Seneca Camera Mfg. Co.

Field View Cameras

Seneca Camera Mfg. Co., Rochester, NY (1895-1924)
Sunart Photo Co., Rochester, NY (1893-1899)

The Seneca Camera Mfg. Co., founded in 1895 and incorporated in 1899, purchased the Sunart Photo Co. about 1902.  The Sunart Photo Co. manufactured some field view cameras, such as the Vici (Magic) View, and the Columbian View.  The assets of Sunart were purchased by Seneca in 1899.  These two models are shown below as well as under miscellaneous manufacturers.  Seneca also bought the Bullard Camera Co. of Springfield, MA.  Seneca was a major manufacturer of cameras in the period 1906-1924.  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, are as usable today as when they were made, and were the equivalent of similar EKC models like the 2d.  Others, like the Competitor, were cheaply produced, and are found today in pieces or in need of major re-gluing.

Camera City View, Variation 1 (1907-1913)
Camera City View, Variation 2 (1914 - c. 1925)
Camera City View, Variation 3 (c. 1910)
Columbian View Camera (c. 1901)
Competitor, Penny Picture Outfit (1907 - c. 1925)
Competitor, Variation 1/Ingento View No. 2/The Professional (1907 - c. 1925)
Competitor, Variation 2 (c. 1915)
Magic View (c. 1901)
Seneca View (c. 1901-1905)
Seneca View, New Improved, Variation 1 (1904 - c. 1925)
Seneca View, New Improved, Variation 2 (c. 1910)