Seneca Camera Mfg. Co., Rochester, NY
c. 1906-1908
and c. 1922 and later; Seneca
Catalog, 1906, pp. 18-21 c. 1910-1920;
Seneca Catalog J, 1910, pp. 22-28 6 ½ x 8 ½,
stained finish Label, lower part of front standard: "Improved Seneca
View, Seneca Camera Mfg. Co., Rochester, N.Y., U.S.A." 5 x 7
Ebonized (painted black) Label, lower part of front standard:
"Improved Seneca View, Seneca Camera Mfg.
Co., Rochester, N.Y., U.S.A."
Another 5 x 7
Ebonized with case Label, lower part of front standard:
"Improved Seneca View, Seneca Camera Mfg.
Co., Rochester, N.Y., U.S.A." Date Introduced: 1904 ;
Years Manufactured: 1904-c.1925 The differences
between the
Seneca
View and the Improved Seneca View
are: 1) the standards of the Seneca
View ride on gears and two slots cut in the rail while the
Improved standards ride on gears and the top and bottom of one thick
slot, 2) the Seneca View back
tilt gear is at the extreme right side while the Improved tilt
gear is recessed 1/2#, 3) the Seneca View
has no corner reinforcement while the Improved top rear
standard clips act as reinforcement for the corners, 4)
the Seneca View back is reversed by unclipping
two separate clips while the Improved has
an easy pull lever for back
removal/reversal, 5) the
Seneca View bellows is self-supporting while the Improved
has the extra control and support of a bellows
retainer clip patented Nov. 2, 1905, 6)
the Seneca View base parts are connected with
round thumbscrews while the Improved has a
butterfly-shaped thumbscrews.
The Improved is stated in the 1906 catalog to have been patented
on November 15, 1904. The 1905 catalog states that the camera is made
of mahogany. By the 1906 catalog, the camera was made of "selected
cherry with mahogany finish". There are two color/finish
variations, as shown above. One is a traditional reddish stain and
clear lacquer with polished brass hardware. The other was a
trend-setting ebonized finish, that is, pigmented black lacquer
with polished nickel-plated brass hardware. Ebonized finishes had been
used to cover the plain wood of most inexpensive cameras in the 1880's.
In this case, however, seasoned mahogany was used for both finish types,
and the ebonizing was strictly a different and elegant appearance. It
must have been popular; before long, most manufacturers were
offering an ebonized or at least darker finish. The Improved Seneca View
underwent minor changes during its long run. For simplicity, these
changes are divided into four variations (the numbers of which,
unfortunately, have changed over the years as new variations have been
discovered), based on the shape of the forward-backward swing hardware
on the side of the rear standard. There also has been a change in
the length of the first front base extension vs. the second front base
extension, which has been ignored for the purpose of assigning variation
numbers (Were this to be included, the number of variations would be so
great as to be a hindrance to understanding, rather than an aid to
understanding).
Seneca
View Improved Variation 1: Swing hardware has its thumbscrew in
a slot halfway up. c.1895-c.1904. This shape of swing hardware is
thought to be the first type, but is not confirmed by catalogs, because
it is identical to the hardware on the very early-looking
Seneca View Variation 1.
Seneca
View Improved Variation 2: Swing hardware has a teardrop-shaped
finial. Thumbscrew is at the bottom. c.1904-c.1925.
This is the version shown in the many extant Seneca catalogs. It
is described as patented in 1904.
Seneca
View Improved Variation 3: Swing hardware has a simple round
finial, medium size. Thumbscrew is at the bottom. Not in
catalogs; thought to be later than Variation 2 since it is
simpler in design and thus easier (cheaper) to manufacture.
Seneca
View Improved Variation 4: Swing hardware has a simple round
finial, similar to that in Variation 3, but smaller.
Thumbscrew is at the bottom. Similar reasoning to Variation 3. References:
Construction: back and front focus
via rack and pinion (two gear tracks on top of the base rails);
double swing; reversing by removable back;
Materials: mahogany body
and clear lacquer finish or ebonized (black pigmented
lacquer finish) with corresponding polished brass or nickel hardware,
cherry base
Sizes Offered: 5x7; 6.5x8.5; 8x10; 11x14;
14x17; 17x20
Notes:
Seneca Plate & Film Cameras, Seneca Camera Manufacturing Co.
(Rochester, NY), 1905, pp. 19-21
Seneca Plate & Film Cameras, Seneca Camera Manufacturing Co.
(Rochester, NY), 1906, pp. 18-21
Photographic Supplies, Woodard, Clarke & Co. (Portland, OR)
undated c.1906, p.3
Seneca Plate, Film & View Cameras,
Seneca Camera Manufacturing Co. (Rochester, NY),
1907, pp.
18-21
National Cameras and Supplies, J. L.
Lewis (New York, NY), c. 1907, pp. 18-19 (as
The National View)
Seneca Plate, Film & View Cameras,
Seneca Camera Manufacturing Co. (Rochester, NY),
1908, pp. 22-27
Seneca Plate, Film & View Cameras,
Seneca Camera Manufacturing Co. (Rochester, NY),
1909, pp. 22-27
Photographic Supplies and Cameras 1909-1910,
Sunset Photo Supply Co. (San
Francisco, CA) Catalog, 1909, pp.
32-33
Seneca Cameras, Seneca Camera
Manufacturing Co. (Rochester, NY), Catalog
J, 1910, pp.
22-28
Cameras and Supplies, Catalog No. 12,
J. L. Lewis (New York, NY), c. 1910, pp. 14-15 (as
the New Improved National View Camera)
Cameras and Photo Supplies, Catalog H,
Northern Photo Supply Co. (Fargo, ND), c. 1910,
p. 27
Seneca Cameras,
Seneca Camera Manufacturing Co. (Rochester, NY),
Catalog K, 1911, pp. 26-32
Seneca Cameras,
Seneca Camera Manufacturing Co. (Rochester, NY),
Catalog L, 1912, pp. 28-34
Seneca Cameras, Seneca Camera
Manufacturing Co. (Rochester, NY) Catalog
M, 1913, pp. 29-34 (as the New Improved)
Seneca Cameras, Seneca Camera
Manufacturing Co. (Rochester, NY) Catalog
N, c. 1914, pp. 28-31 (as the New Improved)
Catalog of Cameras, Photographic Apparatus and Supplies,
Oklahoma Photo Supply Co. (Oklahoma City OK), c. 1914,
p. 27 (as the Ingento View Camera No. 1)
Cameras, Photographic Apparatus and Supplies, General Catalog No. 15,
Burke & James (Chicago, IL), c. 1915, p. 21
Photographic Supplies, Apparatus, Photo Jewelry and
Novelties,
Sol Pudlin Co. (New York, NY), c.1915, p. 37 (as the Montauk, Improved)
Seneca Cameras,
Seneca Camera Manufacturing Co. (Rochester, NY) Catalog P, c. 1916, pp.
27-30
Seneca Cameras,
Seneca Camera Manufacturing Co. (Rochester, NY) Catalog
Q, c. 1917, pp.
28-29
Seneca Cameras,
Seneca Camera Manufacturing Co. (Rochester, NY) Catalog R, c. 1918, pp.
28-29
Seneca Cameras,
Seneca Camera Manufacturing Co. (Rochester, NY)
Catalog S, c. 1919,
pp. 24-25
Seneca Cameras, Seneca Camera Manufacturing Co. (Rochester, NY)
Catalog T, 1919, pp.
22-23
Kodaks, Cameras, Supplies and Other Standard
Merchandise,
Catalogue No. 102, David Stern Company, Chicago, IL,
c. 1918, p. 17
Catalogue of Cameras, Kodaks, Lenses and
Photographic Accessories 1919-1920, Central
Camera Co. (Chicago, IL), 1919, p. 34
Catalogue No. 10 and Bargain Book No. 11 of Cameras,
Kodaks, Lenses and Photographic Accessories, 1920-1921;
Central Camera Co. (Chicago, IL), 1920, p.30 (as the
New Improved)
Cameras, Photographic Apparatus and Supplies, General
Catalog No. 15,
Burke & James, Inc. (Chicago, IL), c. 1915,
p. 21 (as the Ingento View No. 1)
Seneca Cameras,
Seneca Camera Manufacturing Co. (Rochester, NY),
Catalogue V, c. 1921,
pp. 28-29
Catalogue of Photographic Apparatus and Supplies,
No. 72, G. Gennert
(New York, NY), c. 1921,
p. 24 (as the Montauk View, Improved)
Seneca Cameras,
Seneca Camera Manufacturing Co. (Rochester, NY),
undated c. 1923,
p. 23
Catalogue No. 21 of Cameras, Kodaks, Lenses and Photographic Accessories
1923-1924,
Central Camera
Co. (Chicago, IL), dated 1923-1924, p.46
Seneca Camera Manufacturing Co. Catalog, 1925
Catalogue No. 27 of Cameras, Kodaks, Lenses and
Photographic Accessories 1925-1926, Central
Camera Co. (Chicago, IL), 1925, p. 60
Catalogue No. 31 of Cameras, Kodaks, Lenses and
Photographic Accessories 1926-1927, Central
Camera Co. (Chicago, IL), 1926, p. 71
Catalog of Photographic Apparatus and Supplies,
Catalog No. 121,
Chicago Photo Supply House
(Chicago, IL), c.
1926, p. 5 (as the
Ingento View Camera)
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