The John Stock Camera Manufacturing Company is one of the oldest camera manufactures in America founded in the late 1850s. Mr. Stock held numerous patents for that time and his store provided a wide array of products including Camera Boxes, Baths, Stands, printing frames, and other photographic apparatus. The company was originally located at No. 2 Rivington St., near Bowery New York and later moved manufacturing to 207-209 Center Street, New York.

In 1865 John Stock formed a partnership with Nelson Wright the owner of the C.C. Harrison Camera Manufacturer. Under the arrangement, The John Stock Camera company focused solely on manufacturing while Nelson Wright assumed all activities for sales and administration. Mr. Wrights sales office was located at 458 Broadway, New York.

However, latter in 1865, The American Optical Company was formed with $150,000 dollars capital and they purchased the Nelson Wright Co. owner of the C.C. Harrison Camera Factory and patent lens. They acquired all the machinery, tools and licenses for the popular Harrison portrait lens and the Harrison - Schnitzer globe lens. As part of the deal,the American Optical Company acquired the patents of the John Stock Company and continued to manufacture the John Stock Cameras.

Stock continued to invent camera improvements into the 1870's. He was assisted by by his brother Jacob Stock who was named in later patents as of 1872 as a co-inventor.

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2009-07-25 00:00:00