Summary

Booklet, entitled 'Kodak in Australia', issued by Kodak Australasia Pty Ltd, Coburg, June 1975.

The booklet outlines the history of Kodak in Australia, and details its current (as of June 1975) administration and manufacturing processes at its Coburg factory. It features colour photographs to illustrate the various activities and sites at the factory, and includes a number of diagrams, including an emulsion production flow diagram, and an Executive Chart, dated 7 April 1975.

According to this booklet, in 1975, Kodak was the only company in Australia manufacturing photographic films, papers and cameras, and held great economic and strategic significance. The factory in Coburg consisted of several key departments, including Administration - Data Processing Services; Manufacturing Division Sensitised Goods - Sensitising, Finishing, Photochemicals, and Film & Paper; Manufacturing Division - Color Print and Processing, and Engineering; Supply and Distribution Division; Research Laboratory; Employee Relations Division; and Marketing Division. The company employed about 3,800 men and women, with about 2,500 based at Coburg.

With this booklet is a 14 page typed document dated 1964, outlining the story of Kodak in Australia. It lists subjects including the history of the company, amenities, services building, Film Emulsion Division, Paper Finishing Department, Film Finishing Department, Reels and Sundries, Camera Production Department, Distribution Centre, Construction and Maintenance Engineering, Research Laboratory, Colour Print Department, factory employee benefits, and factory tours.

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 a yellow card cover, and white plastic comb binding. Pages are printed with colour photographs integrated into the text, and some diagrams. Pages are printed with text only on one side. With this booklet is a 14 page typed document, slipped inside the front page. It is held together with one staple in top left corner, but page 14 has come loose.

Significance

This item enhances our understanding of photographic manufacturing and retailing in Australia, and specifically traces the history of Kodak in Australia, its production processes and its staff. It holds valuable information about the factory and the company organisation at this time.

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