Rochester Optical Co.,
Rochester, NY
Rochester Optical Div., EKC, Rochester, NY
Rochester Optical Dept., EKC, Rochester, NY
The R.O.C. View, Rochester View Variation 4.0
Premo Cameras Catalog, 1907, p. 39
This engraving is used throughout the
entire run of ROC Views, from 1905-1918, despite there being three
different constructions.
8 x 10
The reducing back is not
original, having nickel-plated hardware instead of brass.
By 1905, all the
myriad view camera manufacturing companies having Rochester in their
names had merged or otherwise disappeared, leaving the new Rochester
Optical Co. The Rochester View design was completely overhauled,
and now looks very similar to the
Anthony and
Scovill NPA Variation 4, albeit with unique side hardware.
Perhaps to distinguish it from the earlier Rochester Views, this model
is usually known as the R.O.C. View. This camera had a long run
through several company designations within EKC. During this run,
at least three variations were produced, even though the engraving of
the R.O.C. View present in each Premo catalog during the run remained
unchanged. The three known variations of the R.O.C. View are: It has been presumed that the
engraving (that existed when the model was first advertised) represents
the oldest variation. It is given the designation of Variation 4.0,
to continue the numbering of those variations earlier than 1905,
numbered 1-3. It is distinguished by the introduction of a rather
large brass plate (on each side) that controls the forward-rearward tilt
of the rear standard. The wide part of the plate continues almost
halfway to the pivot point. The rear extension is attached with
three hinges. This is also the first Rochester View to use a flat,
butterfly-type thumbscrew to make the main and rear extensions rigid.
Similar butterfly-type thumbscrews are used for the horizonatal swing
controls underneath the rear standard. This variation is identical to
Variation 4.0, except that the brass plates on the rear standard
have been made smaller - minimized no doubt to save money and weight.
It still has three hinges and the butterfly-type thumbscrews. The
number 4.2 was chosen arbitrarily to indicate that it is very similar to
Variation 4.0, and yet some space is left to insert another variation if
need be (assigning variation numbers is often like gambling - it rarely
turns out exactly right; I don't like to completely re-number variations
just to keep them in chronological order, and have sometimes established
a series of a half dozen variations in a logical progression only to
find one obviously earlier than all of them). This variation is identical to
Variation 4.2, except that it has a piano hinge (a long single hinge, as
found on grand piano tops) between the main and extension platforms
instead of three separate hinges. There is no way of knowing over what
period each of the above variation may have been produced, so the full
set of references (below) is presented for each. References:
Back to
Rochester
Optical Co. Interesting Alteration The 8x10 camera below had, during its useful lifetime,
been altered from back focus to front focus. By using the long
pinion gear in a homemade front standard base, and by securing the rear
standard to the reversed bed, some ingenious photographer had altered
the basic workings of the camera.
Back to Rochester Optical Group of Manufacturers
Date Introduced: - ;
Years Manufactured: in Premo catalogs 1905 -1918. Not in
1904 or 1919 & ff.
Construction: back focus
via rack and pinion (two gear tracks on top of base rails);
single swing; three-piece lens board; reversing by removable back
Materials: mahogany body; cherry bed; black
fabric bellows; brass hardware;
Sizes Offered: 5x7; 5x8; 6.5-8.5; 8x10;
Notes:
Premo Cameras, Rochester Optical Co.
(Rochester, NY), undated c.1905, p. 31
Premo Cameras, Rochester Optical Co.
(Rochester, NY), 1905, p. 40
Premo
Cameras, Rochester Optical Co. (Rochester, NY, dated 1907, p.39
Milwaukee Photo Materials Co. Catalogue No. 5, Milwaukee Photo
Materials Co. (Milwaukee, WI), undated c.1907, p.23
Photographic Materials and Supplies,
The Gloeckner & Newby Co. (New York, NY), c.1907,
p. 10
Complete Catalog of Cameras, Apparatus &
Accessories for the Amateur Photographer, Catalog A, Sweet,
Wallach & Co. (Chicago, IL),
c.1908, p. 45
Premo Cameras, Rochester Optical Division,
Eastman Kodak Co. (Rochester, NY), 1908,
p. 35
Illustrated Catalogue of Photographic
Outfits and Supplies, Sweet, Wallach & Co. (Chicago, IL),
1908, p. 56
Catalogue of Professional Photographic Apparatus
and Materials, Eastman Kodak Co.
(Rochester, NY), 1909, p.28
Lloyd's Photographic Supplies,
Andrew J. Lloyd Co. (Boston, MA), c. 1909,
p. 28
Premo Cameras, Rochester Optical
Division, Eastman Kodak Co.
(Rochester, NY), 1909, p. 28
Premo Cameras, Rochester Optical Division,
Eastman Kodak Co. (Rochester, NY), 1910,
p. 28
Descriptive Price List of Photographic Materials,
George Murphy, Inc. (New York, NY), 1910-1911, p.
42
Catalogue Photo Supplies,
Milwaukee Photo Materials Co. (Milwaukee, WI), c.1910.
p. 53
Photographic Apparatus and Supplies Catalog No.
35, Sweet, Wallach & Co. (Chicago, IL),
c. 1910, p. 57
Premo Cameras, Rochester Optical Division,
Eastman Kodak Co. (Rochester, NY), 1911,
p. 30
Catalogue of Eastman Professional
Photographic Apparatus and Materials,
Eastman Kodak Co. (Rochester, NY), c. 1911,
p. 42
Premo Cameras, Rochester Optical Division,
Eastman Kodak Co. (Rochester, NY, 1912),
p. 30
Illustrated Catalogue, The Gloeckner & Newby
Co. (New York, NY), c.1912, p. 14
Premo Cameras, Rochester Optical Division,
Eastman Kodak Co. (Rochester, NY), 1913,
p. 30
Premo Cameras, Rochester Optical Division,
Eastman Kodak Co. (Rochester, NY), 1914,
p. 29
Premo Cameras, Rochester Optical Division,
Eastman Kodak Co. (Rochester, NY), 1915,
p. 29
Number 30 Illustrated Catalogue of Photographic
Outfits, Lenses and Supplies,
Robey-French Co. (Boston, MA), c. 1915,
p. 49
Schultze Novelty & Sporting Goods Co., Schultze Photo
Equipment Co. (New York, NY), 1915, p. 21
Illustrated Catalogue of Photographic Outfits and Supplies No. 38,
Sweet, Wallach & Co. (Chicago, IL), c.1915, p.52
Premo Cameras 1916,
Rochester Optical Division, Eastman Kodak Co.,
Rochester, NY, 1916,
pp. 27
Eastman Professional Photographic Apparatus and
Materials 1917, Eastman
Kodak Co. (Rochester, NY), 1917, p. 37
Premo Cameras, Rochester Optical
Division, Eastman Kodak Co.
(Rochester, NY), 1917, p. 27
Premo Cameras, Rochester Optical Department,
Eastman Kodak Co. (Rochester, NY), 1918, p. 25
Cameras, Photographic Apparatus and Supplies,
11th Ed., Hirsch & Kaiser (San Francisco,
CA), c. 1917,
p. 31
