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George Eastman was the founder of the Eastman Kodak Company. In 1877, when George took up making pictures as a hobby so he could photograph the Central American jungles of Santo Domingo, he was discouraged by the seventy cumbersome pounds of equipment a photographer had to lug to a shoot--a camera as big as a bread-box, a heavy tripod, a dark tent for preparing and developing the glass plate, a supply of the plates in a heavy carton, chemicals, developing tanks and water.
No wonder twenty-three year old Eastman asked himself the question--"Isn't there a better way?"
In spite of the obstacles, Eastman conquered photography, but abandoned the Santo Domingo trip in favor of an excursion to the Great Lakes.
One year later, Eastman was completely hooked on making pictures. He read about the British who were working on an emulsion that would remain sensitive when dry so the plates wouldn't have to be exposed and developed immediately.
In his mother's kitchen, George began to experiment with his own version of the chemicals. One year later he had invented a dry-plate emulsion, and a machine that inabled mass-production of the plates.
By 1880 he ran his own plate making factory. He partnered up with Henry A. Strong, an astute businessman, and by '83 the Eastman Dry Plate Company was well-established.
Now Eastman turned his attention to the production of a paper-based film. By 1885, he'd developed such a product, keeping the quest for an ever-better film an on-going pursuit. At the same time, Eastman and Strong realized that true wealth lay in putting small cameras in the hands of the public.
In 1888 the first Kodak camera hit the market. "You press the button--we do the rest," became their slogan. The first cameras sold for twenty-five dollars and contained enough film for one hundred shots. When the film was used up, the owner mailed the camera to Rochester, New York. For ten dollars, the pictures were developed, and the camera mailed back to its owner already loaded with fresh film.
By 1889, Eastman realized his dream by producing the first non-paper based film. Over the years, Eastman became quite the philanthropist, garnering more than one hundred million dollars, most of which he gave away to a variety of worthy causes. He was considered one of Rochester's most beloved citizens.
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