Summary

Booklet 'A Visit to the Kodak Laboratories', published by Kodak Australasia Pty Ltd, Abbotsford, circa 1940s.

This colour booklet illustrated with black and white photographs includes a brief history of the company and information about the Research Laboratory at Kodak's Abbotsford factory. Topics in the booklet include the role of electricity at the factory, refrigeration, the boiler room, the air-conditioning system, manufacture of silver nitrate, the coating room, testing, mounts and albums, cartons and containers, film processing department, industrial relationships,

The booklet notes that the company provided dining and assembly halls, a library, an arrangement with the State Savings Bank, life insurance and disablement schemes, a medical officer, and a sports ground for staff.

Part of a collection of research material and artefacts assembled by former Kodak Australasia employee Nigel Beale while he was writing Kodak's company history in the 1980s.

Kodak manufactured and distributed a wide range of photographic products to Australasia, such as film, paper, chemicals, cameras and miscellaneous equipment. Its client base included amateur and professional photographers, as well as specialist medical and graphic art professionals who used photography, x-ray and other imaging techniques.This item is related to the Kodak collection of products, promotional materials, photographs and working life artefacts collected from Kodak Australasia in 2005, when the Melbourne manufacturing plant at Coburg closed down.

Physical Description

16 page booklet, with soft glossy paper cover, attached by two metal staples. Cover has the same black and white illustration of the factory on the front and back, overlaid with an orange, white and red design. Glossy white pages inside the booklet have black and white photographs on some pages, and the inside front and back pages feature double page black and white photographs. Sub-headings feature red illustrations, design elements and text.

Significance

This item enhances our understanding of photographic research, manufacturing and retailing in Australia, and specifically traces the history of Kodak in Australia and its research laboratories at Abbotsford in the first half of the twentieth century.

More Information