The Deschutes Historical Museum is located in the historic Reid School in Bend, Oregon. One of the old second-floor classrooms includes a display of photography, including old cameras. The history of photography begins in 1839.
According to the Museum display:
“This beautifully crafted camera was manufactured by the American Optical Company for the Scovill Camera Company. It is a rear focus camera, operated by adjusting the brass focus knobs at the back of the camera and observing the image on the glass screen. The lens does not have a shutter, so the length of exposure time was regulated by uncovering the lens. The quality of the photographs was excellent, even by today’s standards.”
According to the Museum display:
“They made high quality cameras, and by 1902 obtained 25% of the dry plate camera manufacturing business. The Century camera could be converted to a 360 degree panoramic camera by addition of a geared back fil attachment with a wind up motorized base that rotated the camera on a tripod.”