Montgomery Wards & Co., Chicago, IL
The Chicago View Variation 2
Catalogue "G" 1898 Photographic Apparatus and Materials,
Montgomery Ward & Co. (Chicago, IL), p.21
5 x 8
Label, celluloid, lower front standard
Serial No. 2008, front end of front standard (would
be covered by the front extension, if the camera still had one)
Date Introduced: - ;
Years Manufactured: c. 1901 Montgomery Ward did not have camera manufacturing
facilities, but rather contracted with the camera manufacturers to
produce cameras. The only difference between such cameras and the
model sold by the manufacturer was the label installed. Contracts
could be renewed over decades or a new contract could be negotiated with
a different manufacturer. One of the complicating issues of a
contract change is that the model designation didn't necessarily change
when the manufacturer changed. The Chicago View was just such a contracted
model. That is, every Montgomery Ward catalog contains a camera
called Chicago View, but there are no fewer than four different
variations from at least two different manufacturers.
Chicago View
Variation 1, c.1897: Known from the 1897 Montgomery Ward & Co.
catalog; it is identical to the
Rochester
View Var. 1 made at various times by the Rochester
Camera Manufacturing Co.,
the Rochester Camera Co. and the Rochester Camera & Supply Co.
Chicago View
Variation 2, c.1901: Known from a camera bearing a celluloid
label marked "Chicago View"; it is identical to
Rochester
View Var. 2 made by the Rochester Optical
& Camera Co.
Chicago View
Variation 3, c.1905: Known from the 1905 Montgomery Ward & Co.
catalog; it is identical to the
Seneca
View Camera made by the Seneca Camera Manufacturing Co.
Outfit K392 included camera, lens, shutter, tripod and developing
and printing outfit; Outfit K393 was the same without the developing and
printing outfit; K394 was camera, carrying case and one plate holder.
The 11x14 size was only offered as K394.
Chicago View
Variation 4, c.1905-c.1925: Known from a camera bearing a
celluloid label marked "Chicago View Montgomery Ward & Co."; it is
identical to the
Seneca
View Camera, Improved made by the Seneca Camera Manufacturing Co. The camera shown in the photographs above is an
example of Variation 2, the one that has the celluloid label
identifying it as the Chicago View. This camera also bears
a serial number (2008) on its base, as do many Rochester Optical &
Camera Co. cameras. That its format is 5x8 makes it a throw-back
to the 19th century; by the early 20th century, 5x7 became the common
medium size view camera. References:
Back to Miscellaneous Camera Companies
Construction: front focus
via rack and pinion (two gear tracks on top of base rails);
double swing; reversing by removable back; three-piece lens board
Materials: mahogany body, cherry
base, brass hardware, black fabric and rubber bellows
Sizes Offered: 5x7; 6 ½x8 ½, 8x10, 11x14
Notes:
Catalogue "G" 1898 Photographic Apparatus and Materials,
Montgomery Ward & Co. (Chicago, IL), p.21
