Scovill Mfg. Co.

Ne Plus Ultra (A-EEE)

C.H. Codman Catalog, 1883, p. 13

A - 4x5 ebonized

C - 5x8 stereo ebonized

Date Introduced: - ; Years Manufactured: c.1881-1890
Construction: back focus via push-pull; no swing; non-reversing; no lensboard
Materials: white wood body; cherry base; black fabric bellows; brass hardware, varnish finish
Sizes Offered: #A=4x5 (shown in photos above); #B=5x8; #C=5x8 stereo; #D=6½x8½, #E=8x10
Notes: This camera model is described only as having rubber bellows and rigid platform, and apparently came in both ebonized (painted black) and natural (stained) versions, and also with and without removable front (a lensboard).  In the first few years, Outfit D (6½x8½) was the largest offered, but the Outfit E (8x10) was offered starting about 1886.   Outfits A-E = 1 camera, 1 holder, 1 tripod, nickel-plated Waterbury lens, wooden case; Equipments AA-DD = same and dark-cloth, 1 dozen plates and ruby lantern; Equipments AAA-DDD = same as AA-DD and a chemical outfit and sensitized paper.  This camera has the rather unusual construction of both the front and rear finger-jointed boxes being placed on their own solid wood base of the same width, giving the appearance that the finger-joints don't go all the way through.  4x5 Ebony illustrated above; 5x8 and 4x5 natural illustrated below.

References:
The Photographer's Friend, 7th ed, Richard Walsl (Baltimore, MD) Catalog, 1882, p. 51
How to Make Photographs and Descriptive Price List, Scovill Mfg. Co., distributed by C.H. Codman (Boston, MA), 1883, p. 11-12 (A-DDD)
How to Make Photographs and Descriptive Price List, Scovill Mfg. Co. (New York, NY), distributed by Wilson, Hood & Co. (Philadelphia, PA) Catalog, 1883
How to Make Photographs and Descriptive Price List, Scovill Mfg. Co. (New York, NY), 1886 (A-DD)
Catalog P, Photographic Material, J. W. Queen & Co. (Philadelphia, PA), 1886, p. 47-48 (A-E; Queen designations P-250 through P-254)
How to Make Photographs and Descriptive Price List, Scovill Mfg. Co. (New York, NY), distributed by Obrig Camera Co. (New York, NY), 1886 (A-EEE)
How to Make Photographs and Descriptive Price List, Scovill Mfg. Co. (New York, NY), distributed by C.H. Codman & Co. (Boston, MA), April 1887, pp. 27-28 (A-EEE)
How to Make Photographs and Descriptive Price List, Scovill Mfg. Co. (New York, NY), July 1887 (A-EEE)
How to Make Photographs and Descriptive Price List, Scovill Mfg. Co. (New York, NY), distributed by C.H. Codman & Co. (Boston, MA), September 1888, p. 12-13 (A-EEE)
How to Make Photographs and Descriptive Price List, Scovill Mfg. Co. (New York, NY), distributed by Buchanan, Bromley & Co. (Philadelphia, PA) Catalog, 1888 (A-EEE)
How to Make Photographs and Descriptive Price List, The Scovill & Adams Co. (New York, NY), distributed by Buchanan, Bromley & Co. (Philadelphia, PA) Catalog, 1889 (A-EEE)
How to Make Photographs and Descriptive Price List, The Scovill & Adams Co. (New York, NY), January 1889, pp. 12-13 (A-EEE)
 

A - 4x5 natural

B - 5x8 natural

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