Antique Rochester Camera, Long Focus Premo Model. New York, circa 1900

Antique Rochester Long Focus Premo Model Camera. New York, circa 1900

A rare bellows camera manufactured by the Rochester Optical Company in New York between 1895 and 1904. This is a Long Focus Premo model camera, very attractive and equipped with a double bellows. The name Long Focus refers precisely to this feature: the length of the double bellows allows the camera to be used at a long focal length, in addition to its standard focal length. The camera is in good condition: it is equipped with a shutter release and is functional, although it has not been tested with film. The mahogany wood body is well-preserved, as are the brass fittings, the black leather-lined case that holds the camera, and the maroon-colored bellows.

The front of the camera features a complex movable mechanism surrounding the lens, designed to focus the images. It consists of delicate gilt brass parts that mesh together and allow for precise operation. Below the lens is a brass plate with the model name engraved in capital letters: LONG FOCUS PREMO. On the wooden base, on one of the sides, there is a small spirit level used to level the camera and capture perfect images. On the front cover, there is another brass plate with the manufacturers name, ROCHESTER OPTICAL CO. - ROCHESTER N.Y., engraved on the metal.

This rare and antique Rochester Premo Long Focus camera is a collectors item that will stand out in any collection of photography-related antiques.

Dimensions (Open): Width: 44 cm. Height: 16 cm.

History of the Rochester Optical Company

The Rochester Optical Company was founded in 1883 by W. F. Carlton, after he acquired William H. Walkers camera business. From its founding until the late 1890s, the firm was one of the most important and influential in the field of photography. In 1893, the company launched what would become one of the most popular cameras in the early years of photography in America: the Premo camera, which remained in production (in various models) until 1921. Later, they also produced the Poco model, similar to the successful Premo. Over the years, the company faced stiff competition from the powerful Eastman firm, and to counter this, it merged with five other photographic equipment companies under the name Rochester Optical and Camera Company. Finally, in 1903, George Eastman purchased the company and restored its original name.