The Compact View is an American interpretation of the classic English compact veiw camera pattern. Believed to be in production from 1882 to 1898, it was constructed of polished mahogany featuring a cone bellows, brass trim, interchangeable lensboard, and patent reversible swing-back. The American Optical Company (an S&A subsidiary) also offered the same camera with a higher grade finish.
In an age of boxy straight lined apparatus, the Compact View is a rare and unusual camera, distinguished by its sculptured front standard mounted on a pair of solid brass posts with beautifully milled "pineapple" decorations. The concave quarter-round shapes, notches and rounded edges on the front standard are purely ornamental and not found on any other camera in the Scovill & Adams inventory.
rare Goerz Choroskop II landscape lens and shutter.
Ironically, the camera's rarity is possibly due to the elaborate front standard. Using the camera is a complicated affair because the brass posts must be unscrewed from the bed when closing the camera, and screwed to the bed when opening the camera. No matter how a photographer used the camera, the brass posts were always being removed or changed. I believe these actions eventually led to a number of damaged cameras, especially the bellows and front standard mounts. In comparison to other cameras available at the time, the overall design appears to be very impractical considering the potential for damage - which may explain why there are only a few examples extant of this earlier style. Realizing the problem, Scovill & Adams may have changed the design to a traditional (square) front standard sometime after 1892, however the exact date is unknown. An example of what appears to be the later pattern can be seen in Larry Pierce's collection by following this link.
This particular camera is a 5x7 inch format with Goerz Choroskop II landscape lens and shutter. A tripod turntable and brass focusing knob are located underneath the bed. "Scovill & Adams, Company, NY" markings are found on the leather strap and maker's label on the back - implying a manufacturing date between 1889 and 1898. (Note: the Scovill & Adams, Company, NY naming terminology was in use from 1889-1902.) However the ground glass back provides additional clues to help pinpoint a specific manufacturing year. The rear assembly on this camera does not match the English compact style back shown in the 1892 catalogue entry, but is representative of a pattern found on the St. Louis field camera made from 1885-1889. Since the back has matching build/lot numbers (#23) with the rest of the body, it is considered original to the camera. Checking into the inventory of American Optical Company, Scovill & Adams cameras, and catalogue references, the St. Louis back pattern may have stopped appearing on the company's English compact cameras after 1889 - implying that cameras made on or after 1890 had a newer, more compact back. If so, the St. Louis pattern probably appeared on the Compact View from 1882 to 1889, which coincides with the last date that the St. Louis field camera was available.
Right: Detail of brass post top. Reminiscent of a "pineapple" bed post, the milled section is a functional decoration that provides a convenient nonslip grip when tightening or loosening the support posts.
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