THE CYCLE POCO
Rochester
Camera Company, Rochester, New York mid to late 1895
Having a back door stamped "Rochester Camera Mfg.
Co." and a shutter badge marked "R.C.Co.", this Cycle Poco Camera was probably manufactured
by the Rochester Camera Company, just as it transitioned to its new name from
the Rochester Camera Manufacturing Company in mid-to-late 1895. Initially available
in 4x5 only, later models of the Cycle Poco would be offered in 3-1/4 x 4-1/4,
4x5, 5x7, 6-1/2 x 8-1/2 and 8x10.
The first camera in Rochester Camera Manufacturing Company's
lineup to bear the "cycle" designation, this Cycle Poco example is
equipped with Gundlach Optical Company's Shutter
and Iris Diaphragm, referred to as the "new Poco Shutter" in
Rochester Camera Company's 1896 catalogue.
This shutter bears a patent date of May 22, 1894, for Patent No. 520,198
granted to Henry H. Turner. The patent
was assigned to the Gundlach Optical Company, for the first version of the Poco
Shutter, aspects of which are also found on the second and third versions:
Source: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Poco Shutter - First version
Poco Shutter - Second version with
R.C.M. Co. badge
It's this second version of the Poco Shutter, seen above,
that the original model of the Cycle Poco would have been equipped with. The
example shown here is badged "R.C.M. Co." for Rochester Camera
Manufacturing Company.
Most versions of the Cycle Poco seen today are those
built later by the Rochester Camera Company or its successor, the Rochester
Camera & Supply Company during the late 1890's up through 1903.
Earlier Cycle Poco and Folding Poco cameras by Rochester
Camera Manufacturing Company, which exhibit an exceptional build quality and
some of the most decorative shutters ever produced by Gundlach,
are seen very infrequently.