The Scovill Mfg. Co.

 

Acme Reversible Back View Camera Variation 1.5 (Scovill Label)
 

 

Scovill Mfg. Co. 8 x 10", Serial No. 185

Bottom

Top

Label, probably nickel-plated brass: "Scovill Manufacturing Co., / New York.
This label is identical to one found on a Scovill Albion Camera Variation 1.

Stamp, rear of folding part of platform: "Scovill Mfg. Co., N.Y."

Stamp, upper part of lens board: "Scovill Mfg. Co., N.Y."
This is the same message, but a different (smaller and squatter font style) stamp than the one used on the rear of the platform, above.
Because the lens board was apparently original to the camera, but had a huge (~5" diameter) hole in it, the hole was patched so that an appropriate lens could be installed without using a replacement lens board.

Stamp, Serial No. 185, rear deck of movable platform.  As usual, the numbers are punched separately.

Two more stamps of Serial No. 185, on the lower rising part of the front standard, and on the top surface of the front nose of the fixed platform.

 

 

Manufacturer: American Optical Co. New York, NY factory
Date Introduced:  ; Years Manufactured: c.1890
Construction: rear focus via push-pull; single or double swing; reversing by removable back; three-piece lens board
Materials: mahogany body; cherry base; black fabric bellows; brass hardware
Sizes Offered: at least 14x17
Notes:

          Scovill / American Optical made a number of of cone or tapered bellows cameras.  The following is an excerpt from American Optical/Scovill Back Focus Tapering Bellows Field View Cameras - Chronology and Design detailing the history of Scovill/American Optical camera models of this basic type.

Acme Reversible Back View Box / Back Focus Cone View Camera Model Variations:   

     The Acme View Camera can be found in catalogs and advertising approximately from 1884 through 1895, although there was a similar Scovill tapered bellows view camera during the wet plate era (see American Optical New Camera Box).   Depending on the catalog and the year, the Acme was referred to as one of at least three names: Acme View Camera, Back Focus Cone View Camera, or Reversible Back View Camera.  Despite its workmanlike design, it was highly finished, showing French polish on the wood, draw file finish on the hardware, and screw slots that were laboriously aligned along the length of each brass part then filed down perfectly even with the part.

       During the Scovill Mfg. Co. era (<1889), sometimes this model's labels read: "American Optical Co., - Scovill Mfg. Co., N.Y. Prop't'rs" but sometimes they read simply "Scovill Mfg. Co., N.Y.".  During the Scovill & Adams Co. era (1889-1901), the labels merely read: "The Scovill & Adams Co. - New York".  Despite the relatively consistent high quality construction and appearance, it is probable that the ones labeled American Optical were manufactured in the New York City factory of American Optical, and those labeled Scovill or Scovill and Adams were manufactured in the New Haven, CT factory formerly the Samuel Peck & Co. factory.

       So far, four variations have been seen: 

Acme Reversible Back View Camera Variation 1.0:  This is the camera as shown in the advertising, including a ~2" thick removable, reversible back.  To take a photograph, the back's ground glass frame is slid out and replaced by the plate holder.  All examples are marked Scovill or Scovill & Adams, and therefore thought to have been made in Scovill's New Haven, CT factory, formerly the Samuel Peck & Co. factory.

Acme Reversible Back View Camera Variation 1.5:  This variation, being represented by only one example so far, is identical to Variation 1.0 except that it has rack and pinion focus rather than push-pull focus.

Acme Reversible Back View Camera Variation 2.0:  This variation also has a removable, reversible back, but it also has an interior ground glass frame that is released via a lever.  The plate holder would then be inserted into the hole vacated by the ground glass frame.  This variation is assumed to be c.1885, since this same back is pictured in 1885 advertising for the American Optical Ripley Camera.  It may, therefore, be the first variation of the Acme chronologically.  But why then would the advertising engraving show the Variation 1.0, above.  I believe that Variation 2.0 was a very short lived, expensive to produce version of the Acme, the Variation 1.0 being the original version made before Variation 2.0, but also made after Variation 2.0 well into the Scovill & Adams era.

Acme Reversible Back View Camera Variation 3.0:  This variation has yet a third variation of removable, reversible back, which, in this case, has spring back that, unlike the other variations, does not have to be removed to insert a plate holder - a very handy improvement.  It has a complex set of four springs that can be set open, allowing the plate holder to be easily slid under it, then released to tightly hold the plate holder in place.  This type of back is also seen in other high end American Optical cameras of the Scovill & Adams Co. era, such as the Compact View Variation 1.0, the Compact View / Irving View Variation 2.0, the Elm City View, the Irving View Variation 1.0, the Irving View Variation 1.2, and the Star View Camera.
 

References:

 

Back to American Optical Co. / Scovill Mfg. Co. (alphabetical)