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Polaroid History
Polaroid Corporation was founded in 1937 by Edwin Land to develop polarizing sheet technology. Land went on to invent instant photography in 1943 and introduced the first instant camera, the Model 95, in 1948. Key innovations included color film in 1963, the folding SX-70 camera in 1972, and digital cameras in the 1990s. While struggling with digital competition, Polaroid introduced many firsts such as ID systems, medical imaging, 3D movies, and digital printing cameras. The company remains committed to putting the best imaging technologies in consumers' hands.
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Polaroid History
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- 3. Polaroid Corporation The Triumph ofImages and Innovation “Every creative act is the sudden cessation of stupidity.” Dr. Edwin H. Land
- 4. 1926 Edwin Land 17-year oldEdwin Land drops-out of Harvard to develop light polarizing technology.
- 5. 1929 Norwich Research Land perfectsworld’s first synthetic sheet polarizer. Land receives first of more than 500 patents in light polarizers, optics, electronics, and instant photography. Former dental mechanic Ernie Calabro becomes Land’s first employee.
- 6. 1933 Land-Wheelwright Labs Land andHarvard physics instructor George Wheelwright III set up laboratory on Dartmouth St. in Boston to develop applications for polarizing technology for automobile head lights, sunglasses, and the now legendary Polaroid Desk Lamp.
- 7. 1933 Land-Wheelwright Labs On BastilleDay 1936, Land and Wheelwright demonstrated the world’s first polarized anti-glare headlights in Harvard Yard.
- 8. September 13, 1937 PolaroidIncorporated With venture capital from railroad tycoon W. Averill Harriman and merchant banker and part-time song writer James P. Warburg, Edwin Land, George Wheelwright, and Julius Silver incorporate Polaroid Corporation on September 13, 1937. Polaroid begins manufacture of polarizing sheet for sunglasses and windows in railroad observation cars.
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- 10. Polaroid Ringsite 1942 Polaroid Goesto War Aviation Goggles
- 11. Christmas Day 1943 SanteFe, New Mexico Land’s 3-year old daughter Jennifer asks her father: “Why can’t I see the pictures now?” That night in a burst of inspiration Land worked out the entire process of instant photography in his head. Over the next three years, Land, Saul Cohen, Max Parrish, and Doxie Woodward invented their way to the world’s first instant camera and film system.
- 12. 1947 Instant Photography isBorn Land wows the science world with the first public demonstration of “pictures in a minute.”
- 13. 1948 The Craze Begins The1st Polaroid Land Camera, the Model 95, went on sale the day after Thanksgiving 1948 at Jordan Marsh in downtown Boston.
- 14. The Polaroid Pod Patentdrawing of original pod. Still in use fifty years later, Polaroid’s hermetically-sealed, self-contained pod holds all the processing chemistry needed to develop instant B&W or color pictures.
- 15. Early 1950s Polaroid exploitsthe new medium of TV to sell the new medium of instant photography. Original Tonight Show host Steve Allen demonstrates early Polaroid Film.
- 16. 1952 Beyond Instant Photography Landreaches into his bag of polarizing tricks to create a full color stereoscopic “3-D” movie system for such Hollywood productions as “Bwana Devil.”
- 17. 1952 Polaroid Medical Imaging Type1001 Instant X-Ray Film produces 10x12 inch X-ray print in just 60 seconds. Built with grants from the Navy and the American Cancer Society, Polaroid’s Color Translating Ultraviolet Microscope was installed at Deaconess Hospital to facilitate advanced cancer research.
- 18. 1961 Type 55 P/NLand Film The first Polaroid 4x5 film to produce a reusable negative and positive print, instantly. This shot was taken by Ansel Adams.
- 19. 1963 Instant Color Prints Landdemonstrates Type 48 Polacolor Co-Inventor Howie Rogers
- 20. 1966 ID-2 Land Identification System TheID-2 was the first in a series of self-contained ID systems using instant photography. The ID-4 System, introduced in 1989, is used by more than 20 US State DMVs to produce driver’s licenses.
- 21. 1972 SX-70 The first folding, fullcolor, while-you- watch, self-timing, self-developing instant photographic system captures the world’s imagination.
- 22. SX-70 Advanced Technology for theConsumer Greeted by an avalanche of praise from press and consumers alike, the SX-70 combined motorized processing with a state- of-the-art exposure system and SLR viewing to make amateur photography better than ever.
- 23. Large Format Color Big,bigger, biggest Outstanding color reproduction and image sharpness make for spectacular large format Polacolor photographs. Polaroid’s Museum Camera makes life-sized reproductions of world famous paintings.
- 24. 1977 OneStep The OneStep wasthe best selling camera in the world for the next four years. Award winning Polaroid TV commercials featured Mariette Hartley and James Garner.
- 25. 1981 Sun 600 LightManagement System LMS technology combined with 600 ASA film delights consumers around the globe.
- 26. 1983 35mm Instant Slides Throughthe development of 35mm Instant Slide Film and the Palette Color Film Recorder, Polaroid invented the DeskTop Slide Production Business.
- 27. 1986 Spectra System State-of-the-art opticswith rock steady ergonomic binocular grip.
- 28. 1988 Employee Stock OwnershipPlan In March 1988, Polaroid’s Board of Directors approved the establishment of an employee stock ownership plan or ESOP. Employee Owners currently control more than 20 % of the Company’s Common Stock.
- 29. 1989 Polaroid successfully defends againsttakeover attempt In March 1989, Shamrock Holdings, Inc.. a California based holding company, terminated its tender offer and proxy contest for control of Polaroid Corporation, thereby ending its nine month takeover attempt. Polaroid emerged without splitting off essential portions of its business or assuming overwelming debt.
- 30. 1989 MP4 System The modulardesign of the MP4 provides users with a variety of lighting, lens and camera head options.
- 31. 1991 Polaroid announces settlementof litigation against Eastman Kodak After nearly 15 years in the courts, the patent infringement case against Kodak was finally settled. Polaroid received nearly $1 billion from Kodak.
- 32. 1992 Captiva Ultra-compact Captiva cameraand film system incorporates first-of-its kind picture storage compartment.
- 33. 1994 SprintScan 35 SprintScan 35is the best selling color slide and negative scanner in the world.
- 34. 1994 Advanced instant processed chemical-free medicalimaging system combines precision laser exposure and carbon particle film to render X-ray images with more than 4000 shades of gray. Helios
- 35. 1994 ID4000 for Windows ID4000identification system uses world standard Windows interface to make ID production simple and reliable.
- 36. 1995 Print to Press Thisunique combination of Polaroid hardware, software and film provides photographers and publishers with a cost and time efficient alternative to traditional color separation processes.
- 37. 1995 Gary DiCamillo succeeds MacBooth Mac provides his successor with a lesson in Polaroid history as seen through the lens of the first Polaroid Land camera - Model 95.
- 38. 1996 Macro 5 SLRCamera The new 5-in-1 close-up system provides medical, dental, law enforcement and manufacturing professionals with instant, high quality, hard copy documentation of their work.
- 39. 1996 Polaroid Homepage WWW.POLAROID.COM isa showcase for the company, a sales & marketing tool for products & programs, an education vehicle for creative uses & applications, and a great way to stay close to our customers.
- 40. 1996 PDC-2000 Digital Camera With 1600x1200high resolution and 24-bit color, the incredibly easy-to-use PDC-2000 provides professionl quality images for final art, presentations, FPOs and Web sites.
- 41. 1997 New Photo RetailProducts Make-A-Splash! Make-A-Print Make-A-MemoryMake-A-Copy At the 97 Photo Marketing Association Convention, held in February in New Orleans, the Photo Retail Group introduced three new imaging workstations.
- 42. 1997 Polaroid International Business Centeropens in Glasgow “In the Europe 2000 Program we have completely restructured the fiscal and business environment of all European operations. Although the Program is complex and far reaching, it has a single focus on the customer and will, as a result, define the European standard for how we will service our customers in the next Millennium.” George Hamilton Divisional Vice President and Europe 2000 Program Manager
- 43. 1997 PhotoMAX Digital Camera CreativeKit The PDC 300 Digital Camera and ImageMaker Software provide the consumer with a complete set of easy-to-use tools for building a website, a family newsletter, digital photo albums, and more.
- 44. 1997 Digital Microscope Camera Scientistsand lab technicians now have a better way to capture microscope images. The DMC delivers the quality and value these important customers in the scientific and medical community expect from Polaroid.
- 45. 1997 Inkjet Photo Paper Theage of inkjet media is here, and Polaroid is positioned to become a leading supplier in the fast-growing inkjet market. Digital images printed on Polaroid inkjet Photo Paper have the distinct “look and feel” of a photograph.
- 46. 1997 PolaPulse Flashlight Slightly largerthan a credit card, this unique flashlight uses a flat, 6-volt Polaroid battery, and a halogen bulb to shed the light needed in the basement, garage, or parking lot.
- 47. 1997 TV Commercials In 1997Polaroid launched a vigorous new campaign to revitalize the brand image with award winning TV commercials.
- 48. “New” Corporate Headquarters Afterspending over three decades in the Block House at 549 Tech Square, the Corporation relocated Headquarters into the renovated landmark at 784 Memorial Drive. 1998
- 49. Polaroid 2001 Program MissionStatement To create the infrastructure and culture for Polaroid for the next 10 to 15 years... by optimizing our world wide business structures, processes and systems thus enhancing our competiveness, increasing customer and employee satisfaction levels and improving our operating performance. 1998
- 50. 1998 An array ofnew products... cameras, media, printers, projectors, photographic and digital... for the professional and the consumer. For more information, go to the Library lobby and click on New Products.
- 51. 1999 PhotoMAX Country Tour Thecolorful PhotoMAX van with its distinctive giant cockatoo “MAX “ atop its roof toured the country providing real time demonstrations of Polaroid’s most current digital imaging systems.
- 52. Polaroid introduces InstantPocket Cameras & Film for kids! 1999 New Instant Cameras for Kids The I-Zone cameras are small, sleek and designed for capturing instant fun with friends. Kids can choose from several models featuring cartoon characters! The mini-photo film size also comes in a sticky format that allows kids to personalize notebooks, letters or anything they choose! Barbie Bugs Bunny Tweety Bird
- 53. Successful rollout of PocketCamera The Pocket Camera has been chosen as the official camera of the Sears Presents Backstreet Boys Into the Millennium Tour. The I-Zone Instant Pocket Camera was given the National Parenting Center’s Seal of Approval for superb quality and design. 1999
- 54. November 1999 Consumer digitalproducts Polaroid implements a new digital strategy by unveiling a new line of consumer digital cameras and products.
- 55. June 2000 Polaroid announcesthe launch of polaroidwork.com, its new business-to-business Website. Designed to help enhance work efficiencies of Polaroid end users, the site delivers real-time imaging solutions, product information and e-commerce through channel partners. Polaroid goes B2B
- 56. August 2000 Hundreds ofphotographers from around the world submitted more than 2,000 images in the company's first-ever international photography contest, showcasing the creative capabilities and commercial appeal of Polaroid instant film. 1st International Photography Award Winners
- 57. Polaroid and Olympusjoin forces to create the first digital photo printing camera in North America. The C-211 ZOOM offers filmless digital still camera capture with a built-in instant photo printer, creating a new imaging category - digital photo printing cameras. September 2000 Photo meets digital
- 58. September 2000 i-zone.com launched Polaroidzaps instant photography into cyberspace with i-zone.com -- an online photo community that combines i-zone picture- taking with favorite online activities, such as e-mail, chat and instant messaging . Polaroid zaps instant photography into cyberspace with i-zone.com -- an online photo community that combines i-zone picture- taking with favorite online activities, such as e-mail, chat and instant messaging.
- 59. The Polaroid Promise Toput the best imaging technology anywhere into the hands of consumers and professionals everywhere. Return to Library