Summary

Black and white, 1/4 plate glass negative of the shopfront display at Sydney's Kodak branch at 379-381 George Street, circa 1936. Several different cameras are displayed on multi-tiered platforms alongside mounted photographs of various English holiday scenes, with signs promoting the use of Kodak cameras for those travelling to England for the impending Coronation of George VI. The central sign reads: 'England Is Calling. Coronation Visitors Take A Kodak'. By displaying photographs of leisure scenes, particularly around current events, Kodak could draw audiences to their shop windows and associate their products and name with significant moments in popular culture of the time.

This image is part of 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.

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.

Description of Content

Shopfront display featuring a window full of Kodak merchandise (cameras and accessories) and mounted photographs of English holiday scenes. Around the top of the inner display case are framed photographs with captions including 'A Promising Young Jersey Herd'. The window glass has decorative glass 'garlands' etched into it around the top. Kodak Ltd is cast into the front, exterior skirting of the window, and 'Baker & Rouse' is similarly cast into the skirting inside the entranceway.

Physical Description

Black and white silver gelatin glass negative, quarter plate, landscape format

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