c1892 Premier field camera and accessories
Toronto. One of the first old cameras I acquired was a lensless field camera made by the Rochester Optical Co. I was given a lenses (in a shutter) later in Montreal which I added to the camera using a home-made lens board. I later learned that one of the companies absorbed by Eastman-Kodak was the Rochester Optical Company.
In issue 22-4, Dr Robert Wilson stepped away briefly from stereo and books to write a short article on the donation of a c1892 Rochester Optical field camera (Premier) and accessories once used by Canadian photographer Frederick Pole of Mitchell and later Toronto, Ontario.
Bob ‘s article titled, “Rochester Optical Camera Donated to the Society” is as follows, “A recent addition to the archives of the Photographic Historical Society of Canada is a 4×5 Premier Folding Camera manufactured around 1892 by the Rochester Optical Co.
“This is a wooden camera covered with black leather. measuring 173 mm high, 167 mm wide and 188 mm deep. The front panel opens revealing a very attractive mahogany bed and lens board, trimmed with brass fittings and holding the original Rochester Optical Co 4×5 Premier brass lens. The lens board is connected to the camera with a maroon bellows. Within the lens is a Waterhouse rotating ‘F ‘ Disc which provides four different apertures.
“This camera is an early model which has a shutter builtin to the lens board. A hinged lid at the back gives access to the ground glass and storage space for three double dark slides. The Rochester Optical Co identification label is discreetly hidden inside this compartment. On the very back of the camera is a small door that can be opened to access the ground glass for focusing.
“This camera was owned and used by Frederick H.G. Pole who was born in Mitchell, Ontario in 1875 and later moved to Toronto. He married and had five children. This camera was donated to the PHSC by his second eldest child, Mr. Howard Pole, currently of Toronto.
“Also included in the donation were other items originally used by Frederick Pole: a wooden tripod, a 5×7 inch Rochester Optical Co printing frame with a 1 – 12 counter on the back, a wooden negative drying rack, a candle operated dark room lamp with several spare candles and a package of Metol–Quinol developer.
“The final part of the donation consists of thirteen, 4×5 inch glass negatives taken with this camera. Most of these negatives show the photographer’s wife Adeleine. and their five children. Freda, Howard, Dorothy, Constance and Audrey, taken about 1910–191 5.
“The PHSC thanks Mr. Howard Pole for the donation of these items, and PHSC member Bill Belier who did some restoration work on the camera.”
Members read Bob’s article and saw his illustrations in the issue 22-4 pdf file on the members only (free) DVD. See above or at right to join. Email any questions or suggestions to Lilianne at member@phsc.ca.
