Schultze Photo Equipment Co., New York, NY

 

Champion ? View Camera

 

6 ½ x 8 ½.  The lens board is not as well finished as the remainder of the camera, and may therefore not be the original Schultze lens board (see second example, below).
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Label on front standard
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Another example: 6 ½ x 8 ½ - identical construction to the camera above, except for the clips holding the removable back.
This one has a black lens board that is not as well finished as the camera body, but nevertheless is the original, having a matching assembly no. 5 like other parts of the camera.
1261.Schultze.Champion.View-6x8-a-w.case&accessories-2000.jpg
1261.Schultze.Champion.View-6x8-a-camer.only.w.extension-2000.jpg
1261.Schultze.Champion.View-6x8-a-camera.only-1500.jpg
1261.Schultze.Champion.View-6x8-b-750.jpg1261.Schultze.Champion.View-6x8-c-750.jpg
1261.Schultze.Champion.View-6x8-d-750.jpg1261.Schultze.Champion.View-6x8-e-750.jpg
1261.Schultze.Champion.View-6x8-f-no.extension-1500.jpg
1261.Schultze.Champion.View-6x8-f-with.extension-2000.jpg

Bottom
1261.Schultze.Champion.View-6x8-bottom-1500.jpg

Top
1261.Schultze.Champion.View-6x8-top-1500.jpg

Label on front standard; below is the assembly no. 5 stamped into the lens board.
Note that the slots in the screws holding the brass bar are aligned - an extra bit of work used only on the highest quality or highest priced cameras.
1261.Schultze.Champion.View-6x8-label&lensboard.serial.no.5-1500.jpg

The same size and font "5" is stamped into the upper part of the removable back.
Note that the slots are aligned on this part of the camera as well as on the front, above.
1261.Schultze.Champion.View-6x8-back.serial.no.5-1500.jpg

Stamps on the fixed extension of the platform:
Left: "S.P.E. Co., New York".  Right: "5" (same assembly number as above).
1261.Schultze.Champion.View-6x8-stamps.rear.of.movable.platform-1500.jpg

An unmarked plate holder, undoubtedly of Schultze manufacture, that came with and fits the camera.  Its construction is as unique as the camera it fits.  The plate is retained by tiny rotating clips.
1261.Schultze.Champion.View-6x8-plate.holder-a-1500.jpg1261.Schultze.Champion.View-6x8-plate.holder-b-1500.jpg

 

Date Introduced: - ; Years Manufactured: c. 1887?-c. 1888?
Construction: back focus via push-pull; no swing; reversing by removable back; three-piece lens board
Materials: highly figured mahogany wood body; cherry base; black fabric and rubber bellows; brass hardware
Sizes Offered: at least 6 ½x8 ½
Notes:

     Schultze sometimes purchased cameras from other manufacturers, e.g., E. & H.T. Anthony NPA.  Schultze also advertised some Scovill camera models in its catalogs (see references below).  The lifetime of the Schultze company appears to be rather short.  Their earliest advertisement appears to be in 1887 and their latest in 1892.

     But Schultze also produced (or had made for it) at least two cameras having its own unique details of construction, and this is one of them.  While similar in size and function to the Scovill Waterbury and other simple tailboard cameras of the era, the Schultze Champion Improved is unique in detail: the ground glass hinges upwards rather than downwards, and the plate holder has two kerf cuts lengthwise, which slide over splines attached to the camera back.  Only the improved version has been so far found in advertising; the unimproved version has not been identified, but is probably one of the Schultze unique variations, here called, for lack of its proper name, Schultze Early View Camera, and the Schultze Champion? View Camera.  The most probable precursor of the Champion Improved is the Schultze Champion?, which is very similar to the E. & H.T. Anthony Champion Variation 1B.

     The back of the Schultze Champion? is virtually identical to the Scovill Acme View Camera.  For this reason, the ending year of manufacture of this camera is assumed to be the same as the ending year of manufacture for the Scovill Acme.  The beginning year of manufacture for the Schultze Champion? is assigned the first year of Schultze advertisement.

References:
Amateur Photographic Equipments, Schultze Photo Equipment Co. (New York, NY), c. 1890, p. 19-34
Amateur Photographic Equipments, Schultze Photo Equipment Co. (New York, NY), 1892, p. 19-34

 

 

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