American Optical Co., Scovill Mfg. Co., props.

Flammang's Patent Revolving Back Camera (Back Focus)

Scovill's Dry Plate Making for Amateurs, ads p. 14

8x10

Date Introduced: - ; Years Manufactured: c.1883-1896
Construction: rear focus via push-pull; none, single or double swing; reversing by revolving back (the Flammang patent); three-piece lensboard
Materials: mahogany body; mahogany base; black fabric bellows; brass hardware
Sizes Offered: #550A=4x5; #551=4¼x5½; #551AB=4¼x6½; #551A=5x7; #551B=5x8; #552=6½x8½; #553=8x10; #554=10x12; #555=11x14; #556=14x17; #557=17x20; #558=20x24; #559=25x30 (1889 #'s 120-132)
Notes: This model shares the same basic construction as the Scovill Acme only better construction and finish, but its main difference is the presence of the patented revolving back.  It could use either SGC plate-holders (for wet plates) or Daisy plate-holders (for dry plates).   The revolving back is usually stamped "Flammang's Pat. Aug. 21, '83 No. 283,589", not to be confused with Flammang's other major patent, the rod and cylinder device for making a folding bed rigid, which is usually stamped "Flammang's Pat. Oct. 20, 1885" (#328,664).  Cameras have been erroneously sold as "Flammang's Patent" cameras merely because they were marked with the folding bed patent date.  They came in a canvas bag. The 8x10 camera is pictured above and the 11x14 version below.  By late 1896, the Rotating Back Cameras were consigned to the "Bargain Page" of the American Annual of Photography and Photographic Times Almanac for 1897 (page lxi), which probably indicates an attempt to get rid of discontinued stock.

References:
Scovill's Photo. Series No. 20, Dry Plate Making for Amateurs, Scovill Mfg. Co. (New York, NY), 1886, p. a14
Catalog P, Photographic Material, J. W. Queen & Co. (Philadelphia, PA), 1886, p. 75 (As Revolving Back Camera, Back Focus)
How to Make Photographs and Descriptive Price List, Scovill Mfg. Co. (New York, NY), distributed by C.H. Codman & Co. (Boston, MA), April 1887, p. 36
How to Make Photographs and Descriptive Price List, Scovill Mfg. Co. (New York, NY), distributed by C.H. Codman & Co. (Boston, MA), September 1888, p. 28
How to Make Photographs and Descriptive Price List, Scovill Mfg. Co. (New York, NY), distributed by Buchanan, Bromley & Co. (Philadelphia, PA) Catalog, 1888
How to Make Photographs and Descriptive Price List, The Scovill & Adams Co. (New York, NY), January 1889, p. 27
How to Make Photographs and Descriptive Price List, The Scovill & Adams Co. (New York, NY), distributed by Buchanan, Bromley & Co. (Philadelphia, PA) Catalog, 1889
Photographic Material, Catalogue O & P, James W. Queen & Co. (Philadelphia, PA), 1891, p. 61 (as Revolving Back Camera Back Focus)
How to Make Photographs and Descriptive Price List, The Scovill & Adams Co. (New York, NY), distributed by Horgan, Robey & Co. (Boston, MA), June 1891, p. 20
How to Make Photographs and Descriptive Price List, The Scovill & Adams Co. (New York, NY), January 1892, p. 20 (as Revolving Back Camera Back Focus Pattern)
How to Make Photographs and a Descriptive Catalogue of Photographic Materials Illustrated, The Scovill & Adams Co. (New York, NY), 1896, p. 34
American Annual of Photography and Photographic Times Almanac for 1897, The Scovill & Adams Co. (New York, NY, 1896, p. lxi ("Bargain Page")

11x14


1891 James W. Queen (Philadelphia, PA) Back Cover (Flammang Rear Focus Camera with Eastman-Walker Roll Holder

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