Century Camera Co., Rochester, NY
Date Introduced: c. 1902 ; Years Manufactured: c.1902-1923
Construction: front and rear focus via rack and pinion (two gear tracks on top of base rails); double swing; reversing by removable back; three-piece lensboard
Materials: mahogany wood body; cherry base; black fabric bellows; brass hardware
Sizes Offered: 5×7 (above); 6.5×8.5; 8×10 (below)
Notes: The Century Camera Co. was founded in 1900 – hence the name. George Eastman acquired a controlling interest in the company in 1904, and it became the Century Camera Div., EKC in 1907. From 1907-1915, this camera is referred to as the Century No. 2, Century Camera Div., EKC. From 1916-~1922 it is the Eastman View Camera No. 2. Starting in 1923, only the Eastman 2d is advertised. Almost identical to other Century cameras of the era, the above camera fortunately carries a round label on the front the reads “Century No. 2”. The only differences from the Century View Camera No. 1 are: 1) the auxiliary base, 2) the bellows do not taper as much, allowing a larger lensboard capable of handling larger lenses and shutters, 3) both swings are operated by rack and pinion rather than set screws, and 4) the bed is triple grooved instead of double grooved (the bottom groove is for the auxiliary base).
References:
Century Camera Co. Photographic Apparatus for the Professional, c. 1902, p. 15-16
Century Cameras, Century Camera Co. Catalog, 1904, p. 60-62
Century Cameras, Century Camera Co. Catalog, 1905, p. 38
Century Cameras, Century Camera Co. Catalog, 1907, p. 31-32
Century Cameras, Century Camera Div., E.K.C. Catalog, 1908, p. 33-34
Photo Supplies, Sweet, Wallach & Co. (Chicago, IL) Catalog, 1908, p. 55
Photographic Cameras, Supplies and Lenses, Williams, Brown & Earle, Inc. (Philadelphia, PA) Catalog, c. 1908, pp. 29-31
Lloyd’s Photographic Supplies, Andrew J. Lloyd Co. (Boston, MA) Catalog, c. 1909, p. 27
Eastman Kodak Co. Professional Apparatus Catalog, 1909
Century Cameras 1910, Century Camera Division, Eastman Kodak Co. (Rochester, N.Y.), 1910. pp. 24-25
Rochester Photo Supply Co. (Rochester, NY) Catalog, c. 1910, pp. 9-10
Photo Materials, George Murphy, Inc. (New York, NY), 1910-1911, p. 47
Photographic Materials and Supplies, Gloeckner & Newby Company (New York, NY), c.1910, p. 10
Photographic Digest Vol. 1 No. 3, March 1911 (as the Northwestern View Outfit No. 1)
Eastman Professional Photographic Apparatus and Materials, c. 1915, p. 41
