Gundlach-Manhattan Optical Co., Rochester, New York, NY
Wizard View Variation 4
6½ x 8½ Date Introduced: - ;
Years Manufactured: c. 1909 In 1899, Manhattan Optical
made the front focus only
Wizard
View Variation 1 and the back focus only
Wizard View
Variation 2. They were replaced, by the time the 1903
catalog was printed, with the
Wizard View
Variation 3, which has both front and back rack and pinon focus.
Variation 4,
also a front and back focus model, appeared about 1909. It differs
from Variation 3 in that it has a ground glass frame that admits
the plate holder using four complex spring clips. The 1909
reference below mentions an improved spring back which undoubtedly
refers to this mechanism. The Wizard Variation 4 also came
with two planks of wood that slide into retaining clips that are inlet
into the bottom of the base (see above photos of the bottom with its
planks). The purpose of the planks, according to the 1909
reference below, appears to be to brace the already fairly rigid bed of
all cameras larger than 5x7. Variation 4 has a
celluloid label that reads: "Wizard View Gundlach-Manhattan
Optical Co. Rochester, N.Y." The lens and shutter,
assumed to have been purchased from the factory at the same time as the
camera. In the 1880's and 1890's, cameras were commonly sold
without lenses, the amateurs of the day having their favorites from
various optical companies, such as Darlot and Dallmeyer, who didn't
manufacture cameras. Even Gundlach didn't manufacture cameras in
the 1880's and 1890's. With the acquisition of the Milburn-Korona
Co. in 1896 and the Manhattan Opt. Co. in 1902, the Gundlach Opt. Co.
became the Gundlach-Manhattan Opt. Co. by 1903, and had a wide range of
leather-covered self-contained plate cameras and all wood view cameras,
including the Wizard. The Gundlach Opt. Co. had
a good reputation for optics, so the cameras of the Gundlach-Manhattan
Co. were sold, more times than not, with a suitable Gundlach-Manhattan
Opt. Co. lens. In this case, the lens is
an asymmetric convertible rapid rectilinear- type lens in a
Gundlach-Manhattan shutter. Each of the two lens groups (front and
back), can be unscrewed to be used alone. The lens is asymmetric
because the lens groups have different focal lengths - in this case, 23"
and 17". The groups can and are normally used together, giving a
focal length of 11", for a total of three different focal lengths from
one lens. The iris built into the shutter has a label showing
three series of f-stops, one for each focal length.
Back to Gundlach-Manhattan Optical Co.
Construction: front and
rear focus via rack and pinion (two gear
tracks on top of base rails); double swing; shifting front,
reversing by removable back; detachable rear
extension
Materials: mahogany body, cherry base,
nickeled brass hardware, black leatherette
bellows
Sizes Offered: 5x7",
6½x8½", 8x10", 11x14"
Notes:
