Century Camera Co., Rochester, NY
Date Introduced: – ; Years Manufactured: c.1901-1903
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: at least 5×7 (photos above) and 6.5×8.5
References:
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. The Century View may have been the precursor of, but was also produced concurrently with, the Century #1 and Centry #2 Views. To tell apart cameras made in Rochester after 1900 (the Century Camera Companies View, #1 and #2, Rochester Optical Co. Empire State and Improved Empire State, and the Eastman Kodak Co. cameras based on these), one must revel in minutiae. The camera above, a 5×7 size, has a label on front the says, simply, “Century”. The double grooved bed shown above was patented on July 15, 1902. This camera has a nifty little spring-loaded clip to keep the rear standard from going too far back if the rear extension is missing, as above.
