Rochester Optical Co.

Rochester Optical Special
Sears, Roebuck & Co. Perfection Viewing Outfit
Jas. H. Smith Globe Home Portrait Outfit

Jas H. Smith Catalog, 1901, p. 17

Sears and Roebuck Catalog, 1902, p. 141

5 x 7

Date Introduced: - ; Years Manufactured: c. 1901-1902
Construction: back focus via push-pull; single swing; three-piece lensboard; reversing by removable back
Materials: mahogany body; cherry base; black fabric bellows; nickeled hardware
Sizes Offered: 5x7
Notes: The photographed camera is equipped with a celluloid tag that identifies it as a Rochester Optical Special.  It is identical to the Complete Perfection Viewing Outfit, advertised in the 1902 Sears Catalog, even down to the Sears, Roebuck Monarch lens (top engraving).  It is also identical to Jas. H. Smith's Universal View and Portrait Camera, and nearly identical to the Anthony & Scovill Champion Variation 4. This camera, along with a rather too-large studio tripod (remember, this is a small 5x7 camera) was marketed on p. 18 of the Jas. H. Smith 1901 catalog as the Globe Home Portrait Outfit.   It looks like the wooden piece that holds the celluloid tag was omitted when selling to Sears and Smith.

References:
Catalogue of Photographic Sundries, Jas. H. Smith (Chicago, IL), 1901, p. 17 (as the Universal View and Portrait Camera)
Sears, Roebuck & Co. (Chicago, IL) Catalog, 1902, p. 141 (as Perfection Viewing Outfit)

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