Fourth Quarter 2014

G RAFLEX Since 1996 HISTORIC QUARTERLY VOLUME 19 ISSUE 4 FOURTH QUARTER 2014 FEATURES published between 1901 and 1910. In addition to this source, Folmer-Century Division of Eastman Kodak by Thomas Evans.….…...1 there are a few histories and accounts, notably by Eastman Ko- World War II Re-enactors…………………………………………...….4 dak Company in 1984 (unpublished), Dr. Rudolf Kingslake’s How to Build a Camera Collection by Jim Chasse ……………….…....5 1997 The Photographic Manufacturing Companies of Roches- Autographic Graflex...…………………...…....………....….……….….6 ter, New York, and a wonderfully detailed 2005 article by Ralph London in The Photogram, a newsletter of the Michigan Photographic Society. The existing accounts have discrepancies. George Eastman purchases Century Camera and Folmer & Schwing. The Eastman Kodak Company bought a controlling interest in the Century Camera Company on July 3, 1903,2 and moved them from the quarters they shared with some smaller companies at 61 Atlantic Avenue, Rochester, NY, into a large, solid building at 12 Caledonia Avenue.2, 5 Century Camera Company continued to operate under their own name,5 issuing their own serial numbers, and in 1905 they bought, for $5,000,6 the Roch- ester Panoramic Camera Company, makers of the Cirkut re- 2, 7 FOLMER-CENTURY DIVISION OF volving panoramic camera. EASTMAN KODAK When Eastman Kodak acquired the Folmer & Schwing Manu- facturing Co. of New York in 1905, they were moved in with By Thomas Evans Century Camera at 12 Caledonia.5 Dr. Kingslake reports that in 1906, F&S was renamed the “Folmer & Schwing Division of 5 I n this article, I will attempt to disentangle the Century Cam- Eastman Kodak Company,” The shareholders of the Folmer & era Company and the Folmer & Schwing Manufacturing Com- Schwing Company signed a Certificate of Dissolution of F&S pany, as regards the manufacturing of different models of cam- on May 27, 1907, which was notarized June 3, 1907, complet- eras while operating under Eastman Kodak. Specifically, did ing the transfer of F&S to Eastman Kodak. On July 1, 1907, Folmer & Schwing make any of the Century self-encasing hand Century Camera Company became “The Century [Camera] Di- 2, 6, 7 cameras? We know that when Folmer & Schwing split from the vision of Eastman Kodak Company.” Eastman Kodak Company in 1926, they took the manufacture of Century Studio cameras with them, along with the Cirkut Discrepancies in the Timelines panoramic outfits, Penny Picture/Multiple cameras, and a few other cameras that had been Century Camera Company prod- When Eastman bought Century in 1903, the three founding offi- ucts. We also know that the Century self-encasing hand cam- cers, president J. Milnor Walmsley, secretary Gilbert E. eras and Century View cameras were no longer in production in Mosher, and treasurer George J. MacLaughlin, all resigned,5 but 1926. But when might the manufacture of Century models have continued on as directors employed by Eastman.5 When Folmer been transferred to Folmer & Schwing? & Schwing was brought in, founder William F. Folmer was made general manager “of the whole,”5 a position he held until Most of what we know about the Century Camera Company, 1926.5 At this point, as of 1907, Dr. Kingslake states that the and its relationship with the Eastman Kodak Company and Fol- two companies were combined into “The Folmer-Century Divi- mer & Schwing, comes directly from their catalogs, which were sion of EKC,”5 and that “Century” was dropped from the title in 5 1917, when the combination was renamed “The Folmer & It is interesting to note that the revolving back, which Century 5, 7 Schwing Department of EKC.” James McKeown states it Camera introduced in 1904, appeared on the Folmer & this way: “In 1907 it [Century Camera Company] became Schwing Cycle Graphic in 1907, shortly after the two camera 'Century Camera Division, Eastman Kodak Company.' Follow- manufacturers moved in together. I compared the revolving ing that, it was in the Folmer-Century Division of EKC, which backs from models of these two cameras, and they are so much 7 became the Folmer Graflex Corp. in 1926.” However, the alike that they could have been made on the same machinery. history of Century Camera Co. written in 1984 by the Eastman One can imagine a Folmer craftsman handing over a Cycle Kodak Company states that between 1907 and 1917, the title Graphic under construction to a Century craftsman to have the 2 was “Century Division of EKC,” and from 1917 to 1921, they revolving back added. Many other forms of cooperation could 2 were named the “Century Department of EKC,” and that it have taken place. was not until 1922 that “Century” was dropped, and that “thereafter the Century products were manufactured under the 1910, even though the 1910 Century Camera Co. catalog lists a 2 Folmer & Schwing Department of Eastman Kodak Co.” full range of self-casing hand cameras,1 the Eastman history states: “Production of hand plate cameras was discontinued in I have tried to piece together the information I found from sev- 1910.”2 Ralph London states that he was able to find only Cen- eral sources, and admit that it is a mix with some lumps in it - tury catalogs up to 1910 and has no record of Century self- but I have tried to provide the evidence that I could find, with encasing hand cameras being produced after that date.6 real detail, and then add a few ideas of my own about it based on that. 1913 appears to be a significant year for the Century Division, because in that year the Century View No. 1 and No. 2 cam- The 1910 Century catalog names the company the “Century eras were replaced by the Eastman View #1 and #2 cameras,2 Camera Division of Eastman Kodak Company,”1 so that would and many of the older Century Portrait/Studio Cameras went be the correct name of the division in 1910. Perhaps the name out of production,2 apparently replaced by the Century Studio “Folmer-Century Division” was not an official name, but was No. 7 camera, which went into production in 1912.2 an internal name used by Eastman employees to refer to the factory at 12–14 Caledonia Avenue. This seems a minor dis- McKeown says that the Cirkut cameras were made by the Cen- tinction, but if the Eastman history is correct, it may shed some tury Camera Division until 1915, when their manufacture was light on when each division/department was making which transferred to the Folmer & Schwing Division.7 models of cameras. It is reasonable to think that changes to the line-up of available models would tend to coincide with In 1917, when the Century and F&S Divisions each became changes in management. Departments of EKC, another adjustment was made to the available products: the Century No. 7 and the venerable Cen- The Eastman history also states: “On July 1, 1926, this depart- tury Grand Portrait studio cameras went out of production,2 the ment [F&S] was sold to the Folmer Graflex Corporation which former being replaced by the No.7A,2 and the latter being re- continued to manufacture the Century studio cameras sold by placed by the Century Studio No. 8 camera.2 The “A” denotes the Eastman Kodak Company.”2, 7 a dark finish.2 Consolidated Timeline In 1922, when the Folmer & Schwing Department assumed the manufacture of all Century products,2 the Century Studio No. The timeline that I have come up with is based on conflicting 8 and No. 9 were replaced by No. 8A and No. 9A.2 It is possi- information, and without further documentation it is unlikely ble that the transfer of manufacture of a model of studio cam- to be less confusing. era from Century to F&S could be indicated by this change to the darker finish. Accepting the Eastman history timeline, rather than the Kings- lake timeline, makes some sense when we look at production The Folmer & Schwing Serial Number Book dates of Century cameras. The existing Folmer & Schwing serial number book begins 1903, when Eastman bought the Century Camera Company, with number 47162,3 believed to be issued in 1915. Arguably, the Century nameplates changed from being white with black the first reference to a Century camera model in the book is to lettering to black with white lettering, at least until 1907.2 a lot of 50 “Lantern Slide” cameras, 53185 through 53234,3 perhaps issued in 1915. The Century Lantern Slide camera was 1905, when Folmer & Schwing moved in with Century Cam- a 5x7 camera made in the fashion of the larger Enlarging, Re- era at 12 Caledonia Avenue,5, 7 and apparently William Folmer ducing and Copy cameras and was designed for copying nega- assumed a position of general manager over both,5 it would be tives as lantern slides for projection. Curiously, serial number reasonable to assume that operation of the factory would be 53627 is for one “Century View” camera3 a few years after reassessed and open to adjustment. this model had been replaced by the Eastman View. 2 The Cirkut #10 panoramic cameras first appear in the F&S 250 8x10, #2 Eastman View cameras, 113176–113425, in serial number book at 79715, in about 1917, roughly coincid- 1920. Prior to 1920, we have McKeown’s date of 1915 for the ing with the establishment of the Folmer & Schwing Depart- transfer of manufacture of Cirkut cameras from Century to ment of EKC. Several lots of Cirkut cameras, for some 300- F&S and a record of a lot of 60 #10 Cirkut cameras, 79715- camera total, followed before 1920.3 79774, circa 1916-17.

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