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Hand Held Camera

For three years George worked on his new idea.  Finally in 1888, he invented the first hand held camera.  It was unbelievable!  The camera didn’t use a tripod and it weighed slightly over a pound.  Old cameras weighed 50 pounds.  The camera cost $25, but old cameras cost $75-$100.  You received the camera loaded with film.

Anyone could use the camera.  All you had to do was aim, take the picture, and then send it to the Eastman Company.  This was not the first time anybody could use a camera, but not many people could afford the camera.

The Kodak

George bought a bigger factory and made many cameras, but he had to convince people that they needed his new invention.  George tried to think of an idea, and then he thought that his invention needed a catchy name.  George’s favorite letter was "k," therefore the name would start with "k".  Then George came up with a letter combination, and that’s how he got the name Kodak.

George placed ads in newspapers and magazines.  The ad read: "KODAK CAMERAS. YOU TAKE THE PICTURE WE DO THE REST."  The name and the ad worked! Everyone rushed out to buy a Kodak.  Taking pictures became a craze in America.

Keeping up with the camera demand was impossible. George now had three factories in New York and factories in London and Paris.  In all the factories people were working day and night.

In 1900 George introduced the Brownie.  The Brownie was a kids’ camera, and it only cost a dollar.  Soon children all around the world were saving up to buy the Brownie.

Promise Kept

George always remembered the promise he made to his mother.  George did keep his promise and made her happy by filling her house with flowers.  George had money left over, so he set up dental clinics in Rochester, London, Paris, Rome, Stockholm, and Brussels.  He also donated money to build a hospital.  Because George loved music he made a Rochester Symphony and the Eastman School of Music.

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