The History of Kodak, How it All Started and Evolved

The history of Kodak all started when in the 1870s,1898 - With its vision of bringing photography to
24-year old George Eastman was planning a vacationmore people at the lowest possible price, Kodak
from his job in Rochester, New York as a bank clerk.developed the Folding Pocket Kodak Camera. This is
A co-worker suggested that he make photos of histhe father of modern roll-film cameras. The Brownie
vacation and he found out that to do somecamera was introduced at $1 each and films at 15
photography, one has to carry a bulky load ofcents per roll.
camera, wet-plate developing chemicals, and other1923 - Kodak introduced Kodacolor motion picture
stuff.films, cameras and projectors and sold them at
It was only after three years that he developed aaffordable prices. The company provided the U.S.
dry glass plate to his satisfaction. He got a U.S.government with aerial cameras and trained U.S.
patent for several contraptions he developed andSignal Corps cameramen during World War 1.
started manufacturing these in 1880. A year later,1963 - Kodak introduced the Instamatic camera. It
joined by a businessman, he went full time with therevolutionized amateur photography and became
photography business and left his job at the bank.such a big hit as these are affordable and easy to
Here are the Important Developments in the Historyuse.
of Photography and the Evolution of the Modern1970s - Kodak was involved in several antitrust suits
Camerafiled against the company by smaller photography
1880 - George Eastman, founder of Kodak sold drycompanies. It also got into head-on collision with
platesanother company that manufactures and sells instant
1884 - Eastman Dry Plate and Film company wasphotography that develops pictures outside the
formed. Henry A. Strong, a businessman who joinedcamera in minutes-Polaroid. This long-drawn battle
Eastman two years earlier was President andbetween two giants in the photography business
Eastman as General Manager and Treasurer.finally ended with Kodak paying a settlement of $925
1888 - "Kodak" was born as a trademark. The firstmillion to Polaroid.
portable camera was introduced, and signaled theOver the years, Eastman Kodak further contributed
birth of snapshot photography. Kodak then wasto the development of photography. It also branched
known with its highly advertised slogan, "You pushout to other industries such as chemical
the button, we do the rest."manufacturing, supplying necessary supplies to the
1892 - The company name was changed to EastmanU.S. Defense hardware manufacturing requirements
Kodak Company of New York. By this time, Kodakand in the field of medicine, Kodak printers and
products have reached distribution outside UnitedKodak ink cartridges.
States, particularly in France, Germany, and Italy withUp to this point in history where digital imaging
its headquarters in London and a manufacturing plantsystems dominate the world of photography, Kodak,
outside London.remains a force and brand to reckon with.