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

Philadelphia Stereoscopic Box
 

Thos. H. McCollins Catalog, 1882, p. 34

5x8

Date Introduced: 1870 ; Years Manufactured: 1870-c.1887
Construction: rear focus via push-pull with fine focusing screw; single swing; reversing by two tripod mounts; three-piece lensboard
Materials: mahogany body; cherry base; black fabric bellows; brass hardware
Sizes Offered: 4x7; 4x8; 5x8
Notes: The Philadelphia Stereoscopic Box is the same as the New Philadelphia Stereoscopic Box, except for the swing configuration. The rear of this camera supposedly swings outside of the main box, while the New version swings inside. However, American Optical did not help the confusion by using the same engraving for both cameras.  The engraving appears to be the version that swings outside the main box (for an example of a swing inside of the main box, see American Optical New View Camera Box.  The design apparently originated with Samuel Peck & Co. (see Samuel Peck Stereo View Camera), who manufactured a camera identical to this 1855-1860, then entered into a business arrangement with Scovill in 1860.  The photographed camera contains a replacement septum (the view separator inside the bellows).  As with many cameras of this vintage, a single lens version was available, even if not advertised.  The camera illustrated below is the 5x8 format with a single lens. It has no rise and fall, whereas the engraving shows rise and fall ability, and may therefore be an earlier version.

References:
Philadelphia Photographer, April, 1870, p. 100 (introduced)
How to Make Photographs and Descriptive Price List, Scovill Mfg. Co. (New York, NY), distributed by Wilson, Hood & Co. (Philadelphia, PA) Catalog, 1873, p. 34
American Optical Catalog, 1878, p. 12-13
Illustrated Catalogue of General Photographic Supplies, Thos. H. McCollin (Philadelphia, PA), 1882
 

Back to American Optical Co.