Rochester Optical Co., Rochester, NY

 

Peerless View Camera Variation 1

 

8 x 10.  The lens is a Darlot Opticien Hemispherique Rapide.
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Metal Label, on the back standard
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Another 8 x 10.  The lens is a Bausch & Lomb Rapid Universal Variation 1.
The wooden carrying case does not appear to have been manufactured by Rochester.  Rochester cases have box joints rather than the butt joints below, as well as a manufacturer's stamp on the cover.
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Bottom
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Top
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Label, celluloid, lower front standard
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Plate Holder, Book-style
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Date Introduced: - ; Years Manufactured: c.1887 - c.1888
Construction: front focus via rack and pinion (two gear tracks on top of base rails); single swing; three-piece lens board; non-reversing
Materials: mahogany body; cherry bed; black fabric bellows; nickeled hardware;
Sizes Offered: 3¼x4¼; 4x5; 4¼x6½; 5x7; 5x8; 6½x8½; 8x10
Notes:

The peerless is a very compact model with a tapering bellows, similar to the L.M. Prince & Bro. Improved Utility. 

There are at least two variations:

Peerless View Camera Variation 1:
     The ground glass frame is fastened up by the ROC Cam-type hardware, seen on other ROC cameras, e.g., The Ideal Variation 1.  Otherwise, Variation 1 is identical to Variation 2.

Peerless View Camera Variation 2:
     The ground glass frame is fastened up by the later ROC spring-loaded clip, the most common type of ROC back fastener.

Discontinuation:  The Peerless is not in the ROC 1895 catalog and later, so must have been discontinued during 1894.

References:
 

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