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Onondaga No.6 Folding Plate Camera, c.1900-01

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Wood Cameras71 of 283Back to the future … digital photography is older than you think!E. & H.T. Anthony Ascot Cycle, No.2 Camera. c.1899
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    Posted 9 years ago

    rniederman
    (343 items)

    As the end of the 1890s approached, the market, saturated with inexpensive folding plate (self-casing) cameras, was already shifting to cheaper box and roll film cameras. While an air of anticipation maintained that the trend would continue, new models of these popular, portable self-casing cameras still found their way into the hands of eager amateurs.

    Room for more?

    Terrence D. Wilkin, Charles E. Welsh, and Edward P. Wilkin must have believed so. On February 27, 1900, papers of intent forming the Wilkin-Welsh Camera Company in Syracuse, New York were signed. The fledgling company was launched with $10,000 in capital stock and 100 shares distributed among its three directors. According to the filing, the purpose of the company was, “The manufacture of Cameras and Photographic Apparatus, and Photographic and other specialties of various kinds.”

    While small companies trying to carve out a small niche were common at the turn of the century, the Wilkin-Welsh Camera Company is somewhat noteworthy for its incredible obscurity and business brevity. Unlike many of its competitors, the company was apparently overlooked as a merger or acquisition candidate.

    In its two (or less) brief years of existence, with little or no marketing or advertising, a small variety of box and folding plate cameras were produced. Other than the few examples found in collections, a lack of reference material makes it difficult to know more about the cameras and “specialties of various kinds.”

    Construction of this handsome yet simple 4 x 5 inch format camera included a bright red leather bellows and a back that could be turned for making portrait or landscape pictures. A leatherette covering was used instead of pebbled leather probably to keep costs down.

    In the end, Wilkin-Welsh’s $10.00 Onondaga No.6 folding plate camera represents an interesting, albeit, a short-lived historical side-bar in an already crowded market.

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    Comments

    1. walksoftly walksoftly, 9 years ago
      That was a lot of money & little to show for it after only two years.
      Great story & camers!
    2. racer4four racer4four, 9 years ago
      Great story. This must be a pretty rare piece then with so little production. Well done!
    3. SEAN68 SEAN68, 9 years ago
      stunning Rob!!! :)
    4. rniederman rniederman, 9 years ago
      Thanks!
      David
      valentino97
      Manikin
    5. ericevans2 ericevans2, 9 years ago
      Well done on the research. Not easy on a firm with only a two year life.
    6. rniederman rniederman, 9 years ago
      Thanks!
      Sean
      Michael
      racer4four
      vetraio50
      aghcollect
    7. rniederman rniederman, 9 years ago
      Thanks!
      lotrows
      kerry10456
      Elisabethan
    8. rniederman rniederman, 9 years ago
      Thanks!
      Eric
      PatSea
      fortapache
    9. rniederman rniederman, 9 years ago
      Thanks!
      John
      gargoylecollector
      kyratango
    10. rniederman rniederman, 9 years ago
      Thanks, f64imager!
    11. rniederman rniederman, 9 years ago
      Thanks!
      GeodeJem
      Beachbum58
    12. rniederman rniederman, 9 years ago
      Thanks, DerekToye!

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