Unknown Craftsman
Counterfeit Waterbury View Camera
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Genuine Rochester Optical
Plate Holder
Date
Introduced: ;
Years Manufactured:
c. 1887?
This is a very well
made imitation of a
Scovill Mfg. Co. Waterbury View Camera
Variation 1. The box joints appear to have been
cut by hand, so it was no doubt made by a craftsman as a one of a kind
copy. Note the Scovill
features: 1) a credible copy of the Scovill patent rod and pocket device
to make the folding platform flat and rigid, 2) the plate and thumbscrew
on the lower right hand rear standard to allow the standard to tilt
forwards and backwards, 3) a very close copy of the clip on top of the
rear standard that secures the hinged ground glass back in the closed
position, 4) focusing via push pull that is locked by a thumbscrew at
the back of the rear standard; note that the slot in which the rear
standard slides is clad in nickel-plated brass, and improvement that
Scovill never made for the Waterbury camera, and 5) front rise and fall
via a slot and thumbscrew. The non-Scovill
features are as follows: 1) If anything, this copy is overbuilt - many
screws are installed, as if the maker did not trust the glue to hold the
parts together, 2) There are two front rise slots and thumbscrews
instead of one, 3) The ground glass is held in by corner
triangular-shaped hardware reminiscent of that used on the
E. & H.T.
Anthony Vincent View Camera, 4) The nominal plate size
is 6½x8½, per the manufactured holders, but the actual ground glass size
required for the frame is 6¾x8¾ (that is why there is no glass - I would
have had to cut down an 8x10 piece, 5) The plate holders are made by
Rochester Optical Co. for their
New Model and
New Model
Improved cameras, and 6) It has a sturdy carrying case,
constructed with simple butt joints, in which case it is amazing it is
still solid and square; each plate holder has its own wooden-sided
pocket.
References:
Back to American Optical
Co. / Scovill Mfg. Co. (alphabetical)
Construction:
rear
focus via push-pull;
single swing; reversing by
second tripod mount; three-piece lens
board; ground glass frame is hinged on the sides
Materials:
mahogany body; cherry base; black fabric bellows; brass hardware
Sizes Offered:
at least 5x8 (cut for stereo
septum)
Notes:
