Rochester Optical Company View Camera, New Model Style, circa 1895

01

Artifact Overview

Folding cameras were designed to be portable and rugged. The lens sits at the end of a collapsible bellows system, often adjustable to provide better focus. The back of this camera held glass plates for exposure; some models contained cartridges with multiple plates. Once user-friendly roll film cameras were perfected around 1900, plate cameras began to wane.

Artifact Details

Artifact

View camera

Date Made

circa 1895

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

2003.0.22.41

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Copper-nickel alloy
Glass (Material)
Iron alloy
Leather
Wood (Plant Material)

Dimensions

Height: 9.5 in
Width: 11.0 in
Depth: 7.5 in

Inscriptions

plaque: ROCHESTER OPTICAL CO. NEW MODEL lens: A. PRASNOVSKI / RUE BONAPARTE, 1, PARIS 908
Rochester Optical Company View Camera, New Model Style, circa 1895