Unveiling of the Century

[Randy H]

Alright!!
I finally got my Century 8X10 finished!
Just a reminder, here is a picture of what the Century looked like before I started it.



And a few after rebuild. I just finished the bellows late last night, and installed them this morning. The lens board and lens is a temp, but I just "HAD" to see something in the glass. Glass is fantastic.





Just for those that have not been following, there is a journal of work and a lot of pics athttp://century-camera.livejournal.com/

[Ash]

Oh wow....that is beautiful. Honestly that looks perfect, amazing.

[Walter Calahan]

Wow, nicely done!!!!!

[Kevin Klazek]

Randy, very nice work. The before and after tells the story. If you are going to take this beauty out in the field you may want to get a lighter weight tripod instead of that rock solid studio stand it is on in the pics

[Randy H]

Well.......
That was actually just for the pic. Happened to be handy, and I thought it went well with the "Century". I have a period tripod (Ansco) that it will have to share with its younger brother, Conley 5X7.
And as good as it looks, it will see the great outdoors. It was built to shoot, not to sit on a shelf and look at.
Right after I finished the rebuild on the Conley, I loaded it up in a backpack, took it to the shop with me to show off. Everybody there was touching it and holding it like it was going to fall apart on them, and wiping fingerprints off of it. I had to laugh. I told them it was just another "daily driver". As will this one end up.

[John Hannon]

Randy, you did a fine job on that camera! I can't get over how bad the original bellows were.

--John

[BrianShaw]

Beautiful restoration. You are an inspiration, Randy. Have fun with your brand-new antique camera!

[gregstidham]

Looks great.

[Jim Galli]

Well done. I have some bed extensions that look like those. Did you have to go beating the bushes for some? I don't see them in the before pic.

[Randy H]

Actually, I bought the camera from an individual in New York, and then a week later, he put the bed extension and sliding tripod mount on eBay. I bought it, along with some other junk stuff. The extension and mount cost almost as much as the camera. Ah well, such is life....