Rochester Camera Mfg. Co. Premo A
The Premo A is a late 19th / early 20th-century plate camera made by the Rochester Camera Manufacturing Company in the United States. It belongs to the wood-and-leather folding plate family that defined American amateur photography in that era, and was sold as a mid-tier option within Rochester's Premo line.
Sales data for the Premo A is thin, with a single recorded UK auction hammer result of £112 in January 2024, so today's value sits around that figure at saleroom level (wholesale, before commission). Because only one data point is available, what a Premo A sells for in 2026 will swing significantly with cosmetic condition, completeness of the original plate holders, and whether the bellows remain light-tight.
Sales History
Prices shown are UK auction hammer results — the wholesale level achieved in the saleroom. Neither buyer’s nor seller’s commission is included. Dealer and retail asking prices are typically higher.
Prices updated: January 2024
| Date | Price | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2024 | £112 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 470) Title: A Rochester Optical Premo A Hand and Stand Folding Plate Camera
Description:
quarter plate, circa 1900, serial no.100519 with a Bausch & Lomb f/8 lens and Victor shutter not working, body G, rear door does not stay shut, with |
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| Nov 2018 | £132 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica & Instruments of Science & Medicine (Lot 1241) Title: A Rochester Optical Co. Premo A 3¼×4¼" Camera
Description:
1896-1902, serial no. 47311, with Baush & Lomb brass lens, body, G-VG, lens, VG, shutter working, very light separation to rear element, with one DDS |
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Frequently asked questions
What is a Rochester Premo A worth today?
Based on the limited UK auction record available, a Premo A is worth in the region of £110 at hammer, with condition and completeness driving the price up or down.
How much does a Premo A sell for at UK auction?
The one verified hammer result on file is £112 from January 2024; with only a single data point, this is indicative rather than a firm market price.
Is the Premo A a good collector's camera?
It appeals primarily to collectors of early American plate cameras and Rochester-made equipment rather than to users, and its value reflects that niche demand.