J.C. Somerville (St. Louis, MO)

 

Wide Angle Lens (rapid rectilinear) - c. 1885-c.1890's

 

 

 

 

Notes: 

Despite being quite a distance from Rochester and New York City, the epicenters of photographic supplies activity, lenses of J.C. Somerville are not rare, especially in sizes quite large, e.g., 14x17 and 18x22.

This lens has two achromats, one front and one rear, so is a rapid rectilinear type of lens.  It is assumed to have been first made about the time that Somerville's Universal Lens was first made, summer of 1885.

Prior to 1898, J. C. Somerville was bought and thereafter known as H. A. Hyatt.

American Annual of Photography and Photographic Times Almanac for 1898, The Scovill & Adams Co. (New York, NY), ads p. 22
 

References:
The International Annual of Anthony's Photographic Bulletin Vol. VII 1895,E. & H.T. Anthony & Co. (New York, NY), 1894, ads p. 87
 

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