The Kodak Still Cameras



The History of the Kodak Company



The Kodak Company was started by this man- George Eastman. Eastman, an American, was throughly fascinated with still photography and cameras. He always believed the still camera was an amazing invention, but thought that it did need to be improved(Kodak, 3). Eastman felt that the cameras of his day were too bulky, heavy, and not user friendly to the average person; so in 1879 he left the United States for London to start a company that would solve this problem and revolutionize the photography industry.

      At the time, London was the "...center of the photographic and business world"(Kodak, 3); and so it was the perfect place to start a new business. Eastman received his first patent for the plate-coating machine in 1879. The plate-coating machine, a quicker more efficient way to get pictures on film in the camera, was just a stepping stone in creating cameras for everyday people.

      In 1880, new inventions and patents by Eastman impressed a fellow photography businessman, Henry A. Strong. Strong was so impressed by Eastman, that he invested into Eastman's company to form a partnership. The new partnership produced The Eastman Dry Plate Company. Because of this new partnership and responsibilities, Eastman decided to resign from his part-time job at Rochester(England) Savings Bank and put all of his concentration into improving cameras, film, and photo developing.


      Now, with more time to invest into his company, George Eastman was able to receive more patents for newer, more developed inventions. In 1883, Eastman startled industry executives by developing the first film in rolls. Later, with the first KODAK camera in 1888, Eastman "...put down the foundation for making photography available to everyone"(Kodak, 3).

      The first Kodak camera was pre-loaded with enough film for 100 exposures. The price of the camera was $25.00 and the cost to develop the film was $10.00(the development included returning the entire camera to the manufacture. The pictures were then developed and a new role of film was inserted back into the camera).



      In 1892 the Eastman-Strong partnership and new innovations to the still camera, made way for a new business- the Eastman Kodak Company. The company moved to New Jersey in 1901. Eastman became the company's treasurer and general manager, while Strong took the position of President.

      Since that time, the Eastman Kodak company has been servicing people all over the world. Today the company manufactures products in Canada, Mexico, Brazil, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Australia, and of course the U.S.A. Still today the company upholds George Eastman's primary ideals: mass production as low cost and a focus on the customer.



Introduction

        Important Kodak Milestones(1937-1945)

                The Basic Elements of All Kodak Cameras

                        Greenbelt Families and Their Kodak Cameras(1937-1945)