Unknown
Counterfeit American Optical Flammang's Revolving Back Camera, Back Focus Variation 3
(rack and pinion focus, swing hinged at the center of the rear standard, and nickel-plated hardware)
5x8"
Format
See below for comparisons between authentic and counterfeit features
Manufacturer:
American Optical Co. New York, NY factory
Date Introduced: - ; Years Manufactured:
c.1883 -
c.1896
Construction: rear
focus via push-pull; single
or double swing; reversing by revolving back (the Flammang
patent); three-piece lens board
Materials: mahogany body; mahogany base;
black fabric bellows; nickel-plated brass
hardware
Sizes Offered: #550A=4x5; #551=4 ½x5 ½;
#551AB=4 ½x6 ½; #551A=5x7; #551B=5x8;
#552=6 ½x8 ½; #553=8x10; #554=10x12; #555=11x14; #556=14x17;
#557=17x20; #558=20x24; #559=25x30 (1889 #'s 120-132)
Notes:
Scovill / American Optical made a number of of cone or tapered bellows cameras. The following is an excerpt from American Optical/Scovill Back Focus Tapering Bellows Field View Cameras - Chronology and Design detailing the history of Scovill/American Optical camera models of this basic type.
Flammang's Revolving Back View Camera Back Focus Model - Variations:
The revolving back was patented by Mathias Flammang 21 Aug. 1883 (US
283,589), one of many patents granted to Flammang while working for
Scovill Mfg. Co. The revolving back
could be had either on a back focus or front focus design. It is one of
the longest lived Scovill designs,
being introduced in 1883 (The Photographic Times and American
Photographer, Vol. XIII, No. 149, Scovill Mfg. Co., May 1883, p.
205 ), and carried in catalogs and other advertising literature until
approximately 1898.
There are currently at least five variations of Flammang's Revolving Back View Camera Back Focus model, and one counterfeit copy. The differences between the variations are due to 1) push-pull or rack and pinion focus, 2) whether the vertical (forward-back) swing is hinged at the bottom or at the middle of the rear standard, and 3) lacquered brass or nickel-plated brass hardware:
Flammang's Revolving-Back View Camera Back Focus Variation 1.0: 1) push-pull focus having a lever in the rear to secure it, 2) vertical swing hinged at the bottom of the rear standard (as in catalog engravings) and 3) lacquered, draw-filed brass hardware. This is the camera configuration as depicted in the engravings in American Optical/Scovill catalogs and other advertisements.
Flammang's Revolving-Back View Camera Back Focus Variation 2.0: 1) push-pull focus having a lever in the rear to secure it, 2) vertical swing hinged in the middle of the rear standard, and 3) lacquered, draw-filed brass hardware.
Flammang's Revolving-Back View Camera Back Focus Variation 2.1: same as Variation 2.0 (push-pull focus, swing hinged in the middle), except having a device at the rear standard that, when pushed, allows horizontal swing. The example is also later than the Variation 2 examples, in that it was made when American Optical was owned by The Scovill & Adams Co. (after 1889)
Flammang's Revolving-Back View Camera Back Focus Variation 2.2: same as Variation 2.0 (push-pull focus, swing hinged in the middle), except for 3) nickel-plated, polished brass hardware.
Flammang's Revolving-Back View Camera Back Focus Variation 3.0: 1) rack and pinion focus, 2) vertical swing hinged in the middle, and 3) lacquered, draw-filed brass hardware.
Another camera of interest to
Flammang's Revolving Back Camera
design:
Counterfeit Flammang's Revolving-Back
View Camera Back Focus Variation 3.0:
a camera which superficially looks like the genuine
American Optical Flammang's Revolving
Back View Camera Back Focus Variation 3.0, but, in
detail, can be seen to have almost every detail and measurement slightly
different than a genuine
Variation
3.0.
References:
The Photographic Times and American
Photographer, Vol. XIII, No. 149, Scovill Mfg. Co., May 1883, p.
205 (introduction)
Descriptive Catalogue and Price List of the Photographic Apparatus
Manufactured by the American Optical Co., Scovill Mfg. Co.,
proprietors and managers (New York, NY), Sept. 1884, pp.54-55
The Photographic Amateur, 2nd Edition,
J. Traill Taylor, Scovill Mfg. Co. pub. (New York, NY), 1883,
2nd Ed. about 1885, p. a14
Scovill's Photo. Series No. 20, Dry
Plate Making for Amateurs, Scovill Mfg. Co. (New
York, NY), 1886, p. a14
Catalog P, Photographic Material,
J. W.
Queen & Co. (Philadelphia, PA), 1886, p. 75 (As
Revolving Back Camera, Back Focus)
How to Make Photographs and Descriptive Price List,
Scovill Mfg. Co. (New York, NY), distributed by
C.H. Codman & Co. (Boston, MA), April 1887, p.
36
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. 28
How to Make Photographs and Descriptive Price List,
Scovill Mfg. Co. (New York, NY), distributed by Buchanan, Bromley
& Co. (Philadelphia, PA) Catalog, 1888
How to Make Photographs and Descriptive Price List,
The Scovill & Adams Co.
(New York, NY), January 1889, p. 27
How to Make Photographs and Descriptive Price List,
The Scovill & Adams Co. (New York, NY), distributed by Buchanan,
Bromley & Co. (Philadelphia, PA) Catalog, 1889
Photographic Material,
Catalogue O & P, James W. Queen & Co. (Philadelphia,
PA), 1891, p. 61 (as Revolving Back Camera Back
Focus)
How to Make Photographs and Descriptive Price List,
The Scovill & Adams
Co. (New York, NY), distributed by Horgan, Robey & Co. (Boston, MA),
June 1891, p. 20
How to Make Photographs and Descriptive Price List,
The Scovill & Adams Co.
(New York, NY), January 1892, p.
20 (as Revolving Back Camera Back Focus Pattern)
How to Make Photographs and a Descriptive
Catalogue of Photographic Materials Illustrated,
The Scovill & Adams Co.
(New York, NY), 1896, p.
34
American Annual of Photography and Photographic Times Almanac for
1897, The Scovill & Adams Co. (New York, NY,
1896, p. lxi ("Bargain Page")
Comparison of Counterfeited Features with
Genuine American Optical Features:
Upper
Rear Standard
Revolving Back
Lower
Rear Standard
Platform
Front
Standard
Back to American Optical Co. / Scovill Mfg. Co. (alphabetical)
