What Did I Just Buy?

[Fotoguy20d]

Anyone have any idea what I just bought? Doesn't seem to have much in the way of marking. I bought it for display but it's got film holders with it. Some sort of 4x5? I suppose I could just wait a couple of days until it shows up but isn't it more fun to guess?

Thanks,
Dan

 

[cblurton]

It looks like a camera to me. (I am sorry. I couldn't resist.)

 

[wildbill]

I'm gonna go with cblurton in this one.

 

[Frank Szabo]

That critter may be a Kodak Premo - there's a couple of them for sale on FleaBay, one of them is item number: 220322021522.

 

[Soeren]

Yes it is definitely a camera

 

[Fotoguy20d]

That critter may be a Kodak Premo - there's a couple of them for sale on FleaBay, one of them is item number: 220322021522.

Thanks for that link - now I need to bid on that one. I have a Premo #1 with a bunch of film holders and a working B&L in RR shutter but the bellows are shot. Would be nice to have a usable one.

This might be one of the R.O.C Premos but I didn't think it's a Kodak one. Maybe a Conley or Seneca? That's assuming it is in fact a camera - I'm still not convinced.

In fact, wonder if it's one of these:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ANTIQUE-SENECA-DUO-7-BLACK-BEAUTY-PLATE-CAMERA-BAG_W0QQitemZ380086779625QQihZ025QQcategoryZ11717QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Probably not since it doesn't have a double extension bellows

Dan

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

Whatever it is, it is coming with glass plate holders.

 

[pgomena]

I own a 5x7 Seneca Black Beauty of similar vintage. The camera and the lensboard/lensboard attachment are very much like your camera. Seneca was bought by Conley in the early part of the 20th Century, and Conley became Sears & Roebuck's house brand. Here's the address of a pristine example of a very similar camera: http://www.vintagephoto.tv/senecano9.shtml There are many models that are a variation on your camera's theme. You can find more info by Googling "Seneca Black Beauty." I use mine with modern 5x7 filmholders from time to time, with its original lens or with pinhole apertures. It's an amazing piece of retro technology.

Peter Gomena

 

[Fotoguy20d]

Thanks for weighing in. I agree it seems likely to be a Seneca judging by the black body/bellows. I'm guessing it's 4x5 - if so, it might be a Chautauqua. Might be better able to tell once I get my hands on it and find out the size.

Dan

http://www.camerapedia.org/wiki/Seneca_Chautauqua