It was patented by William J. Johnston in 1904 and manufactured by Rochester Panoramic Camera Company starting in 1905; during that same year, the company was acquired by Century Camera Co. (which itself was owned by Eastman Kodak at the time).

The length of the film (corresponding to the width of the panorama) varied by a model as well, ranging up to 18 feet (5.5 m) for No.

Thus, the information content of Cirkut images can be in the gigapixel range.

In addition it contains the mechanism which, when the outfit is in operation, unwinds the film past a slot on a roller and in so doing exposes it and at the same time revolves the camera about on an axis, a special tripod and top being furnished.

By another very ingenious arrangement one is enabled to determine before exposure is made how long a photograph the view decided on will be.