Catalogue of Photographic Sundries, Jas. H. Smith & Co., (Chicago, IL), dated 1 July 1901, ~5 ½"x8", 210pp
The 1899 Jas. H. Smith catalog had some house brands for hand cameras, but the normal model names for the wooden field view camera line of the Rochester Camera & Supply Co. (Poco hand cameras, and King, Rochester View and Favorite view cameras). This 1901 catalog also contains a mix of normal model names and house brands. For wooden field view cameras, there are the normal-named Korona Compact, Korona View Camera (Variation 1), and Rochester View. However, Smith apparently contracted with the Seneca Camera Mfg. Co. to produce The Columbian View, which is essentially Seneca's Competitor View with push-pull focus rather than rack and pinion, and contracted with the Sunart Photo Co. to re-sell Sunart's Vici model as the Jas. H. Smith Magic View Camera. And if you desire a goat-fur rug, this catalog is the place to find it. This catalog has lost its covers, so begins with a notice of price increases. In the Ninth Annual Report of the Factory Inspectors of Illinois, dated 15 Dec 1901, p. 128, under Portraits, Artists' Specialties, Art Novelties, Jas. H. Smith & Co. is listed at 311 Wabash Ave. (on the same street and two blocks from Burke & James), and having 15 total employees, 9 males >16, 1 male <16, and 5 females >16.
