Scovill Mfg. Co.
Dry Plate Outfit (#A-D)
Catalogue No. 7, T. F. Indermill, St. Joseph, MO, Oct.
1, 1885, p. 97 (A-D) [may be an engraving of the Favorite]
5 x 8
Date Introduced: - ; Years Manufactured: c. 1882
- 1885
Construction: rear focus
via push-pull; no swing; reversing by two tripod mounts; three-piece
lensboard
Materials: brass hardware, black
fabric bellows
Sizes Offered: #A=4x5; #B=5x8; #C=5x8 stereo and single;
D=6½x8½
Notes:
These are described
in the references as light, compact and easy to
carry about. The beds probably folded and the catalog
engraving above shows a folding bed, although the catalog
description is mute on that point. All
came with Waterbury lenses with flange. Since 1)
the references are non-Scovill (and therefore liable to use their own model
nomenclature), 2) they are not advertised concurrently with the
Favorite, and 3) letters are used to distinguish the
various sizes and offerings of both the Dry Plate Outfits and
Favorites (also Ne Plus Ultra), it is just possible that these references
are referring to the Favorite rather than a different model. On the
other hand, the examples on this page exist - cameras that are similar to the
Favorite, but with no swing and their different and flecked wood, so there
should be a unique model so advertised. It is strange that Scovill
catalogs apparently do not advertise such a model. This page describes
that unique model, regardless of whether the references are describing it or the
Favorite.
The cameras are unmarked. That
they are Scovill is inferred from the wood, the ever-present Waterbury
lens, and the cases that have
classic Scovill
construction. This is an inexpensively made camera, probably the next grade
up from the non-folding Ne Plus Ultra.
Most of this model is
constructed from a
distinctive, fleck-figured wood, which
has been identified as quarter-sawn
sycamore. This wood
is also found on the Scovill New York (601-603) Camera.
The Waterbury lenses found
with these cameras have insertable stops held in
place by a wire spring, visible in photo 3 above. The bed lock is via a thumbscrew
rather than patent side clamps, which may mean that it was made prior to the patent
(20 Oct 1885), or merely that this is a cheaply made camera that doesn't rate patent clamps.
The back is made of the same wood, not painted black
like the Favorite. The above camera is long
- when folded up, it extends at least 2" above
the top of the camera. Most cameras of "tailboard" construction possess
bases that reach exactly the top of the camera when folded, thereby being more compact.
The case has been made taller to accommodate the height.
Note the interior slots to fit a septum
for stereo work.
Another example is shown below.
References:
The Photographer's Friend,
Richard Walsl (Baltimore, MD), 7th edition, 1882, p. 51 (A, B & C only)
Catalogue No. 7, T. F. Indermill, St. Joseph, MO, Oct.
1, 1885, p. 97 (A-D) (but the description is not specific enough - may be referring to the Favorite)
5 x 8
Back to Scovill