Hello, I am a historian of Mexican photography currently doing research on Lola Alvarez Bravo, the first wife of Manuel Alvarez Bravo. In the mid 1920s Manuel acquired a Century Master 25 - this is often quoted in the standard bios. I'm assuming it is an 8 x 10 view camera but I would love any information that would confirm and add to this. Thank you in advance for any replies.

I'm far from any kind of expert, but I can't find any reference at all to a "Century Master 25" camera? Are you sure about the name, and more importantly the number?

I can find references to Century Master Studio cameras, but they appear from the 1930's through the late 1940's. The only number associated with this model is 71. Earlier, just Century Studio cameras with numbers such as 5, 7 and 9...

Do you have any more info on this camera??? Maybe a photo of it???

The only other information I have is that he purchased the camera in 1925 in preparation for a move to the city of Oaxaca. He was then quite poor so perhaps he purchased a very basic camera of its type.

Can you tell me a little about the Center Master series in general?

Thank you.

I hate to admit it, but I really don't have any info on the "Master" series. I know they made a "Master" named camera in the Century line of cameras in the 30's or so.

The earliest catalog I have is from 1933 and shows the Century numbered studio cameras as:



I thought I had more and am looking for some good catalogs from the late 20's, but I personally have little interest in the early 20's equipment at the moment. I also couldn't find anything further on the net...

Maybe someone else around here has a catalog from the early 20's?

And... From the age and probable use, I would think that #35 was more in line with this model #43:
http://www.vintagephoto.tv/century43.shtml

But still guessing...