Since 1968.Still the Standard.The C-Stand.
The C-Stand started here. Matthews introduced the first folding-leg Century Stand in 1974, and it's still the most-used support tool on any set. Pick your base, pick your riser, chrome or black — from the original Hollywood grip company.
The First Name
in Century Stands.
Before 1974, a stand's legs didn't fold. Matthews changed that with the first folding-leg Century Stand — and fifty years on, the C-Stand remains the tool every set reaches for first. Flags, silks, fixtures, bounce, backdrops: if it needs to be held exactly there, it goes on a C-Stand.
- /01Grip head & arm included on every working configuration — rigged out of the box.
- /02Serviceable for life — risers, bases, grip heads, and arms all available separately for repairs, rebuilds, and custom configurations.
- /03Five base styles — sliding leg, spring-loaded folding, turtle base, low-profile Hollywood Pro, and the palm-size Pocket.
- /04Chrome or black, 20″ or 40″ — every stand, your spec.
— a Matthews original
Pick Your Base.
Same column, same grip head, same fifty years of design — the base is what tunes a C-Stand to your set. Five ways to plant it:
Sliding Leg
One leg slides up the column for stairs, curbs, slopes, or tucking tight against set pieces.
The Classic ChoiceSpring-Loaded Folding
Legs snap open and shut in seconds. Built for fast setups and faster wrap-outs.
Fastest In & OutTurtle Base (C+)
The column lifts off the base for compact packing and travel — and the base alone doubles as a low-boy.
Travel & Low ModeHollywood Pro
A wider, flatter low-profile footprint for heavier rigs on professional sets.
Heavy Rigs5″ Pocket
A palm-size C-Stand for tabletop, product work, and small-fixture rigging.
Tabletop & DetailThe Working Stands.
The configurations sets actually order — grip head and arm on board where noted. Thirty-plus stands, sections, and kits in the full collection.
40″ C+Stand · Spring Turtle Base
The flagship. Spring-loaded turtle base, removable column, grip head and 40″ arm included. Chrome or black.
40″ C-Stand · Sliding Leg
The classic. One leg rides the column for uneven ground and tight placement. Chrome or black.
40″ Double Riser · Folding
Maximum reach with a spring-loaded folding base — up fast, down faster. Chrome or black.
20″ C-Stand · Sliding Leg
The low rider. Same base, shorter riser — for low fixtures, tabletop edges, and tight sets.
Hollywood Pro 40″
Wider, flatter, steadier. The low-profile base for heavier rigs on professional sets. Also in 20″.
5″ Pocket C-Stand
The whole idea, palm-size. For product work, stop motion, and small fixtures. Chrome or black.
Locked In.
No cuts, no gimmicks — the hardware doing its job on set.
Heads, Arms & Haulers.
The stand is half the story. Heads and arms do the holding, the baby rail bridges two stands, and the kits get everything to location without a rental truck.
Grip Heads
Hollywood heads, lollipops, gags and double gags — the clamp that made the stand famous.
Hollywood Arms
The extension that puts a flag exactly where the light isn't. Arm only from $73; with grip head from $110.
5/8″ Grip Rail
One rail instead of three rods. Mounts on any 5/8″ baby pin, telescopes 24″–42.5″ — span two C-Stands, no cutting.
Travel & Storage
Trio C+ Traveler Kit ($1,434), rolling kit bags, and the Century Stand Door Rack ($265) for the truck.
Numbers That Rig.
| Model | SKU | Riser | Base | Head & Arm | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20″ C-Stand · Sliding Leg | 756020 / B756020 | 20″ | Sliding leg | Included | $281–$301 |
| 40″ C-Stand · Sliding Leg | 756040 / B756040 | 40″ | Sliding leg | Included | $315 |
| 20″ C+Stand · Turtle Base | 756120 / B756120 | 20″ | Turtle (C+) | Included | $345 |
| 40″ C+Stand · Spring Turtle Base | 756140 / B756140 | 40″ | Spring turtle (C+) | Included | $347 |
| 20″ Double Riser · Spring Folding | 339774 / B339774 | 20″ ×2 | Spring folding | Included | $340 |
| 40″ Double Riser · Spring Folding | 339764 / B339764 | 40″ ×2 | Spring folding | Included | $360 |
| Hollywood Pro 20″ · Low Profile | 339570 | 20″ | Low-profile sliding | Included | $306 |
| Hollywood Pro 40″ · Low Profile | 339567 | 40″ | Low-profile sliding | Included | $354 |
| 20″ C-Stand "Punky" · Spring Base | 339573 | 20″ | Spring-loaded | — | $429 |
| 40″ C+Stand · Turtle Base (stand only) | 339758 / B339758 | 40″ | Turtle (C+) | — | $345 |
| 5″ Pocket C-Stand · 1/4″-20 Adapter | 249560 / B249560 | 5″ | Adapter incl. | $105 |
B-prefix SKUs are black finish. Stand-only models take any Matthews grip head and arm. Riser sections, turtle bases, and spring-loaded bases are all available separately for repairs and custom builds.
Every Set Starts
With a C-Stand.
The original folding-leg Century Stand, in stock and shipping from Matthews Studio Equipment. Not sure which configuration fits your fixture? Match your gear in the Gear Finder.
