A. Semmendinger (see http://semmendinger-camera.com/)

Excelsior View Camera




Date Introduced: June, 1889 ; Years Manufactured:  c. 1889
Construction: rear focus
Materials:
Sizes Offered: 5x7 (photographs above; as advertised below: 6.5x8.5 to 1-4; 8x10; 10x12; 11x14; 14x17; 17x20; 5x8 Stereoscopic
Notes: Apparently all Semmendinger Cameras, no matter what design, are called The Excelsior - the camera in the photographs above is so stamped, as are several other designs that are extant.  This camera has straight bellows.  The camera above appears to be a studio camera design that just happens to have a folding bed to make it (slightly) portable.  The lensboard is moved up and down via the knob at its top, but is not readily removable, being inside the front standard.  The back may have been altered to be spring-loaded for dry plates - the original wet-plate holder would be inserted instead of the ground glass.  The most common Semmendinger design, containing a small chamber below the lensboard and cone bellows, is shown in the engraving above. 
References: 
The Photographer's Friend, Richard Walsl (Baltimore, MD), 7th edition, 1882, p. 46 (as Extra Quality View Cameras)

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