Rochester Optical Premo SR

[ishutteratthethought]

Hello folks,
I picked up this camera at a garage sale over the weekend.
It is a Rochester Optical Premo SR (senior) circa 1903 with a Bausch & Lomb lens and a Victor shutter??? not sure, I was hoping if any of you could pinpoint the make of the shutter, says Victor but I am not sure. Also came with an attachment, "The Ideal Copying Lens" Burke & James Chicago that fits over the main lens. Looks like a vintage macro attachment of sorts.

The shutter may need a cla, it is a little slow. Also, any thoughts of where to get replacement bellows as well as a ground-glass would be appreciated. I am going to clean up the leatherette and reapply some polish to it but over all, the camera it is in nice shape for its age. I do need to pick up some 5 x 7 holders as well, the 4 x 5’ s are a wee bit small.

Thanks!!
Steve

 

[Sirius Glass]

Nice find. The only thing wrong is that I did not find it.

See the url for a reference to Premo, Bausch & Lomb, and the Rochester Optical Company.
http://graflex.org/articles/kingslake/

Steve

 

[pgomena]

You are a lucky man.

I have a friend who owns a 4x5 camera with a B&L anastigmat lens in a slightly different shutter, about the same vintage as yours. We put a modern holder in it, and sonofagun, it fit! Test shots confirmed lens is sharp as a tack. Use it well!

Peter Gomena

 

[ishutteratthethought]

Thanks Steve & Peter.
I think I will try my make my own ground glass for now. As far as the bellows, looks like there is a black liner that is still pretty tight, i still intend to replace the bellows and would like to find the same color if possible.
Not sure who works on these types of shutters, I will do more research.
Steve

 

[pgomena]

The black liner on my friend's camera was light-tight as well, but it had mostly come unglued from the bellows and stiffeners. It sagged into part of the picture area of the test shots we tried. I'm trying to talk him into letting me refurbish his little camera. It's a real gem of woodworking technology.

Peter Gomena

 

[Whiteymorange]

It's a real gem of woodworking technology.

Peter Gomena

The end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century were the height of American craftsmanship in hard wood and soft metal (brass.) I have the 4x5 version of that camera as well as other products of the shops around Rochester at the turn of that century and I find that most woodworkers today look at their craftsmanship with a great deal of respect. My friend, a fine furniture maker with a modern, well equipped shop said he would be hard pressed to match the parts - even with today's tools.

 

[michael9793]

bellows.com
you may have to send them the bellows but they do a great job.