Seneca Camera Mfg. Co.
Field View Cameras
Seneca Camera Co., Rochester, NY
(c.1895-c.1900)
Sunart Photo Co., Rochester, NY (1893-1899)
Seneca
Camera Mfg.
Co., Rochester, NY
(c.1900-1924)
The Seneca Camera Co. was founded in c.1895. It purchased the Sunart Photo Co. in 1899, and a new company, Seneca Camera Mfg. Co., was incorporated in 1900. The Sunart Photo Co. manufactured box and folding cameras, but more to the point, two field view cameras: the Vici (Magic) View, and the Vidi (Columbian) View. These two models are shown below as well as under miscellaneous manufacturers. Seneca also bought the Bullard Camera Co. of Springfield, MA. The company continued to be known as Seneca Camera Co. until at least 1903. Seneca was a major manufacturer of cameras in the period c.1905-1924. They were purchased by the Conley Camera Co. of Rochester, MN, a subsidiary of Sears, Roebuck & Co., in 1924. Some of Seneca's field view cameras, such as the Seneca Improved View Camera , are as usable today as when they were made, and were the equivalent of similar EKC models like the Kodak 2d. Others, like the Competitor, were cheaply produced, and are found today in pieces or in need of major re-gluing.
