{"id":31078,"date":"2025-03-26T01:03:20","date_gmt":"2025-03-26T05:03:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/phsc.ca\/camera\/?p=31078"},"modified":"2025-03-25T01:46:05","modified_gmt":"2025-03-25T05:46:05","slug":"rock-of-ages","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/phsc.ca\/camera\/rock-of-ages\/","title":{"rendered":"rock of ages"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>

c1892 Premier field camera and accessories<\/p><\/div>\n

Toronto<\/strong>. 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Bob ‘s article titled, “Rochester\u00a0Optical Camera\u00a0Donated to the Society” is as follows, “A r<\/span>ece<\/span>nt <\/span>ad<\/span>diti<\/span>on to<\/span>\u00a0th<\/span>e ar<\/span>chi<\/span>ves <\/span>of th<\/span>e\u00a0Ph<\/span>otog<\/span>r<\/span>aphi<\/span>c Hi<\/span>stori<\/span>ca<\/span>l <\/span>S<\/span>oci<\/span>ety\u00a0of <\/span>Ca<\/span>n<\/span>ad<\/span>a i<\/span>s a 4×5 Pr<\/span>emi<\/span>er F<\/span>ol<\/span>din<\/span>g Ca<\/span>m<\/span>er<\/span>a m<\/span>anuf<\/span>act<\/span>u<\/span>red\u00a0<\/span>aro<\/span>un<\/span>d <\/span>1<\/span>892 <\/span>by <\/span>th<\/span>e <\/span>Roc<\/span>hest<\/span>e<\/span>r Optica<\/span>l <\/span>Co<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

“This is a woo<\/span>de<\/span>n ca<\/span>me<\/span>ra cove<\/span>r<\/span>e<\/span>d w<\/span>ith bl<\/span>ac<\/span>k\u00a0leat<\/span>he<\/span>r. <\/span>meas<\/span>uring <\/span>1<\/span>73 <\/span>mm <\/span>hi<\/span>g<\/span>h, <\/span>1<\/span>67 <\/span>mm\u00a0w<\/span>ide a<\/span>n<\/span>d <\/span>188 <\/span>mm d<\/span>ee<\/span>p<\/span>. <\/span>The <\/span>fr<\/span>o<\/span>nt p<\/span>a<\/span>n<\/span>e<\/span>l\u00a0<\/span>op<\/span>en<\/span>s r<\/span>evea<\/span>lin<\/span>g a ve<\/span>r<\/span>y attr<\/span>ac<\/span>ti<\/span>ve <\/span>m<\/span>ah<\/span>oga<\/span>n<\/span>y\u00a0be<\/span>d and <\/span>l<\/span>e<\/span>n<\/span>s <\/span>boa<\/span>rd, t<\/span>rimm<\/span>ed <\/span>with b<\/span>r<\/span>ass <\/span>fitt<\/span>in<\/span>gs <\/span>and <\/span>h<\/span>oldin<\/span>g th<\/span>e ori<\/span>gin<\/span>al R<\/span>oc<\/span>h<\/span>est<\/span>er\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0O<\/span>ptica<\/span>l Co 4×5<\/span>\u00a0Pr<\/span>e<\/span>mie<\/span>r bra<\/span>ss <\/span>l<\/span>e<\/span>ns<\/span>. <\/span>The\u00a0<\/span>l<\/span>e<\/span>n<\/span>s <\/span>boa<\/span>rd i<\/span>s <\/span>co<\/span>nn<\/span>ect<\/span>e<\/span>d to\u00a0<\/span>th<\/span>e <\/span>ca<\/span>mera <\/span>with a\u00a0<\/span>mar<\/span>oon <\/span>b<\/span>ell<\/span>ows. Withi<\/span>n <\/span>th<\/span>e l<\/span>en<\/span>s <\/span>is <\/span>a\u00a0W<\/span>at<\/span>e<\/span>rh<\/span>o<\/span>use rot<\/span>ating <\/span>‘F<\/i><\/span>\u00a0<\/i><\/span>‘ <\/i><\/span>Disc <\/span>w<\/span>hi<\/span>c<\/span>h pr<\/span>o<\/span>vid<\/span>es <\/span>f<\/span>our <\/span>diff<\/span>er<\/span>ent\u00a0<\/span>ap<\/span>ertur<\/span>es. <\/span><\/p>\n

“Thi<\/span>s c<\/span>am<\/span>er<\/span>a\u00a0is <\/span>a<\/span>n ea<\/span>rl<\/span>y <\/span>m<\/span>o<\/span>de<\/span>l <\/span>w<\/span>hic<\/span>h <\/span>has <\/span>a s<\/span>hutte<\/span>r b<\/span>uilt<\/span>in t<\/span>o th<\/span>e l<\/span>en<\/span>s <\/span>b<\/span>oa<\/span>r<\/span>d.\u00a0<\/span>A <\/span>hinge<\/span>d lid <\/span>at <\/span>\u00a0th<\/span>e <\/span>bac<\/span>k g<\/span>i<\/span>ves <\/span>acces<\/span>s to t<\/span>h<\/span>e g<\/span>ro<\/span>und g<\/span>l<\/span>ass <\/span>a<\/span>nd <\/span>st<\/span>o<\/span>r<\/span>age <\/span>s<\/span>pace <\/span>fo<\/span>r thr<\/span>ee\u00a0<\/span>do<\/span>ubl<\/span>e <\/span>d<\/span>a<\/span>rk s<\/span>li<\/span>des. <\/span>The <\/span>R<\/span>oc<\/span>h<\/span>est<\/span>e<\/span>r Opti<\/span>c<\/span>al\u00a0<\/span>Co id<\/span>entifi<\/span>cat<\/span>i<\/span>on <\/span>l<\/span>ab<\/span>el <\/span>i<\/span>s di<\/span>sc<\/span>r<\/span>eet<\/span>l<\/span>y hidd<\/span>en\u00a0<\/span>ins<\/span>ide t<\/span>h<\/span>i<\/span>s <\/span>co<\/span>mp<\/span>a<\/span>rtme<\/span>nt. On th<\/span>e <\/span>ve<\/span>ry <\/span>bac<\/span>k of <\/span>th<\/span>e <\/span>ca<\/span>mer<\/span>a is <\/span>a sm<\/span>all d<\/span>oo<\/span>r t<\/span>h<\/span>at\u00a0<\/span>ca<\/span>n <\/span>b<\/span>e op<\/span>en<\/span>ed to<\/span>\u00a0access t<\/span>h<\/span>e\u00a0gro<\/span>und <\/span>g<\/span>l<\/span>ass <\/span>fo<\/span>r foc<\/span>us<\/span>ing<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Thi<\/span>s ca<\/span>m<\/span>er<\/span>a wa<\/span>s <\/span>own<\/span>ed <\/span>and <\/span>u<\/span>se<\/span>d b<\/span>y Fr<\/span>ed<\/span>eri<\/span>ck\u00a0<\/span>H.G<\/span>. P<\/span>ol<\/span>e w<\/span>h<\/span>o w<\/span>as <\/span>b<\/span>orn <\/span>in <\/span>M<\/span>i<\/span>t<\/span>ch<\/span>ell<\/span>, <\/span>Ont<\/span>ari<\/span>o i<\/span>n <\/span>1<\/span>875\u00a0<\/span>and later<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>m<\/span>oved to\u00a0T<\/span>or<\/span>onto. H<\/span>e m<\/span>arri<\/span>ed <\/span>and <\/span>h<\/span>ad fi<\/span>ve\u00a0<\/span>chil<\/span>dr<\/span>en<\/span>. Thi<\/span>s <\/span>ca<\/span>m<\/span>er<\/span>a was <\/span>d<\/span>on<\/span>ated <\/span>to <\/span>th<\/span>e PH<\/span>SC <\/span>b<\/span>y <\/span>hi<\/span>s\u00a0<\/span>s<\/span>eco<\/span>nd <\/span>eld<\/span>est<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>child,<\/span>\u00a0Mr. <\/span>H<\/span>oward <\/span>P<\/span>ol<\/span>e,\u00a0<\/span>curr<\/span>entl<\/span>y of\u00a0<\/span>To<\/span>r<\/span>o<\/span>nt<\/span>o. <\/span><\/p>\n

“A<\/span>l<\/span>so <\/span>includ<\/span>ed <\/span>in th<\/span>e <\/span>do<\/span>na<\/span>tio<\/span>n <\/span>we<\/span>re ot<\/span>h<\/span>e<\/span>r it<\/span>e<\/span>m<\/span>s\u00a0<\/span>o<\/span>rig<\/span>ina<\/span>ll<\/span>y <\/span>u<\/span>se<\/span>d by <\/span>Fre<\/span>de<\/span>ri<\/span>c<\/span>k P<\/span>o<\/span>l<\/span>e<\/span>: a <\/span>woo<\/span>de<\/span>n tripo<\/span>d, a\u00a0<\/span>5×7 <\/span>inc<\/span>h R<\/span>oc<\/span>h<\/span>est<\/span>e<\/span>r Optic<\/span>al <\/span>Co <\/span>printin<\/span>g <\/span>frame <\/span>with a <\/span>1 <\/span>–\u00a0<\/span>1<\/span>2 co<\/span>unt<\/span>er <\/span>on t<\/span>h<\/span>e b<\/span>ac<\/span>k,<\/span>\u00a0a wooden <\/span>n<\/span>eg<\/span>ati<\/span>ve <\/span>dr<\/span>yin<\/span>g r<\/span>ac<\/span>k,\u00a0<\/span>a ca<\/span>n<\/span>dl<\/span>e op<\/span>er<\/span>ated <\/span>d<\/span>ark <\/span>r<\/span>oo<\/span>m <\/span>l<\/span>amp <\/span>with <\/span>seve<\/span>r<\/span>al <\/span>sp<\/span>ar<\/span>e\u00a0ca<\/span>nd<\/span>l<\/span>es <\/span>and <\/span>a p<\/span>ac<\/span>k<\/span>age <\/span>of M<\/span>etol<\/span>–Qu<\/span>in<\/span>ol\u00a0<\/span>d<\/span>eve<\/span>l<\/span>oper. <\/span><\/p>\n

“Th<\/span>e\u00a0fina<\/span>l <\/span>part<\/span>\u00a0o<\/span>f th<\/span>e <\/span>do<\/span>natio<\/span>n co<\/span>ns<\/span>ist<\/span>s o<\/span>f thirtee<\/span>n, <\/span>4×5<\/span>\u00a0inc<\/span>h\u00a0g<\/span>l<\/span>ass <\/span>n<\/span>ega<\/span>ti<\/span>ves t<\/span>a<\/span>ke<\/span>n <\/span>w<\/span>ith thi<\/span>s <\/span>ca<\/span>me<\/span>ra. <\/span>Mo<\/span>s<\/span>t o<\/span>f these <\/span>n<\/span>egat<\/span>i<\/span>ve<\/span>s <\/span>sh<\/span>ow th<\/span>e p<\/span>h<\/span>ot<\/span>og<\/span>r<\/span>ap<\/span>h<\/span>er’<\/span>s wif<\/span>e Ad<\/span>el<\/span>ein<\/span>e. <\/span>and t<\/span>h<\/span>eir <\/span>fi<\/span>ve \u00a0<\/span>childr<\/span>en. <\/span>Fr<\/span>ed<\/span>a, <\/span>H<\/span>oward<\/span>, D<\/span>or<\/span>oth<\/span>y,\u00a0<\/span>Con<\/span>stan<\/span>ce\u00a0<\/span>and <\/span>Audr<\/span>ey, t<\/span>ak<\/span>en <\/span>about<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>1<\/span>9<\/span>10<\/span>–<\/span>1<\/span>9<\/span>1 <\/span>5<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Th<\/span>e PH<\/span>SC t<\/span>h<\/span>ank<\/span>s <\/span>Mr. <\/span>H<\/span>oward P<\/span>ol<\/span>e f<\/span>or th<\/span>e d<\/span>on<\/span>atio<\/span>n of t<\/span>h<\/span>ese <\/span>ite<\/span>ms, <\/span>a<\/span>nd PHS<\/span>C <\/span>me<\/span>mbe<\/span>r Bill <\/span>Be<\/span>lie<\/span>r <\/span>w<\/span>ho\u00a0<\/span>did <\/span>so<\/span>m<\/span>e r<\/span>est<\/span>or<\/span>ati<\/span>on <\/span>work <\/span>on <\/span>th<\/span>e ca<\/span>m<\/span>er<\/span>a.”<\/span><\/p>\n

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<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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 … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1944],"tags":[500,398,260,3553],"class_list":["post-31078","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-history","tag-accessories","tag-camera","tag-rochester","tag-rochester-optical-company"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/phsc.ca\/camera\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31078","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/phsc.ca\/camera\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/phsc.ca\/camera\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/phsc.ca\/camera\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/phsc.ca\/camera\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=31078"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/phsc.ca\/camera\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31078\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31082,"href":"https:\/\/phsc.ca\/camera\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31078\/revisions\/31082"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/phsc.ca\/camera\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=31078"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/phsc.ca\/camera\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=31078"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/phsc.ca\/camera\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=31078"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}