model Variation 1.3 and New Model Variation 2 in that it retains the top-mounted, cast metal swivel to make the bed rigid as found on Variations 1 and 1.3, but has a frame-type, tongue & groove-edged bed instead of a solid-filled bed.  The solid bed used for Variations 1 and 1.3 undoubtedly used considerably more wood than a frame.  It would also seem that the wood used in a solid bed would have had to be very well seasoned, to prevent warping, whereas the multiple pieces used in a frame would offset any warping from any one of them. 

     Lens Board:  All sizes now have removable lens boards.

      Bellows:  Thin reddish brown fabric.  The thin fabric type of bellows are often found slightly collapsed on their top section.

     Rise Slot:  The rise slot of Variation 1.5 is surrounded by a rounded metal wear shield.  This is the only variation that has such a shield; however, the Commodore Variation 1 and Commodore Variation 2 (i.e., all Commodores) have the shield on their rise and also their shift. 

      Label:  Nickel-plated brass, square ends.

     Ground Glass Frame:  As in Variation 1.0: the thin-type frame, with tiny and elegant quarter-round moldings to hold the ground glass in place.

     Ground Glass Frame Fastener:  Small, round spring-type fastener.

      Serial or Assembly Number:  LP790=None.

New Model Variation 2.0 (introduction of the thick frame holding the ground glass at the corners using metal pieces, and cam-type ground glass frame clips):
     Wood:  Cherry throughout, light orange.

     Hardware:  Nickel-plated brass continues.

     Bed:  Variation 2 continues the use of a frame-type bed having tongue & groove edges.  But instead of the cast metal swivel to make the bed rigid on Variation 1 though Variation 1.5, this variation introduces a lever that fits through a slot in the fixed part of the bed to hook a post, which connects the two parts of the bed tightly together.  When new, the lever system probably functioned well, but the slotted bed is weak and is often found to be fractured now.

     Lens Board:  Removable lens boards continue.

      Bellows:  Thin brown fabric.  The thin fabric type of bellows are often found slightly collapsed on their top section.

     Rise Slot:  The rise slot switches back to being bare.

      Label:  Nickel-plated brass, round ends.

     Ground Glass Frame: Introduction of the thick-type frame (see comparison on the Variation 1 page.  The ground glass is held at its corners by four flat metal pieces.

     Ground Glass Frame Fastener:   The most distinguishing feature of a New Model Variation 2 is the presence of large, round clips on the top of the camera to retain the ground glass frame that is hinged at the bottom.  To tighten, the clip is rotated to a position to admit a brad, then rotated clockwise to tighten via a cam-like action.  Up to six of this type of clip was also used on the Ideal  Variation 1, undoubtedly produced at the same time.  The use of these cam-type clips must have been short-lived.  Variation 1, Variation 1.5 and also Variation 3 retain the hinged ground glass frame using the classic Rochester Optical clips - small, round, and worked by a spring instead of a cam.  Thus, the cam-type clips were an experiment, perhaps too expensive to continue, since the company went back to their previous type of clip after a relatively few such cameras were made.  Variation 2 is also the first appearance of the thick-type ground glass frame.  Variation 2 also marks the first appearance of triangular corner hardware to hold the ground glass in its frame, rather than brads, as were used in thin-type frame models.

      Serial or Assembly Number:  LP434=No.s 3 and 4.

New Model Variation 2.1 (minor change from Variation 2):
     Wood:  Cherry throughout, light orange (LP1268 has a dark patina, but probably started out light orange).

     Hardware:  Nickel-plated brass continues.

     Bed:  Same as Variation 2: the frame-type bed having tongue & groove edges, lever and post to make the bed rigid.

     Lens Board:  Removable lens boards continue.

      Bellows:  Thick black fabric instead of the thin fabric- no sign of collapse, but these might be replacement bellows, considering the continuation of brown bellows for the remainder of the variations.

     Rise Slot:  Still bare like Variation 2.

      Label:  Celluloid with square ends, indicating model, manufacturer, and location of company.

     Ground Glass Frame: Continues thick-type frame (see comparison on the Variation 1 page), and ground glass held at its corners by four triangular, frame-like, flat metal pieces.

     Ground Glass Frame Fastener:   Continuing the use of the large, round cam-type clips on the top of the camera to retain the ground glass frame that is hinged at the bottom.

      Serial or Assembly Number:  LP1268=Full Serial No. 16545 located on the inside of the ground glass frame.  First instance of a full serial number rather than assembly numbers or no numbers.

New Model Variation 2.5 (thick frame combined with metal front label and metal guard for the front standard rise slot):
     Wood:  Cherry throughout, light orange.

     Hardware: nickel-plated brass continues.

     Bed:  Variation 2 continues the use of a frame-type bed having tongue & groove edges.  Also continues the lever and post system that connects the two parts of the bed tightly together.

     Lens Board:  Removable lens boards continue.

      Bellows:  Brown fabric showing no evidence of collapse at the top - must be thicker than Variation 2 and earlier bellows.

     Rise Slot:  The rise slot again has a metal wear shield.

      Label:  Nickel-plated brass, round ends.

     Ground Glass Frame: Continues the thick frame and ground glass held at its corners by four flat metal pieces.

     Ground Glass Frame Fastener:   The cam-type fasteners have been discontinued, going back to the round, spring loaded, classic ROC clip.

      Serial or Assembly Number:  LP157:=probably none.

New Model Variation 3.0:
This variation is the most common of all the New Model variations.

     Wood, Hardware:  Same as Variation 2.0.

     Bed:  Variation 2 continues the use of a frame-type bed having tongue & groove edges.  Also continues the lever and post system that connects the two parts of the bed tightly together.

     Lens Board:  Removable lens boards continue.

      Bellows:  Brown fabric showing no evidence of collapse at the top - same as Variation 2.5.

     Rise Slot:  The rise slot does not have a metal wear shield.

      Label:  Celluloid (like Variation 2.1)

     Ground Glass Frame: Same as Variation 2 - continuing the thick-type frame, and flat metal hardware holding the ground glass at its corners.

     Ground Glass Frame Fastener:   Small, round, spring-type.

      Serial or Assembly Number:  LP108=No. 27, LP=None.

New Model Variation 3.1:
Identical to Variation 3.0, except first instance of lacquered brass hardware rather than nickel-plated hardware.

New Model Variation 4.0 (lacquered brass hardware rather than nickel plated hardware):
This model is identical to Variation 3.0, except that it has 1) lacquered brass hardware rather then nickel-plated, and 2) two simple flat clips holding the ground glass frame up rather than the little round, spring-loaded-type clip.

     Wood:  Same as Variation 2.

      Hardware:  Lacquered brass instead of nickel-plated.

     Bed:  Variation 2 continues the use of a frame-type bed having tongue & groove edges.  Also continues the lever and post system that connects the two parts of the bed tightly together.

     Lens Board:  Removable lens boards continue.

      Bellows:  Black fabric showing no evidence of collapse at the top.

     Rise Slot:  The rise slot does not have a metal wear shield.

      Label:  Celluloid (like Variation 2.1)

     Ground Glass Frame: Same as Variation 2 - continuing the thick-type frame, and flat metal hardware holding the ground glass at its corners.

     Ground Glass Frame Fastener:   Small, round, spring-type.

      Serial or Assembly Number:  LP108=No. 27, LP=None.

References:
 

Below, detail of the cast metal device to make the bed rigid, used on Variation 1 through Variation 1.5

Detail showing the later style hook for making the bed rigid used in Variation 2 and later


 

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