Rochester Optical Co., Rochester, NY

 

Peerless View Camera Variation 2

 

Rochester Optical Co. Catalog, 1893. p. 11

 

4 x 5
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rochesteropticalpeerless6x8a348.jpg (42090 bytes)
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Celluloid label, bottom of ground glass frame
rochesteropticalpeerless6x8e348.jpg (20565 bytes)

 

 

 

5 x 8
rochesteropticalpeerless6x8a348.jpg (42090 bytes)
rochesteropticalpeerless6x8a348.jpg (42090 bytes)
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rochesteropticalpeerless6x8d348.jpg (22783 bytes)rochesteropticalpeerless6x8e348.jpg (20565 bytes)
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A Peerless Label, on back standard of another camera
rochesteropticalpeerless6x8e348.jpg (20565 bytes)

6½ x 8½.  It appears that someone had added a tripod socket (plate now missing) to the left side of the rear standard in order to reverse the format to vertical. 
rochesteropticalpeerless6x8a348.jpg (42090 bytes)
rochesteropticalpeerless6x8b348.jpg (22535 bytes)rochesteropticalpeerless6x8c348.jpg (21416 bytes)
rochesteropticalpeerless6x8d348.jpg (22783 bytes)rochesteropticalpeerless6x8e348.jpg (20565 bytes)


Date Introduced: - ; Years Manufactured: c.1888 - 1894
Construction: front focus via rack and pinion (two gear tracks on top of base rails); single swing; three-piece lens board; non-reversing
Materials: mahogany body; cherry bed; black fabric bellows; nickeled hardware;
Sizes Offered: 3¼x4¼; 4x5; 4¼x6½; 5x7; 5x8; 6½x8½; 8x10
Notes:

The peerless is a very compact model with a tapering bellows, similar to the L.M. Prince & Bro. Improved Utility. 

There are at least two variations:

Peerless View Camera Variation 1:
     The ground glass frame is fastened up by the ROC Cam-type hardware, seen on other ROC cameras, e.g., The Ideal Variation 1.  Otherwise, Variation 1 is identical to Variation 2.

Peerless View Camera Variation 2:
     The ground glass frame is fastened up by the later ROC spring-loaded clip, the most common type of ROC back fastener.

Discontinuation:  The Peerless is not in the ROC 1895 catalog and later, so must have been discontinued during 1894.

References:
Illustrated Catalogue of Photographic Apparatus, Rochester Optical Co. (Rochester, NY), June 1890, p. 7
Illustrated Catalogue of Photographic Apparatus,
Rochester Optical Co. (Rochester, NY), May 1891, p. 7
1892 Illustrated Catalogue of Photographic Apparatus, Rochester Optical Co. (Rochester, NY), 1892, p. 7
1893 Catalogue of Photographic Apparatus, Rochester Optical Co. (Rochester, NY), 1893, p. 11
1894 Catalogue of Photographic Apparatus, Rochester Optical Co. (Rochester, NY), 1894, p. 11
 

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