Rochester Optical Company PONY PREMO 4x5 Plate Camera w Red Bellows & Brass Lens

Rochester Optical Co Pony Premo No. 4

Made:  c 1900

Country: Rochester NY

Color: Black case, Red bellows, Mahogany wood inside

Height, Width: 61/4” high, 6’ wide, 2 ¾” deep

Opens: easily

Lens board: pulls down and locks into place.  Inside of the lens board is beautiful mahogany wood

Lens: Bausch & Lomb symmetrical 4x5 lens. Lens has a little hazy…only a little. Inside lens is fairly clear

Shutter: Victor shutter. T, B, 1, 2, 5, 25,100. Fires at all speeds….not sure the speeds are accurate but they do sound to get faster. To cock the shutter, lift the shutter level up. To fire it, press down.

Aperture: f8-f128 Works as it should

Viewfinder: looks dusty inside

Bellows:  Red leather. I could not find any pinholes with a flashlight in a dark room and they look in good 

   condition which is amazing for a 125 year old camera

Back: The back opens and comes off and goes on easily.  The ground glass plate inside is in good condition.  

Inside: clean looking

Leather/Leatherette covering and condition: Show wear…see pictures

Handle: It is in ok condition but I do not think I would use it to pick up the camera

Closes: closes easily and locks into place

Tripod hole.  Yes, one

General Condition: This camera is 125 years old and is in good shape. The leather shows wear, but it would be 

   a beautiful display piece with the Mahogany wood and brass lens face.

Works: I am not sure and I don’t know enough about plate cameras to test it. The shutter fires, the aperture 

   works and the bellows appear light tight. It is in great condition for it's age and would make a beautiful display 

   piece, which is what it has been for me for years