Post by genazzano on Jun 19, 2015 4:33:10 GMT -5
The Camera Rochester Never Officially Built:
This new acquisition, a Pocket Poco D, is an uncommon model though due diligence I have concluded that it is an exceptionally rare camera. The early catalogs from RO&C describe the Pocket Poco line mentioning versions A, B , and C, but notably not a D. The challenge then was to find records of a model D Pocket Poco having been produced before the Eastman Kodak take over in 1903.
The Pocket Poco D model actually does not appear in any RO&C catalogs of the time. However, this camera unexpectedly does appear as a Pocket Premo D in the 1904 catalog. I found that 1904 was the first year that the company did not publish a Poco catalog. Importantly, Eastman Kodak took over RO&C Co. in 1903 and the 1904 catalog is the first one published following the Kodak take over. The Pocket Premo D does not appear in catalogs after 1904.
It is reasonable that this camera, clearly labeled "Pocket Poco D", had been intended for the market in late 1903 to early 1904. Since Kodak took over RO&C in the Fall of 1903, this camera was retained in the product line up but as a Premo model, and production of all Poco models was to be ended.
On Historic Camera (www.historiccamera.com) this same camera is described as an early version of the Pocket Premo Camera. It is said that this camera was produced for a brief time in 1906-07. These dates would appear to be in error a bit since the camera appeared in the 1904 Rochester catalog and never again. None the less, it is correct that this camera was produced only for a brief time.
This camera is probably one of the very few built in 1903 as a Pocket Poco D, as it is labeled before it was changed to a Premo model and production of Poco cameras ceased. Thus, it can be concluded that this camera was built during the brief period of transition following Kodak take over in 1903. It is reasonable to say that this camera is indeed rare.
David
This new acquisition, a Pocket Poco D, is an uncommon model though due diligence I have concluded that it is an exceptionally rare camera. The early catalogs from RO&C describe the Pocket Poco line mentioning versions A, B , and C, but notably not a D. The challenge then was to find records of a model D Pocket Poco having been produced before the Eastman Kodak take over in 1903.
The Pocket Poco D model actually does not appear in any RO&C catalogs of the time. However, this camera unexpectedly does appear as a Pocket Premo D in the 1904 catalog. I found that 1904 was the first year that the company did not publish a Poco catalog. Importantly, Eastman Kodak took over RO&C Co. in 1903 and the 1904 catalog is the first one published following the Kodak take over. The Pocket Premo D does not appear in catalogs after 1904.
It is reasonable that this camera, clearly labeled "Pocket Poco D", had been intended for the market in late 1903 to early 1904. Since Kodak took over RO&C in the Fall of 1903, this camera was retained in the product line up but as a Premo model, and production of all Poco models was to be ended.
On Historic Camera (www.historiccamera.com) this same camera is described as an early version of the Pocket Premo Camera. It is said that this camera was produced for a brief time in 1906-07. These dates would appear to be in error a bit since the camera appeared in the 1904 Rochester catalog and never again. None the less, it is correct that this camera was produced only for a brief time.
This camera is probably one of the very few built in 1903 as a Pocket Poco D, as it is labeled before it was changed to a Premo model and production of Poco cameras ceased. Thus, it can be concluded that this camera was built during the brief period of transition following Kodak take over in 1903. It is reasonable to say that this camera is indeed rare.
David
