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The new Kodak camera used a roll of film 2¾ inches wide and 25 ft. long and it took 100 round pictures on
each roll. Laurie Dickson had purchased a 50 ft. roll of the new film with a request for it to be split into two
rolls 1⅜ inches wide. In doing so he created the most standard product ever made – it was called 35mm
motion picture film.
Again George Eastman recognised the huge potential in Moving Pictures and after
extending his film making tables make 200 ft. rolls of film, he installed the finest
precision film splitting and perforating machines to cater for the growing demand. This
too was quickly out-striped and he and the Kodak staff designed, built and operated
huge drum machines that could provide a continuous supply of motion picture stock in
1000 ft. Lengths.

At “the end of the beginning” George Eastman’s quest for simplicity
and his anticipation of the future needs of his customers, clearly
illustrates he was a Man of Vision.

All of the above and so much more of the Eastman
Kodak story happened before the end of 1899. The saga
of the man and his company would continue through the
th
20 Century. His basic business principles were –
1. Mass production at low cost.
2. International production and distribution.
3. Extensive advertising.
4. Find and meet the needs of customers.
5. Foster growth and development through research.
6. Treat employees in a fair, self-respecting way.
7. Reinvest profits to build and extend the business.

All of which he succeeded in doing plus a great deal more for the common good. In
every sense George Eastman was a man of great vision.
Copyright: Kev Franzi

8 REEL DEALS March 2024