Century Camera Co., Rochester, NY
Improved Sky Scraper Camera
Century Professional Catalog
c.1906, p. 16
8x10, with Folmer & Schwing
label, but otherwise identical to the Century engraving
Date Introduced: -
; Years Manufactured: c. 1906
Construction: rear focus
via rack and pinion (two gear tracks on sides of base rails);
double swing; reversing by removable back; three-piece lens board
Materials: mahogany wood body; cherry base;
black fabric bellows; brass hardware
Sizes Offered: 8x10; 11x14
Notes: designed for photographing tall
buildings, and has a large front rise movement for that purpose. A
recessed lens board allows the use of extreme wide angle lenses, but can
also be reversed for longer lenses. This camera
is almost identical to the
Folmer &
Schwing Sky Scraper Improved,
even including in the engraving the Folmer & Schwing-type metal label
above the lens board instead of a Century-type label below the lens
board. The Folmer & Schwing Co. featured Sky Scraper camera models
for many years, whereas 1904 is the only year one appears in the Century
catalog. It is therefore probable that Century bought from Folmer
& Schwing and resold its Sky Scraper.
References:
Photographic Apparatus for the Professional,
Century Camera Co. (Rochester, NY),
undated c.1906, p.
16
