Seneca Camera Manufacturing Co., Rochester, NY

Seneca View Camera, Improved
(Ingento View Camera No. 1)
(National View Camera)
(Rexo Special)

 c. 1906-1908 and c. 1922 and later

c. 1910-1920

mahogany and brass version



ebonized (painted black) and nickeled version

Date Introduced: 1904 ; Years Manufactured: 1904-c.1925
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 with polished brass hardware (later versions ebonized, i.e., black pigmented lacquer with polished nickeled brass hardware), cherry base, lacquer finish
Sizes Offered: 5x7 (photos); 6.5x8.5; 8x10; 11x14; 14x17; 17x20
Notes: The differences between the Seneca View and the Improved Seneca are: 1) the standards of the Seneca 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 back tilt gear is at the extreme right side while the Improved tilt gear is recessed 1/2#,  3) the Improved top rear standard clips also act as reinforcement  for the corners, 4) the Improved has easy pull level for back reversal, 5) the Improved has bellows retainer patented Nov. 2, 1905, 6) the Improved has a butterfly-shaped thumbscrew for the front bed attachment rather than a knurled knob.  It is stated in the 1906 catalog to have been patented on November 15, 1904.
     Between 1910 and 1920, there is a slight difference in bed configuration; otherwise the cameras appear to be identical.  Both are shown on one page because the front bed starts out in one piece 1906-1908; has a removable front extension 1910-c. 1920, then reverts to the one piece c. 1922 and later.
References:
Seneca Plate & Film Cameras, Seneca Camera Manufacturing Co. (Rochester, NY) Catalog, 1906, pp. 18-21
Photographic Apparatus & Supplies, Burke & James (Chicago, IL) Catalogue No. 10, 1906-1907, p. 27 (as the Ingento View Camera and as the Ingento View Outfit, p. 29)
Seneca Plate, Film & View Cameras, Seneca Camera Manufacturing Co. Catalog, 1907, p. 18-21
Seneca Plate, Film & View Cameras, Seneca Camera Manufacturing Co. Catalog, 1908, p. 22-27
Seneca Camera Manufacturing Co. Catalog, 1909
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
Catalog of Cameras, Photographic Apparatus and Supplies, Oklahoma Photo Supply Co. (Oklahoma City OK), c. 1910, p. 27 (as the Ingento View Camera No. 1)
Cameras and Supplies, J.L. Lewis (New York, NY) Catalog No. 12, c. 1910, pp. 14-15 (as the New Improved National View Camera)
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)
National Cameras and Supplies, J.L. Lewis (New York, NY) Catalog, c. 1915, pp. 18-19 (as The National View)
Cameras and Photo Supplies, Northern Photo Supply Co. (Fargo, ND) Catalog H, c. 1915, p. 27
Seneca Cameras, Seneca Camera Manufacturing Co. (Rochester, NY) Catalog N, c. 1914, pp. 28-31 (as the New 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 T, 1919, pp. 22-23
Kodaks, Cameras, Supplies and Other Standard Merchandise, Catalogue No. 102, David Stern Company, Chicago, IL, c. 1918, p. 17
Seneca Cameras, Seneca Camera Manufacturing Co. (Rochester, NY) Catalog S, c. 1918, pp. 24-25 (as the New Improved)
Seneca Camera Manufacturing Co. Catalog, 1919
Catalogue of Cameras, Kodaks, Lenses and Photographic Accessories, Central Camera Co. (Chicago, IL), 1919-1920, 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
Catalog of Photographic Apparatus and Supplies, Chicago Photo Supply House (Chicago, IL), c. 1921, p. 5 (as both the Ingento View Camera, lower engraving, and as the Rexo Special, similar to upper engraving)
Seneca Cameras, Seneca Camera Manufacturing Co. (Rochester, NY) Catalog V, c. 1922, pp. 28-29
Seneca Camera Manufacturing Co. Catalog, 1925

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