Rouch Pocket Camera

W. W. Rouch
180 Strand
London, England
ca. Late 1870s
Ex-Collection Dr. Stephen Shohet

This lovely Quarter-plate tailboard camera was constructed with fine mahogany, brass fittings, and a maroon leather bellows. The 5” x 4” brass lens is marked Rapid Euryscope, A & N Auxiliary C.S. Ltd. A & N refers to the Army & Navy Auxiliary Co-operative Society which was a British company known for selling a variety of goods, including photographic equipment. The “C. S.” likely stands for “Camera Supply” indicating their focus on camera accessories like lenses. Note: In photography, an “auxiliary lens” typically refers to an add-on lens that modifies the focal length of the existing camera lens, allowing for different magnification levels. While the Rouch Pocket camera, itself, dates to the late 1870s, this type of add-on lens is still considered a vintage lens, as the Army & Navy Co-operative Society is not currently active in the camera market.