Help Date My Century Studio Camera

[C. D. Keth]

Perhaps somebody here will be able to help. I'm trying to put a definitive model and date to my 8x10 century studio camera. The name plaque on the camera is simply "Century" on a rectangular piece of paper held by a little brass frame. It appears closest to the camera supplied with the grand studio outfit (it has hinges for the swinging ground glass frame) but it has a fine focus mechanism of which I can't seem to locate any mention. The knob at the back is loosened for rough focus. Then you tighten that and press the lever on the right side down to disengage it from a gear rack that acts as a lock. Pulling or pushing the lever its full travel will move the camera back maybe an inch and a half total. I can't find any other photos of reference to this focus mechanism.


focus lever by CKeth, on Flickr

[John Kasaian]

"Help Date My Century Studio Camera"
Take her out for Italian food & a movie. Talk about her. Maybe ice cream after. Don't try to get fresh on the first date.

[Louis Pacilla]

"Help Date My Century Studio Camera"
Take her out for Italian food & a movie. Talk about her. Maybe ice cream after. Don't try to get fresh on the first date.

That's pretty funny John.



Hey Chris If you can locate a serial # (usually on the rear of the bed rail) that will help to narrow down a production date. However even without the serial # we know this, Century Camera CO opened it's factory in the year 1900. So your camera was manufactured no earlier then 1900. The fine focus rack & pinion on the studio cameras came along around 1905-6 ish. With this to go on I would give your cameras a birth date of 1902-03. This should be within a year or so.