Cameras/Premo camera
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Question
Dear Mr. Silver,
I "inherited" an old Premo camera that I know nothing about and wonder if you could give me some information. It comes in a brown leather carrying case about 11 inches long and 4 inches tall. There are two magnetic clasps on the front of the case with "PREMO" engraved on them. Inside the case is separated into two compartments - one side for three wooden photographic plates and the other for the camera itself. The camera is covered in brown leather with a leather handle on the top and a flap door at the front covering the lens and black bellows which are folded down inside and the whole camera is very small (3x3x2"). I can't find a model number or year of manufacture. Any ideas? Thanks, Karen
Hi Karen,
"Premo" was a brand name used by the Rochester Optical Company starting in 1894 and continued though a HUGE line of cameras even after they were bought out by Eastman Kodak in 1903. What you are describing is some sort of smaller folding plate camera, one of the many Premo models, that may have been made after Eastman Kodak owned the company. Without knowing the exact model designation, or seeing a picture of it, I can say little more. Most likely it dates from about 1910 to 1915 since it has a black bellows. Prior to that they had red bellows. An average value for a Premo camera of that style from that period, with a nice case and a few plate holders, is about $75 to $125. If you'd like to send me a picture (please, just one, only in JPEG format, and not over 300kb) showing the camera's overall appearance with the bellows extended, I can give you a more precise appraisal. You can send the image to my personal e-mail <silver@well.com>.
Best wishes,
David Silver
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David Silver
Expertise
I'm an expert on all types of antique, classic, and contemporary cameras, as well as the general history of photography. Everything from ancient box cameras to modern single-lens-reflex; from simple Kodaks to sophisticated Leica and Nikon; from glass plates and roll film to movie and 35mm. I can identify and appraise them, explain how they work, and offer insights on their restoration and care. I can also provide historical background on vintage cameras and equipment, and guidelines on their purchase and sale.
Experience
I've been a professional photographer and a student of the history of photography for nearly 30 years. During that time my collection of vintage cameras and photographic paraphernalia has grown beyond 2000 significant pieces. I've published nearly 70 articles in the field, including 16 in the popular "Buying Classic Cameras" series for PHOTO SHOPPER MAGAZINE from 1995 to 1997, I'm currently a contributing editor for CAMERA SHOPPER MAGAZINE and McKEOWN'S PRICE GUIDE TO ANTIQUE AND CLASSIC CAMERAS, and I've written numerous entries for WORLD BOOK ENCYCLOPEDIA. Portions of my collection have been displayed in museums and special exhibits in the past two decades, and many of the items were photographed as illustrations for books. In 1985 I founded the International Photographic Historical Organization (InPHO), which eventually evolved into its intended purpose as the best first resource for information on the history of photography. I'm also a founding member of several e-mail forums dedicated to specialized areas of photography, and I'm the moderator of the Internet Directory of Camera Collectors (IDCC), which remains the largest and most successful such group in the world. For more information about the International Photographic Historical Organization and its many services, please visit its web pages at:
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