SIMON WING VIEW CAMERA

S. Wing & Company, Charlestown, Massachusetts 1887

Several distinctive features of Simon Wing's View Camera make it easily identifiable today. The most prominent is the sliding wood panel lens standard, a signature Wing feature incorporated into his later Ajax and New Gem models. Wing's View Camera, available in 4x5, 5x8 and 8x10 formats, also utilized a unique metal plate holder patented April 19, 1887, Patent No. 361,388. Simon Wing also held at least three other photographic patents.

The 4x5 example shown here is equipped with a period Prosch Triplex Shutter, typically in use during the late 1880's and 1890's.

According to noted Wing collector Mike Kessler, although no hard evidence exists, this camera may have been manufactured as late as 1910. Harvey Thayer Wing, Simon's son, continued to operate the business after Simon Wing's death in 1911.

Source: Google Patents Wing's patented plate holder