Founded in 1900 by three employees of the Rochester Optical Company. The company was quite successful and in April 1903 they purchased Imperial Camera Company from Wisconsin. George Eastman took a controlling share in 1903. In 1905 Century purchased the Rochester Panoramic Camera Co which had patented Circuit cameras. In 1907 the company's name was changed to Century Camera Division, Eastman Kodak Co. and they were merged with Folmer Graflex division. The name 'Century' was in use until 1920.