Polaroid Corporation was an American company best known for its instant film and cameras, which now survives as a brand for consumer electronics. The company was founded in 1937 by Edwin H. Land, to exploit the use of his Polaroid polarizing polymer.[1] Land and Polaroid created the first instant camera, the Land Camera, in 1948.[2]
Company type | Private |
---|---|
Industry | |
Founded | Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.; 1937 |
Founder | Edwin H. Land |
Defunct | 2002 |
Fate | Bankruptcy And Liquidation; Brand sold to One Equity Partners; changed name to Primary PDC, Inc. |
Successor | Polaroid B.V. |
Headquarters | Minnetonka, Minnesota, U.S. |
Area served | Worldwide |
Products | |
Number of employees | 21,000 (1978) |
Land ran the company until 1981. Its peak employment was 21,000 in 1978, and its peak revenue was $3 billion in 1991.[3]
Polaroid Corporation was declared bankrupt in 2001;[4][5] its brand and assets were sold off.[6] A new Polaroid company formed,[4][6] and the brand assets changed hands multiple times before being sold to Polish billionaire Wiaczesław Smołokowski in 2017. This acquisition allowed Impossible Project, which had started producing instant films for older Polaroid cameras in 2008,[7] to rebrand as Polaroid Originals in 2017, and eventually as Polaroid in 2020.[8] Since the original company's downfall, Polaroid-branded products in other fields, such as LCD televisions and DVD players, have been developed and released by various licensees globally.[9][10]
History
editFounding and success
editThis section needs expansion with: Content on the firms introduction of revolutionary instant photography which is completely absent from this history. You can help by adding to it. (April 2022) |
The original Polaroid Corporation was founded in Cambridge, Massachusetts, by Edwin Land and George W. Wheelwright III in 1937.[12][13] It has been described by The Boston Globe as a "juggernaut of innovation", and "the Apple of its time" with a "leader in Edwin Land, a scientist who guided the company as the founding CEO for four decades".[1] Polaroid’s initial market was in polarized sunglasses — spawned from Land’s self-guided research in light polarization. Land, having completed his freshman year at Harvard University, left to pursue this market, resulting in Polaroid's birth. Land later returned to Harvard to continue his research.[14] Polaroid, owning patents to its polarizer technology, got its start by employing polarization in products that included 3-D movies and protective goggles for military dogs.[15] During World War II, Polaroid designed and manufactured numerous products for the armed services including an infrared night viewing device. He led the company as CEO for 43 years. He headed the Polaroid Corporation, developing it from a small research and marketing firm into a well-known high-tech company. Kodak was a customer for some of Land's polarizing products. Recognized by most as the father of instant photography, he included all the operations of a darkroom inside the film itself. He gave the first public demonstration of his new Land Camera in February 1947; from then until 1972, the user had to release the film manually, pull a tab, and peel the negative from the finished positive print—the first version to eliminate these intermediate steps was the SX-70 of 1972, which ejected the print automatically.[16] Land was pictured on the cover of Life magazine in 1972 with the inscription, "A Genius and His Magic Camera".
In the 1940s, Polaroid purchased the B B Chemical Company building at 784 Memorial Drive in Cambridge, Massachusetts for its headquarters. The landmark[17] Streamline Moderne style structure would be added to the National Register of Historic Places listings in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1982.[18]
When Kodak announced instant film cameras in 1976, Polaroid announced they were suing them, accusing Kodak of having stolen its patented instant photography process.[1] In the two years that followed the lawsuit, total sales of instant cameras climbed from 7.4 million cameras in 1976 to 10.3 million in 1977 and 14.3 million in 1978. The suit in federal court lasted 10 years. Polaroid asked for $12 billion for infringements of its patents by Kodak. The court ruled in favor of Polaroid and ordered Kodak to cease instant picture production, plus pay Polaroid $909.5 million of the $12 billion it had asked for.[1]
Decline
editIn 1977, Land introduced the Polaroid Instant Home Movie camera named Polavision, based on the Dufaycolor process. However, the product arrived on the market when videotape-based systems were rapidly gaining popularity. Thus it failed to sell well in retail stores and has been described as the swan song for Polaroid. After four decades as chairman, Edwin Land was coerced into resigning and leaving the corporation he had founded. He died in 1991. The Polavision debacle eventually caused the company to write off $89 million,[1] including most of the manufactured products. The underlying technology of Polavision was later improved for use in the Polachrome instant slide film system.[citation needed]
William J. McCune Jr was appointed chief executive officer in 1980. He joined the company in 1939, two years after its founding. He led the company until end 1985 when I. M. Booth, 54, was appointed as Polaroid’s chief executive, McCune remained chairman.[19]
In the 1980s, Polaroid tried to reinvent itself without Land at its helm by shifting away from a dependence on consumer photography, a market that was in steady decline. In 1984 Polaroid announced "that it would enter the United States electronic video market with its own line of Polaroid videotapes." [20][21]
Polaroid was forced to make wholesale changes that included having to fire thousands of workers and close many factories. The 1980s saw the advent of new technologies that profoundly changed the world of photography — one-hour color film processing, single-use cameras from competitors, videotape camcorders, and, in the 1990s and 2000s, digital cameras.[1]
The company was in fact one of the early manufacturers of digital cameras, with the PDC-2000 in 1996;[22] however, it failed to capture a large market share in that segment.
It also made 35 mm and multi-format scanners, such as Polaroid SprintScan 4000 35 mm scanner[23] (the first scanner with a 4000 DPI CCD) in 1999, and the Polaroid PrintScan 120 in 2000. The scanners received mixed reviews and saw heavy competition from Nikon and Minolta products. The entire line was discontinued when Polaroid entered bankruptcy in 2001.[citation needed]
Prior to bankruptcy, the company sold its landmark, historic[24] headquarters building and surrounding property to The Bulfinch Companies for $10 million.[25]
Bankruptcy (2001)
editThe original Polaroid Corporation filed for federal Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on October 11, 2001. The outcome was that within ten months, most of the business (including the "Polaroid" name itself[5] and non-bankrupt foreign subsidiaries) had been sold to Bank One's One Equity Partners (OEP). OEP Imaging Corporation then changed its name to Polaroid Holding Company (PHC).[26][6] However, this new company operated using the name of its bankrupt predecessor, Polaroid Corporation.[27]
Significant criticism surrounded this "takeover" because the process left executives of the company with large bonuses, while stockholders, as well as current and retired employees, were left with nothing. The company announced a plan that gave the top 45 executives bonuses just for staying at their jobs. Meanwhile, other employees were restricted from selling their stock before leaving their jobs.[1]: 31
As part of the settlement, the original Polaroid Corporation changed its name to Primary PDC, Inc.[4][26] Having sold its assets, it was now effectively nothing more than an administrative shell. Primary PDC received approximately 35 percent of the "new" Polaroid, which was to be distributed to its unsecured creditors[26] (including bondholders).[28] As of late 2006[update], Primary PDC remained in existence under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection,[5] but conducts no commercial business and has no employees.[6]
Polaroid’s bankruptcy is widely attributed to the failure of senior management — unable to anticipate the impact of digital cameras on its film business.[29] This type of managerial failure is also known as the success trap.[30][31]
Use of Polaroid brand and assets following bankruptcy
editAfter the bankruptcy, the Polaroid brand was licensed for use on other products with the assistance of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom. In September 2002, World Wide Licenses, a subsidiary of The Character Group plc, was granted the exclusive rights for three years to manufacture and sell digital cameras under the Polaroid brand for distribution internationally.[32] Polaroid branded LCDs and plasma televisions and portable DVD players had also appeared on the market.
On April 27, 2005, Petters Group Worldwide announced its acquisition of PHC. Petters has in the past bought up failed companies with well-known names for the value of those names. The same year, Flextronics purchased Polaroid's manufacturing operations and the decision was made to send most of the manufacturing to China.[33] It stopped making Polaroid cameras in 2007 and discontinued the sale of Polaroid film after 2009 to the dismay of loyal consumers.[34][35] On December 18, 2008, the post-reorganization Polaroid Corp. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Minnesota. The bankruptcy filing came shortly after the criminal investigation of its parent company, Petters Group Worldwide, and the parent company founder, Tom Petters.[36]
Auction for Polaroid Corporation's assets
editOn April 2, 2009, Patriarch Partners won an auction for Polaroid Corporation's assets including the company's name, intellectual property, and photography collection. Patriarch's $59.1 million bid beat bids from PHC Acquisitions, Hilco Consumer Capital Corp and Ritchie Capital.[37]
This led to some very contentious fighting and litigation, and Patriarch wound up walking away in early May 2009, and a joint venture between Gordon Brothers Brands LLC and Hilco Consumer Capital LP picked up the pieces. According to a Reuters report:
The move by New York-based Patriarch, a private-equity firm, [to drop their claim], follows US District Judge James Rosenbaum's ruling on Thursday in Minneapolis that putting the purchase on hold during appeal would threaten operations at Polaroid, which is spending its cash at a rate of $3 million a month.[verify]
On April 16, 2009, Polaroid won US Bankruptcy Court approval to be sold to a joint venture of Hilco Consumer Capital LP of Toronto and Gordon Brothers Brands LLC of Boston.[38]
Hilco Consumer Capital and Gordon Brothers Brands announced the closing of the purchase of Polaroid Corporation on May 7, 2009, placing Polaroid Corporation in joint holding under a parent company named PLR IP Holdings, LLC. Former executive vice president and general manager – Americas, Scott W. Hardy was named as the new president of Polaroid Corporation and PLR IP Holdings, LLC. The majority of employees remained in their positions at the company's Minnetonka, Minnesota headquarters as well as office locations in Boston, New York and Toronto.[39]
On June 19, 2009, the new holding corporation for Polaroid, PLR IP Holdings, LLC announced an exclusive 5-year agreement with Summit Global Group to produce and distribute Polaroid-branded digital still cameras, digital video cameras, digital photo frames and PoGo-branded mobile products. Summit Global Group added several former Polaroid employees to their staff. The company expects the agreement to yield $1.3 billion in retail sales over an unspecified period beginning in 2009.[40]
On January 5, 2010, Polaroid appointed Lady Gaga as "Creative Director" for the company.[41] A press release stated that she would be the "new face" of Polaroid.[42] In a 2014 interview an account supervisor at R&J Public Relations, the PR firm for Polaroid, stated that the company is no longer working with Lady Gaga.[43]
2017-Present: Acquisition by Smołokowski; collaboration with and rebranding of "Impossible"
editIn 2017, the holding corporation for Polaroid, PLR IP Holdings, LLC, was acquired by Polish investor Wiaczesław "Slava" Smołokowski.[44] Smołokowski was already the largest shareholder in the Impossible Project—a company formed to continue production of Polaroid-compatible film after Polaroid themselves left the market—having been persuaded to invest in it by his son Oskar.[44] The acquisition brought both companies under the control of the Smołokowski family.[44]
The Impossible Project (already led by Oskar Smołokowski) was rebranded as Polaroid Originals, with the last factory producing Polaroid-compatible instant film cartridges in Enschede, Netherlands being rebranded under the new name later in 2017.[45]
In March 2019, the new polaroid.com website listed instant cameras and supplies made by Polaroid Originals alongside its other products including digital cameras, sunglasses, the Cube action camera, and television units.[46]
March 2020, Polaroid Originals rebranded as simply Polaroid, with the Polaroid Now being the first instant film camera in years to have the Polaroid branding.[47]
Efforts to preserve and restore vintage Polaroid camera models
editPolaroid B.V. and other companies, including MiNT Camera (manufacturer of the reusable MiNT flash bar), refurbish and repair classic Polaroid products, with some companies modifying the hardware itself to add additional functionality.[48] One such modification is the conversion of Polaroid SX-70 camera models to use the more common, and higher-ISO Polaroid 600 film.[49]
Controversy
editIn 1970, Caroline Hunter and her co-worker, future husband Ken Williams, discovered the involvement of their employer, Polaroid, in the South African apartheid system as the producer of the passbook photos used to identify Black individuals in South Africa. To pressure Polaroid to divest from South Africa, Hunter and Williams created the Polaroid Revolutionary Worker Movement (PRWM).[50] Through the PRWM, Hunter and Williams organized a boycott against the corporation.[51] Consequently, Polaroid banned all sales to the government, including the military and police, and promised to raise wages and increase job training at its distributors. The plan did not pacify the PRWM, however, and, in 1971, Hunter testified before the United Nations advocating a boycott of Polaroid products. Polaroid proceeded to fire both Hunter and Williams. As a result of protests, a community group in Boston donated $10,000 it received from Polaroid to South African liberation movements. In 1977, it became public Polaroid film was being sold by the distributor Frank and Hirsch to the South African government for use in the "passbook" in violation of Polaroid's policy. This ended Polaroid's relationship with its distributor and all direct sales to South Africa.[52]
Other ventures
editPolaroid Floppy disks (diskettes)
editIn 1985, Polaroid had its own brand of 5+1⁄4-inch floppy disks,[53] and also a data recovery service.[54] In 1987, The New York Times described it as a major brand.[55] In 1985, The New York Times listed it a notch lower in an almost reverse alphabetical list,[56] and noted "remember that those companies established their reputations by selling other products, not diskettes."
By mid 1991, they stopped selling floppy disks.[57] The packaging used both Polaroid and PerfectData brands[58][53][59]
Corporate sponsorship of motorsports
editIn the 1990s, Polaroid was involved in corporate sponsorship of NASCAR. For several years, Polaroid was the principal sponsor of NASCAR's 125 mile Featherlite Modified race at Watkins Glen and it was called the "Polaroid 125". The Polaroid name was also used in sponsorship in the NASCAR Busch Series. In 1992, Polaroid was the principal sponsor of female NASCAR driver Shawna Robinson's #25 Oldsmobile in the Busch Series. They continued as her principal sponsor when she moved to the other car numbers in 1993 and 1994.[60]
Polaroid formerly sponsored the Target Chip Ganassi[61] entry of Juan Pablo Montoya's #42 Chevy Impala[62] in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and entries in the IRL Indy Car Series, including the car driven by Dario Franchitti.[63][64][page needed]
The Polaroid name has also been associated with the NOPI drift series. Polaroid was the principal sponsor of the Nissan 350Z driven by Nick Bollea in the 2007 season.[65][66][67]
Discontinuation and relaunch of Polaroid film
editOn February 8, 2008, Polaroid (under the control of Thomas J. Petters of Petters Group Worldwide) announced that the company has decided to gradually cease production and withdraw from analog instant film products completely in 2008.[68] Since March 2010, instant film materials for vintage Polaroid cameras have again become available on the market, developed and manufactured by a group called The Impossible Project, at the former Polaroid production plant in Enschede, Netherlands.[69][70]
Austrian photographer Florian Kaps, the owner of the largest online vendor for SX-70 films and organizer of the web-based instant photo gallery Polanoid.net, had bought the approximately 500,000 film packages that were on stock. He teamed with André Bosman, a former head of film production in the large Polaroid film factory at Enschede, designed a plan to redesign the SX-70/600 film system in collaboration with Ilford Photo, and convinced the Polaroid owners to participate. Plans for a relaunch under the Impossible label were announced in January 2009.[71] Buildings in the Enschede plant, which had produced 30 million film packs in 2007 and 24 million in the first half of 2008, were leased to the company created by Kaps, who by May 2009 had raised $2.6 million from friends and family[72] for what he had named The Impossible Project.[73]
On March 22, 2010, Impossible announced the release of two monochromatic films, PX100 and PX600, compatible with SX-70 and 600 type cameras, respectively.[74] Color films were initially released in 2010 for SX-70 type cameras, followed in 2011 with the release of much improved color films for Polaroid 600, SX-70 and Spectra Cameras.[75]
Then Impossible had originally announced a new camera that was going to be styled after older Polaroid models to coincide with the new film. The camera was due to come out before Christmas 2010, but the deadline passed with no new information on the camera.[citation needed] In April 2016, Impossible released the Impossible I-1; however, it was not styled after older Polaroid cameras. It was the first camera to use I-type Film and was backwards compatible with 600 Film due to I-type film being 600 film without a battery. After rebranding to Polaroid Originals, the company released another camera in September 2017 called the OneStep 2. This camera was modeled after the original OneStep with new features as originally planned, though the OneStep 2 uses the same type of film as the Impossible I-1 unlike the OneStep that used SX-70 Film.
On April 28, 2012, the documentary "Time Zero: The Last Year of Polaroid Film", directed by Grant Hamilton, was released in the U.S. It covers the rise, fall, and grass-roots revival of Polaroid's instant film technology.[76]
Mobile printers
editIn summer 2008 Polaroid released the PoGo, an instant photo printer producing 2 by 3 inches (51 mm × 76 mm) prints. It uses the Zink ("zero ink") technology which is similar to dye sublimation but has the dye crystals embedded in the photo paper itself.[77] Models CZA-10011B and CZA-20011B exist (which Polaroid claim to be identical).[78]
In 2009, the CZA-05300B PoGo, a 5 megapixel digital camera integrated with a Zink printer, was released.[citation needed]
In 2011, the company released the Polaroid GL10 Instant Mobile Printer producing 3 by 4 inch prints.[79] The printer, designed by Polaroid and Lady Gaga, allows people to print directly from a mobile phone or digital camera.[79] This product is the first product in the new Polaroid Grey Label line.[79]
Digital photography
editPolaroid released a line of cameras without printers including the t1035, a 10-megapixel digital camera.[80]
In January 2012, Polaroid announced a new "smart camera", entitled the Polaroid SC1630 smart camera, which is powered by Google Android. The SC1630 is a combination of a camera and a portable media player, that allows users to take photos with a built-in 16 MP HD camera, download apps from Google Play, check their email, and browse the web. The built-in camera allows 3X optical zoom. Other features on the media player include Wi-Fi, touch screen, geotagging, smart albums, and 32 GB of storage via a micro SD card.[81]
In September 2014 Polaroid introduced a $99 action camera named the "Polaroid Cube", marketed as an alternative to cameras such as the GoPro Hero (which retails for $129), specifically for casual, light users of action camcorders.[82] In 2015 GoPro released the similar GoPro HERO4 Session.
Wideblue
editIn March 2006, the specialist design and development department in Polaroid's Vale of Leven plant in Scotland was bought out by its management team. Known as Wideblue the company specializes in helping small technology based companies develop products and manufacturing processes.[83]
In 2014 Wideblue was hired to design the Impossible Project mass market instant camera.[84]
See also
edit- List of Polaroid instant cameras
- Polacolor
- Polaroid (polarizer) – a light-polarizing material developed by Edwin H. Land
- Polaroid Eyewear
- Success trap
- Zink (technology)
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g "History of Polaroid and Edwin Land". Boston.com. Boston: The New York Times Company. 2012-10-03. Archived from the original on 2016-01-04. Retrieved 2015-01-31.
- ^ "History of Polaroid and Edwin Land".
- ^ "Polaroid quits instant film". Sun Journal. Lewiston, Maine. Associated Press. February 9, 2008. pp. B8, B7. Archived from the original on April 15, 2021. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
- ^ a b c "Primary PDC Inc. (Front page)". Primary PDC Website. Archived from the original on 2008-01-18. Retrieved 2006-11-30.
Substantially all of the assets of Polaroid Corporation were sold to OEP Imaging Operating Corporation (OEPI) on July 31, 2002. As part of the agreement, OEPI changed its name to Polaroid Corporation and the "former" Polaroid Corporation changed its name to Primary PDC, Inc. [which] operates under the protection of Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code and is responsible for [administration] related to the "former" Polaroid Corporation.
- ^ a b c d "Frequently Asked Questions". Primary PDC Website. Archived from the original on 2008-01-29. Retrieved 2016-06-24.
On July 31, 2002, OEP Imaging Corporation (OEP) acquired substantially all the assets of Polaroid Corporation. OEP then changed its name to Polaroid Holding Company (New Polaroid) and Polaroid Corporation changed its name to Primary PDC, Inc. (Old Polaroid). [..] Old Polaroid no longer conducts commercial business and has no employees.
- ^ Zhang, Michael (2017). Polaroid Acquired by The Impossible Project’s Largest Shareholder Archived 2019-08-11 at the Wayback Machine, PetaPixel.com, 10 May 2017
- ^ Polaroid [@Polaroid] (Mar 27, 2020). "This is Polaroid — now. From The Impossible Project to Polaroid Originals, we are returning to where it all began. With the one name, the one brand: Polaroid. No matter where you joined us in this journey, thank you for your support. Together, we can make history... again" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ Walker, Rob (2008-03-16). "Photo Finish (Published 2008)". The New York Times. Retrieved 2023-08-10.
- ^ "Polaroid to Finally Get the Museum It's Always Deserved". Time. 2014-01-10. Retrieved 2023-08-10.
- ^ "Vintage Polaroid Branding and Packaging by Paul Giambarba". The Logo Smith. 2019-09-19. Archived from the original on 2021-10-24. Retrieved 2021-10-23.
- ^ Rael, Trula J. (November 9, 2017). ""Just One of the Boys": Edwin Land and The Polaroid Corporation". The Harvard Crimson. Archived from the original on 2020-08-06. Retrieved 2020-08-13.
- ^ Deutsch, Claudia H. (2001-03-03). "G. W. Wheelwright III, 97, Dies; Co-Founder of Polaroid". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2020-09-11. Retrieved 2020-08-13.
- ^ Mervis, Stanley H. "Memorial Tributes" National Academy of Engineering 7 National Academies Press, 1947: page 129. ISBN 978-0-309-05146-0 doi:10.17226/4779
- ^ Earls, Alan; Rohani, Nasrin (2005). Polaroid. Charleston, SC: Arcadia. p. 41. ISBN 9781531621797.
- ^ Buse, Peter (2016). The Camera Does the Rest: How Polaroid Changed Photography. University of Chicago Press. pp. 5, 9. ISBN 9780226312163.
- ^ "MACRIS inventory record and NRHP nomination for B & B Chemical Company". Commonwealth of Massachusetts Historical Commission. Archived from the original on 2022-05-28. Retrieved 2019-09-19.
- ^ "784 Memorial Drive". The Bulfinch Companies, Inc. Archived from the original on 2020-08-06. Retrieved 2019-09-19.
- ^ "McCune to Step Down as Chief of Polaroid". Los Angeles Times. December 18, 1985. Retrieved July 7, 2024.
- ^ David E. Sanger (January 9, 1984). "In Electronics, Optimism and Worry". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 24, 2015. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
- ^ "Polaroid, Fuji Reach Patent Agreement". Associated Press (APnews). July 25, 1986. Archived from the original on September 28, 2020. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
- ^ "Polaroid PDC-2000 Digital Camera". Epi-centre.com. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2015-05-09.
- ^ "The Polaroid SprintScan 4000". Shutterbug.com. 1999-09-01. Archived from the original on 2015-05-18. Retrieved 2015-05-09.
- ^ "Polaroid 784 Memorial Drive". Cambridge Historical Society. Archived from the original on 2020-08-15. Retrieved 2019-09-19.
- ^ "Polaroid to sell landmark Cambridge headquarters". American City Business Journals. Archived from the original on 2020-12-01. Retrieved 2019-09-19.
- ^ a b c Frieswick, Kris, "What's wrong with this picture?" Archived July 21, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, cfo.com. Article dated 2003-01-01, retrieved 2006-11-30. (p1: Sale of business/assets, controversy. p4: Renamed as Primary PDC, distribution to unsecured creditors).
- ^ "Polaroid and One Equity Partners Complete Asset Acquisition" Archived May 31, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, New Polaroid Corporation. Press release dated 2002-07-31, Retrieved 2006-12-01.
- ^ O'Neill, Jerry "The New Polaroid: After Chapter 11" Archived June 11, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, "From the October 2002 Issue of Imaging Business" via imaginginfo.com. Article updated 2006-02-08, retrieved 2006-12-01.
- ^ Tripsas, Mary; Gavetti, Giovanni (October 2000). "Capabilities, cognition, and inertia: evidence from digital imaging". Strategic Management Journal. 21 (10–11): 1147–1161. doi:10.1002/1097-0266(200010/11)21:10/11<1147::AID-SMJ128>3.0.CO;2-R.
- ^ Mawdsley, Andrew. "How can we understand the digital transformation of business?". Open Forum Project, Harvard Business School Digital Initiative. Archived from the original on 26 March 2017. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
- ^ Reeves, Martin; Harnoss, Johann (November 19, 2015). "Don't Let Your Company Get Trapped by Success". Harvard Business Review. Archived from the original on 2016-03-12. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
- ^ Press release for camera licensing agreement (PDF) Archived January 4, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, World Wide Licenses Ltd. Article dated 2002-09-24, retrieved 2006-12-01.
- ^ [1] Archived April 13, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Lyons, Patrick J. (2008-02-08). "Polaroid Abandons Instant Photography". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2015-05-18. Retrieved 2015-05-09.
- ^ "Industries Frantic To Find Polaroid Instant Film". Manufacturing.net. 2008-02-14. Archived from the original on October 11, 2011. Retrieved 2015-05-09.
- ^ Larson, Erik (2008-12-19). "Polaroid in Bankruptcy Again, Cites Petters Charges (Update3)". Bloomberg.com. Archived from the original on 2010-06-13. Retrieved 2015-05-09.
- ^ "Reuters". 3 April 2009. Archived from the original on 2020-06-18. Retrieved 2020-06-18.
- ^ "Polaroid sale can proceed, judge rules", The Boston Globe. Retrieved on 7 May 2009. Archived March 5, 2016, at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ [2] Archived December 23, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Polaroid Brand Announces Partnership with The Summit Global Group of Companies". Polaroid (Press release). Archived from the original on December 18, 2009. Retrieved December 26, 2009.
- ^ "Lady Gaga Named Creative Director for Polaroid Product Line". Impactpr.co.nz (Press release). ImpactPR. January 11, 2010. Archived from the original on 2010-03-01. Retrieved 2014-02-25.
PLR IP Holdings, LLC, owners of the Polaroid™ brand, today announced a multi-year strategic partnership with Lady Gaga, who will serve as creative director for a specialty line of Polaroid Imaging products.
- ^ "Lady Gaga Named Creative Director for Specialty Line of Polaroid Imaging Products" (Press release). Polaroid. Archived from the original on 2014-08-22.
- ^ Lenzo, Krysia (4 December 2015). "What happens when celebrities become creative directors". CNBC. Archived from the original on 2022-11-03. Retrieved 2022-11-03.
- ^ a b c Zhang, Michael (12 May 2017). "Polaroid Acquired by The Impossible Project's Largest Shareholder". PetaPixel. Archived from the original on 2019-08-11. Retrieved 2018-02-18.
Polaroid's brand and [IP] has been acquired by the largest shareholder of The Impossible Project [..] Now a single family has control of both the [Polaroid and Impossible] [..] [Owner of Polaroid..] brand and IP, PLR IP Holdings, LLC, was [sold to an] ownership group led by the Smolokowski family. [..] Wiacezlaw "Slava" Smolokowski pl acquired a 20% stake in The Impossible Project back [in 2012]. In 2014, [son Oskar became] CEO of The Impossible Project [..] The elder Smolokowski is now Impossible's largest shareholder.
- ^ Smołokowski, Oskar. "An Open Letter From Our CEO". Polaroid Originals. Archived from the original on 2018-02-19. Retrieved 2018-02-18.
- ^ "All products". polaroid.com. Archived from the original on 21 March 2019. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
- ^ Holt, Kris. "Polaroid Originals Rebrands As Polaroid With A New Autofocus Instant Camera In Tow". Forbes. Archived from the original on 2020-04-02. Retrieved 2022-11-03.
- ^ "MINT SLR670-S Noir is a refurbished Polaroid SX-70 with added auto modes". DPReview. Archived from the original on 2021-10-23. Retrieved 2021-10-23.
- ^ "Polaroid SX-70 to 600 Film Conversion Service". Retrospekt. Archived from the original on 2021-10-23. Retrieved 2021-10-23.
- ^ Morgan, Eric (29 February 2008). "The World is Watching: Polaroid and South Africa". Enterprise & Society. 7 (3): 520–549. doi:10.1093/es/khl002. SSRN 1096882. Archived from the original on 31 March 2022. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
- ^ Ramirez, Ainissa (2020). The Alchemy of Us: How Humans and Matter Transformed One Another. The MIT Press. ISBN 978-0262043809.
- ^ "When Polaroid Workers Fought Apartheid". Dissent Magazine. August 17, 2020. Archived from the original on February 3, 2021. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
- ^ a b Peter H. Lewis (April 23, 1985). "Double-Play in baseball software". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 28, 2017. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
box of Polaroid-PerfectData diskettes
- ^ Kendail J. Wils (July 21, 1985). "What's new in computer repair: recovering data from damaged disks". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 26, 2017. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
- ^ (alphabetically) Peter H. Lewis (December 15, 1987). "Holiday Hardware". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 21, 2021. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
Fuji, Maxell, Polaroid, Sony, 3M and Verbatim
- ^ Verbatim dropped, BASF added: Peter H. Lewis (July 10, 1988). "Difficulties in Choosing Diskettes". The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 22, 2021. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
3M, Sony, Maxell, Polaroid, Fuji and BASF
- ^ Glenn Rifkin (June 11, 1991). "At Polaroid, More Than Snapshots". The New York Times. Archived from the original on August 28, 2020. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
- ^ Philip H. Dougherty (July 23, 1984). "Advertising: Polaroid Shuffles Agencies". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 24, 2015. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
- ^ James Bates (October 1, 1985). "PerfectData Drops Sale of Floppy Disks, Cites Downturn in Industry". The Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 2022-08-07. Retrieved 2020-08-31.
- ^ "Shawna Robinson 1993 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results". Archived from the original on 2014-03-05. Retrieved 2014-02-25.
- ^ [3] Archived April 14, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ [4] Archived April 5, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ [5] Archived May 30, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Indy 500". Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Archived from the original on 2010-05-08. Retrieved 2010-05-31.[page needed]
- ^ かんいさいばんしょでのみんじじけん (2014.10.21 23:37) (2014-10-21). "簡易裁判所で取り扱っている民事事件 » Blog Archive » 支払督促を受けた場合". Hogandrift.com. Archived from the original on 2015-10-07. Retrieved 2015-05-09.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Home". Hogan Drift. Archived from the original on October 31, 2007. Retrieved February 7, 2016.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ [6] Archived February 13, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Notification of Polaroid Instant Film Availability". Polaroid Corporation. 2008-02-18. Archived from the original on June 7, 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-20.
- ^ Sean O'Hagan (5 April 2010). "The Polaroid revival". The Guardian. London: Guardian News and Media Limited. Archived from the original on 3 February 2014. Retrieved 8 December 2011.
- ^ Impossible b.v. "Shop for Film | Impossible. Analog Instant Film and Cameras". Impossible B.V. Archived from the original on 27 July 2015. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
- ^ Dugan, Emily (2009-01-18). "Smile! Polaroid is saved". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 2009-03-18. Retrieved 2009-06-20.
- ^ Dougherty, Carter (2009-05-25). "Polaroid Lovers Try to Revive Its Instant Film". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2012-08-09. Retrieved 2009-06-20.
- ^ Robertson, Justin (2009-03-06). "Can one man save Polaroid?". National Post. Retrieved 2009-06-20.[permanent dead link ]
- ^ "Impossible relaunches Polaroid's instant films, ends three years of speculations". British Journal of Photography. 2010-03-22. Archived from the original on March 25, 2010. Retrieved 2010-03-23.
- ^ "Impossible Launches New Color Instant Film for Polaroid Lovers". petapixel.com. 5 May 2011. Archived from the original on 2019-10-22. Retrieved 2019-10-22.
- ^ "Time Zero Movie". Time Zero Movie. Archived from the original on April 7, 2015. Retrieved April 3, 2015.
- ^ "Home Page | ZINK Imaging". Zink.com. 2013-01-27. Archived from the original on 2015-04-10. Retrieved 2015-05-09.
- ^ "What is the difference between a CZA-10011, CZA-20011 and a PoGo Printer?". PLR Ecommerce. Archived from the original on January 17, 2014. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
PoGo printer is the common name for the original Polaroid Instant Mobile printer which produces 2*3 instant prints. CZA-10011 and CZA-20011 are model numbers for the PoGo Printer and differ only in their packaging.
- ^ a b c Staff, Voxy. "Lady Gaga Launches Mobile Printer Archived April 16, 2016, at the Wayback Machine." September 14, 2011. Retrieved September 15, 2011.
- ^ Polaroid t1035 digital camera[dead link ]
- ^ "Polaroid Announces the Sc1630 Smart Camera Powered by Android". Polaroid (Press release). Archived from the original on March 15, 2012. Retrieved March 3, 2012.
- ^ Alvarez, Edgar (January 2015). "IRL: The Polaroid Cube is a tiny camera that leaves you wanting more". Archived from the original on April 6, 2015. Retrieved April 3, 2015.
- ^ talentscotland. "Wideblue in Management Buy-out". www.wide-blue.com. Archived from the original on 2016-04-09. Retrieved 2016-03-30.
- ^ "Wideblue hired to design new mass-market instant camera". Herald Scotland. 24 March 2014. Archived from the original on 2016-04-13. Retrieved 2016-03-30.
External links
editOfficial websites
edit- Official website
- Polaroid Eyewear
- The Polaroid Cube Archived 2018-02-24 at the Wayback Machine
Spinoffs
edit- Wideblue – former specialist design and development department at Vale of Leven plant
Articles
edit- "The Polaroid genius who re-imagined the way we take photos" (video). Instant: The Story of Polaroid, author Christopher Bonanos compares the company's dynamic founder, Edwin Land, with Apple's iconic inventor, Steve Jobs. BBC News Online. 2013-01-23. Retrieved 2013-01-26.
- Analysis of the Polaroid bankruptcy (cfo.com) – includes discussion of the role of Polaroid executives in the bankruptcy proceedings.
- Polaroid & Corporate Bankruptcy statement – by U.S. congressman, Bill Delahunt.
- The Branding of Polaroid – Paul Giambarba on Polaroid's branding, including background information on the company.
- Polaroid shutting 2 Mass. facilities, laying off 150, The Boston Globe, 2008-02-08, history and future of the company after ceasing its manufacturing of instant film technology.
Archives and records
edit- Polaroid Revolutionary Workers Movement at the African Activist Archive Project – Material associated with protests against Polaroid's association with apartheid-era South Africa
- Polaroid Corporation Administrative records at Baker Library Special Collections, Harvard Business School
- Polaroid Corporation Legal and Patent records at Baker Library Special Collections, Harvard Business School
- Polaroid Corporation Research and Development records at Baker Library Special Collections, Harvard Business School
- Polaroid Corporation Records Related to Edwin H. Land at Baker Library Special Collections, Harvard Business School
- Polaroid Corporation Audiovisual records at Baker Library Special Collections, Harvard Business School
- Polaroid Corporation Records Related to Meroe Morse at Baker Library Special Collections, Harvard Business School