exceptionally well-maintained and all original turn of the century antique american industrial mobile solid mahogany wood studio camera crank stand or table designed and fabricated by the century camera company (before being bought out by the eastman kodak company, rochester, ny. in 1908). the solidly constructed stand features a fully adjustable platform that moved upward and downward by turning the oversized wheel mounted against the side of the stationary top. the braking mechanism allows for the adjustable platform to be positioned firmly at the desired height. the four casters are original and fully functional. the lever between two of the swivel casters acts as a brake to keep the stand stationary. the original varnished or stained finish is uniform with only slight wear. the original brass identification plaques with baked black enameled inlay are mounted on the sides. the century camera co. was founded in 1900 by three employees of the rochester optical company of new york. the company excelled both in amateur folding plate cameras, but also large professional studio cameras. this was a significant accomplishment since the dry plate market was declining due to the emergence of roll film. in 1903 the centurturing y camera company and three other companies in rochester agreed to fixed pricing. many other firms followed suit. in april of the same year the century camera co. purchased a small company from lacrosse, wisconsin called the imperial camera company. imperial cameras made plate cameras and was commonly known for a falling plate magazine camera. eastman later purchased century in the summer of 1903. in 1908 the company's name was changed to century camera division, eastman kodak co. and they were merged with the "folmer graflex" division. the name "century" continued to exist until 1920.