THE
CENTURY HAWK-EYE, 6-1/2 x 8-1/2, FOLDING
Blair Camera Company, Boston,
Massachusetts
1893-1898
Introduced by 1893, the Century Hawk-Eye, 6-1/2 x 8-1/2,
Folding can be found in Blair's Illustrated
Catalogue of Blair's Hand Cameras and Films for that year. Like the 5x7 Folding Hawk-Eye No. 1 and Folding
Hawk-Eye, No. 2, the Century Hawk-Eye, 6-1/2 x 8-1/2, Folding was capable of
holding three of Blair's Feather-Weight Holders or a roll holder. It
was the largest format offered in Blair's Folding Hawk-Eye series. Uniquely equipped
with an Aluminum Bausch & Lomb Iris Diaphragm Shutter and priced at $100, it
was also the most expensive in the series.
With the exception of its last believed iteration
(1898), catalogue references for the Century Hawk-Eye, 6-1/2 x 8-1/2, Folding had
no engravings. But, per the description,
they were identical to the No. 2, 5x7, Folding model
except that the door opening to access the holders or roll holder was on the
side instead of the top. Other than the
size difference due to the larger format and the Aluminum Iris Diaphragm
Shutter, they were almost identical. A
few possible differences not mentioned in Blair's catalogues, is that the
Century Hawk-Eye's bed was leather-covered (as on the example shown here) instead
of the French-polished ebony finish generally found on the No. 1 and No. 2
models. I say generally, since in the
case of the Folding Hawk-Eye, 5x7, No. 2, examples have been seen with both
leather-covered and ebony finished beds.
Another Century example in the collection has the leather-covered bed as
well, suggesting this may have been standard for the model. Also, the rear door panel on the Century is
hinged rather than spring-tensioned as found on the No. 1 and No. 2
models.
As with Blair's other Folding Hawk-Eyes,
the same two patent dates of March 29, 1887 and May 20, 1890 can be found
stamped on the access door's interior.
The Century Hawk-Eye, 6-1/2 x 8-1/2, Folding
remained in production through at least 1898, by which time it was known as
"The 6-1/2 x 8-1/2 Folding Hawk-Eye". Still equipped with Bausch & Lomb's
Aluminum Iris Diaphragm and fitted with a Universal Lens, the priced had
dropped to $80.
Very few examples of the Century Hawk-Eye, 6-1/2 x 8-1/2,
Folding have surfaced, making it much more difficult
to acquire than the Folding Hawk-Eye No. 1 or No. 2.
Engraving and listing from Blair's
Catalogue of Hawk-Eye Cameras and Photographic Supplies, Season of 1898
Blair
Camera Company stamping on side access door