Eastman Dry Plate & Film Company
Invoice of Mr. W.G. Snow, East Granville, MA, 1889
| This is a very interesting piece of
photographic history as it sheds some light on the early days of the
company that would become Eastman Kodak. Note that George Eastman was
not even listed as president of the company he founded. Henry Strong, a
successful Rochester, New York buggy manufacturer, was one the first to
invest in Eastman's photographic visions, and he remained president
through the 1890s, offering his business acumen to the rapidly growing
company.
The invoice above is for one 12-inch Kodak enlargement. Since in August of 1889 the only camera that Eastman manufactured was the original Kodak Camera, this enlargement would have been made from a 2½" round negative. Also worth mentioning is the name written on the 'Received Payment' stamp: Frank Crouch was the Office Manager for Eastman Dry Plate & Film in 1889; he was also one of the witnesses to Mr. Eastman's will on March 14, 1932, just minutes before Eastman took his own life with a handgun. |