Polaroid Corporation

773:, Hunter and Williams created the Polaroid Revolutionary Worker Movement (PRWM). Through the PRWM, Hunter and Williams organized a boycott against the corporation. Consequently, Polaroid banned all sales to the government, including the military and police, and promised to raise wages and increase job training at its distributors. The plan did not pacify the PRWM, however, and, in 1971, Hunter testified before the United Nations advocating a boycott of Polaroid products. Polaroid proceeded to fire both Hunter and Williams. As a result of protests, a community group in Boston donated $ 10,000 it received from Polaroid to South African liberation movements. In 1977, it became public Polaroid film was being sold by the distributor Frank and Hirsch to the 350: 398: 374: 382: 342: 358: 3524: 50: 390: 300: 796: 38: 331: 942:, and convinced the Polaroid owners to participate. Plans for a relaunch under the Impossible label were announced in January 2009. Buildings in the Enschede plant, which had produced 30 million film packs in 2007 and 24 million in the first half of 2008, were leased to the company created by Kaps, who by May 2009 had raised $ 2.6 million from friends and family for what he had named The Impossible Project. 366: 950:

Impossible I-1; however, it was not styled after older Polaroid cameras. It was the first camera to use I-type Film and was backwards compatible with 600 Film due to I-type film being 600 film without a battery. After rebranding to Polaroid Originals, the company released another camera in September 2017 called the OneStep 2. This camera was modeled after the original

686:. Former executive vice president and general manager – Americas, Scott W. Hardy was named as the new president of Polaroid Corporation and PLR IP Holdings, LLC. The majority of employees remained in their positions at the company's Minnetonka, Minnesota headquarters as well as office locations in Boston, New York and Toronto. 482:

1977 and 14.3 million in 1978. The suit in federal court lasted 10 years. Polaroid asked for $ 12 billion for infringements of its patents by Kodak. The court ruled in favor of Polaroid and ordered Kodak to cease instant picture production, plus pay Polaroid $ 909.5 million of the $ 12 billion it had asked for.

439:. During World War II, Polaroid designed and manufactured numerous products for the armed services including an infrared night viewing device. He led the company as CEO for 43 years. He headed the Polaroid Corporation, developing it from a small research and marketing firm into a well-known high-tech company. 745:(manufacturer of the reusable MiNT flash bar), refurbish and repair classic Polaroid products, with some companies modifying the hardware itself to add additional functionality. One such modification is the conversion of Polaroid SX-70 camera models to use the more common, and higher-ISO Polaroid 600 film. 641:

purchased Polaroid's manufacturing operations and the decision was made to send most of the manufacturing to China. It stopped making Polaroid cameras in 2007 and discontinued the sale of Polaroid film after 2009 to the dismay of loyal consumers. On December 18, 2008, the post-reorganization Polaroid

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in February 1947; from then until 1972, the user had to release the film manually, pull a tab, and peel the negative from the finished positive print—the first version to eliminate these intermediate steps was the SX-70 of 1972, which ejected the print automatically. Land was pictured on the cover of

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films and organizer of the web-based instant photo gallery Polanoid.net, had bought the approximately 500,000 film packages that were on stock. He teamed with André Bosman, a former head of film production in the large Polaroid film factory at Enschede, designed a plan to redesign the SX-70/600 film

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Significant criticism surrounded this "takeover" because the process left executives of the company with large bonuses, while stockholders, as well as current and retired employees, were left with nothing. The company announced a plan that gave the top 45 executives bonuses just for staying at their

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When Kodak announced instant film cameras in 1976, Polaroid announced they were suing them, accusing Kodak of having stolen its patented instant photography process. In the two years that followed the lawsuit, total sales of instant cameras climbed from 7.4 million cameras in 1976 to 10.3 million in

918:) announced that the company has decided to gradually cease production and withdraw from analog instant film products completely in 2008. Since March 2010, instant film materials for vintage Polaroid cameras have again become available on the market, developed and manufactured by a group called The 945:

On March 22, 2010, Impossible announced the release of two monochromatic films, PX100 and PX600, compatible with SX-70 and 600 type cameras, respectively. Color films were initially released in 2010 for SX-70 type cameras, followed in 2011 with the release of much improved color films for Polaroid

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process. However, the product arrived on the market when videotape-based systems were rapidly gaining popularity. Thus it failed to sell well in retail stores and has been described as the swan song for Polaroid. After four decades as chairman, Edwin Land was coerced into resigning and leaving the

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Then Impossible had originally announced a new camera that was going to be styled after older Polaroid models to coincide with the new film. The camera was due to come out before Christmas 2010, but the deadline passed with no new information on the camera. In April 2016, Impossible released the

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Polaroid was forced to make wholesale changes that included having to fire thousands of workers and close many factories. The 1980s saw the advent of new technologies that profoundly changed the world of photography — one-hour color film processing, single-use cameras from competitors, videotape

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Substantially all of the assets of Polaroid Corporation were sold to OEP Imaging Operating Corporation (OEPI) on July 31, 2002. As part of the agreement, OEPI changed its name to Polaroid Corporation and the "former" Polaroid Corporation changed its name to Primary PDC, Inc. operates under the

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On July 31, 2002, OEP Imaging Corporation (OEP) acquired substantially all the assets of Polaroid Corporation. OEP then changed its name to Polaroid Holding Company (New Polaroid) and Polaroid Corporation changed its name to Primary PDC, Inc. (Old Polaroid). Old Polaroid no longer conducts

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In the 1980s, Polaroid tried to reinvent itself without Land at its helm by shifting away from a dependence on consumer photography, a market that was in steady decline. In 1984 Polaroid announced "that it would enter the United States electronic video market with its own line of Polaroid

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The move by New York-based Patriarch, a private-equity firm, , follows US District Judge James Rosenbaum's ruling on Thursday in Minneapolis that putting the purchase on hold during appeal would threaten operations at Polaroid, which is spending its cash at a rate of $ 3 million a

435:, left to pursue this market, resulting in Polaroid's birth. Land later returned to Harvard to continue his research. Polaroid, owning patents to its polarizer technology, got its start by employing polarization in products that included 3-D movies and protective goggles for 1339:"This is Polaroid — now. From The Impossible Project to Polaroid Originals, we are returning to where it all began. With the one name, the one brand: Polaroid. No matter where you joined us in this journey, thank you for your support. Together, we can make history... again" 278:, which had started producing instant films for older Polaroid cameras in 2008, to rebrand as Polaroid Originals in 2017, and eventually as Polaroid in 2020. Since the original company's downfall, Polaroid-branded products in other fields, such as LCD televisions and 702:

as "Creative Director" for the company. A press release stated that she would be the "new face" of Polaroid. In a 2014 interview an account supervisor at R&J Public Relations, the PR firm for Polaroid, stated that the company is no longer working with Lady Gaga.

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Polaroid's brand and has been acquired by the largest shareholder of The Impossible Project Now a single family has control of both the brand and IP, PLR IP Holdings, LLC, was ownership group led by the Smolokowski family. Wiacezlaw "Slava" Smolokowski

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It also made 35 mm and multi-format scanners, such as Polaroid SprintScan 4000 35 mm scanner (the first scanner with a 4000 DPI CCD) in 1999, and the Polaroid PrintScan 120 in 2000. The scanners received mixed reviews and saw heavy competition from

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William J. McCune Jr was appointed chief executive officer in 1980. He joined the company in 1939, two years after its founding. He led the company until end 1985 when I. M. Booth, 54, was appointed as Polaroid’s chief executive, McCune remained chairman.

1854: 715:—a company formed to continue production of Polaroid-compatible film after Polaroid themselves left the market—having been persuaded to invest in it by his son Oskar. The acquisition brought both companies under the control of the Smołokowski family. 618:. In September 2002, World Wide Licenses, a subsidiary of The Character Group plc, was granted the exclusive rights for three years to manufacture and sell digital cameras under the Polaroid brand for distribution internationally. Polaroid branded 1927: 689:

On June 19, 2009, the new holding corporation for Polaroid, PLR IP Holdings, LLC announced an exclusive 5-year agreement with Summit Global Group to produce and distribute Polaroid-branded digital still cameras, digital video cameras,

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was a customer for some of Land's polarizing products. Recognized by most as the father of instant photography, he included all the operations of a darkroom inside the film itself. He gave the first public demonstration of his new

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and PoGo-branded mobile products. Summit Global Group added several former Polaroid employees to their staff. The company expects the agreement to yield $ 1.3 billion in retail sales over an unspecified period beginning in 2009.

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On April 28, 2012, the documentary "Time Zero: The Last Year of Polaroid Film", directed by Grant Hamilton, was released in the U.S. It covers the rise, fall, and grass-roots revival of Polaroid's instant film technology.

881:. In 1992, Polaroid was the principal sponsor of female NASCAR driver Shawna Robinson's #25 Oldsmobile in the Busch Series. They continued as her principal sponsor when she moved to the other car numbers in 1993 and 1994. 729:

In March 2019, the new polaroid.com website listed instant cameras and supplies made by Polaroid Originals alongside its other products including digital cameras, sunglasses, the Cube action camera, and television units.

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Polaroid Corporation was declared bankrupt in 2001; its brand and assets were sold off. A new Polaroid company formed, and the brand assets changed hands multiple times before being sold to Polish billionaire

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PLR IP Holdings, LLC, owners of the Polaroid™ brand, today announced a multi-year strategic partnership with Lady Gaga, who will serve as creative director for a specialty line of Polaroid Imaging products.

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PoGo printer is the common name for the original Polaroid Instant Mobile printer which produces 2*3 instant prints. CZA-10011 and CZA-20011 are model numbers for the PoGo Printer and differ only in their

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Hilco Consumer Capital and Gordon Brothers Brands announced the closing of the purchase of Polaroid Corporation on May 7, 2009, placing Polaroid Corporation in joint holding under a parent company named

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This section is about the company that pioneered instant film in the 20th century. For the company that currently produces Polaroid instant film and cameras, formerly known as Impossible Project, see

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Corp. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Minnesota. The bankruptcy filing came shortly after the criminal investigation of its parent company,

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Having sold its assets, it was now effectively nothing more than an administrative shell. Primary PDC received approximately 35 percent of the "new" Polaroid, which was to be distributed to its

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One Equity Partners, a division of Bank One in Chicago, purchased substantially all of the Polaroid business (including the company's name) from the old Polaroid Corporation, which is now know

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plant in Scotland was bought out by its management team. Known as Wideblue the company specializes in helping small technology based companies develop products and manufacturing processes.

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In 2017, the holding corporation for Polaroid, PLR IP Holdings, LLC, was acquired by Polish investor Wiaczesław "Slava" Smołokowski. Smołokowski was already the largest shareholder in the

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protection on October 11, 2001. The outcome was that within ten months, most of the business (including the "Polaroid" name itself and non-bankrupt foreign subsidiaries) had been sold to

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debacle eventually caused the company to write off $ 89 million, including most of the manufactured products. The underlying technology of Polavision was later improved for use in the

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named the "Polaroid Cube", marketed as an alternative to cameras such as the GoPro Hero (which retails for $ 129), specifically for casual, light users of action camcorders. In 2015

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On April 16, 2009, Polaroid won US Bankruptcy Court approval to be sold to a joint venture of Hilco Consumer Capital LP of Toronto and Gordon Brothers Brands LLC of Boston.

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The company was in fact one of the early manufacturers of digital cameras, with the PDC-2000 in 1996; however, it failed to capture a large market share in that segment.

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The Polaroid name has also been associated with the NOPI drift series. Polaroid was the principal sponsor of the Nissan 350Z driven by Nick Bollea in the 2007 season.

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government for use in the "passbook" in violation of Polaroid's policy. This ended Polaroid's relationship with its distributor and all direct sales to South Africa.

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March 2020, Polaroid Originals rebranded as simply Polaroid, with the Polaroid Now being the first instant film camera in years to have the Polaroid branding.

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acquired a 20% stake in The Impossible Project back . In 2014, CEO of The Impossible Project The elder Smolokowski is now Impossible's largest shareholder.

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with new features as originally planned, though the OneStep 2 uses the same type of film as the Impossible I-1 unlike the OneStep that used SX-70 Film.

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announced its acquisition of PHC. Petters has in the past bought up failed companies with well-known names for the value of those names. The same year,

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Instant: The Story of Polaroid, author Christopher Bonanos compares the company's dynamic founder, Edwin Land, with Apple's iconic inventor, Steve Jobs

1874: 3939: 2805: 2622: 2415: 2452: 2107: 1958: 3929: 2957: 2326: 310: with: Content on the firms introduction of revolutionary instant photography which is completely absent from this history. You can help by 984:, allows people to print directly from a mobile phone or digital camera. This product is the first product in the new Polaroid Grey Label line. 1806: 966:

In summer 2008 Polaroid released the PoGo, an instant photo printer producing 2 by 3 inches (51 mm × 76 mm) prints. It uses the

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On April 2, 2009, Patriarch Partners won an auction for Polaroid Corporation's assets including the company's name, intellectual property, and

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This led to some very contentious fighting and litigation, and Patriarch wound up walking away in early May 2009, and a joint venture between

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but has the dye crystals embedded in the photo paper itself. Models CZA-10011B and CZA-20011B exist (which Polaroid claim to be identical).

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In 2011, the company released the Polaroid GL10 Instant Mobile Printer producing 3 by 4 inch prints. The printer, designed by Polaroid and

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at the African Activist Archive Project – Material associated with protests against Polaroid's association with apartheid-era South Africa

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and her co-worker, future husband Ken Williams, discovered the involvement of their employer, Polaroid, in the South African

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protection of Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code and is responsible for related to the "former" Polaroid Corporation.

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In January 2012, Polaroid announced a new "smart camera", entitled the Polaroid SC1630 smart camera, which is powered by

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Tripsas, Mary; Gavetti, Giovanni (October 2000). "Capabilities, cognition, and inertia: evidence from digital imaging".

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race at Watkins Glen and it was called the "Polaroid 125". The Polaroid name was also used in sponsorship in the NASCAR

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Land ran the company until 1981. Its peak employment was 21,000 in 1978, and its peak revenue was $ 3 billion in 1991.

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Polaroid’s bankruptcy is widely attributed to the failure of senior management — unable to anticipate the impact of

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Mervis, Stanley H. "Memorial Tributes" National Academy of Engineering 7 National Academies Press, 1947: page 129.

1058: 662:. Patriarch's $ 59.1 million bid beat bids from PHC Acquisitions, Hilco Consumer Capital Corp and Ritchie Capital. 850:

and noted "remember that those companies established their reputations by selling other products, not diskettes."

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Prior to bankruptcy, the company sold its landmark, historic headquarters building and surrounding property to

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as Primary PDC, Inc. which continues to exist under the protection of chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.

3899: 2997: 423:, a scientist who guided the company as the founding CEO for four decades". Polaroid’s initial market was in 3909: 3621:, 2008-02-08, history and future of the company after ceasing its manufacturing of instant film technology. 3537: 3057: 2310: 1871: 311: 2795: 1630: 992:

Polaroid released a line of cameras without printers including the t1035, a 10-megapixel digital camera.

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In 2009, the CZA-05300B PoGo, a 5 megapixel digital camera integrated with a Zink printer, was released.

349: 1202: 572:). However, this new company operated using the name of its bankrupt predecessor, Polaroid Corporation. 504: 3380: 3275: 2444: 1950: 614:

After the bankruptcy, the Polaroid brand was licensed for use on other products with the assistance of

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jobs. Meanwhile, other employees were restricted from selling their stock before leaving their jobs.

24: 1802: 1361: 373: 3305: 467: 406: 103: 3755: 3595:(cfo.com) – includes discussion of the role of Polaroid executives in the bankruptcy proceedings. 915: 643: 634: 397: 3185: 3153: 1979: 3688: 2850: 1166: 538: 67: 2498: 2474: 3217: 2800: 1748: 1000: 666: 173: 3010: 381: 3827: 1342: 1068: 874: 707:

2017-Present: Acquisition by Smołokowski; collaboration with and rebranding of "Impossible"

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In 2014 Wideblue was hired to design the Impossible Project mass market instant camera.

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products. The entire line was discontinued when Polaroid entered bankruptcy in 2001.

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Polaroid SX-70 Land Camera model 2 instant camera, made in the USA circa 1972 to 1974

3100: 2902: 2884: 2387:"Polaroid Originals Rebrands As Polaroid With A New Autofocus Instant Camera In Tow" 1338: 3832: 3817: 3801: 3745: 3730: 2486: 2235:"Lady Gaga Named Creative Director for Specialty Line of Polaroid Imaging Products" 1900: 1693: 1514: 1171: 1074: 951: 669:

and Hilco Consumer Capital LP picked up the pieces. According to a Reuters report:

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Polaroid OneStep Autofocus SE instant camera, made in the United Kingdom circa 1997

3661: 3210:"Impossible relaunches Polaroid's instant films, ends three years of speculations" 2867: 3578: 3541: 3368: 3016: 2890: 2873: 2856: 2524: 2363: 2160: 2142: 2004: 1986: 1878: 1861:, New Polaroid Corporation. Press release dated 2002-07-31, Retrieved 2006-12-01. 1858: 1839: 1719: 1324: 971: 754: 736: 722:, with the last factory producing Polaroid-compatible instant film cartridges in 599: 579:

As part of the settlement, the original Polaroid Corporation changed its name to

451: 436: 3458: 2173:"Polaroid Brand Announces Partnership with The Summit Global Group of Companies" 409:, by Edwin Land and George W. Wheelwright III in 1937. It has been described by 389: 3853: 3735: 3608: 3567: 1580: 996: 934: 933:

Austrian photographer Florian Kaps, the owner of the largest online vendor for

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In March 2006, the specialist design and development department in Polaroid's

49: 3893: 3863: 3848: 3760: 1482: 1043: 1027: 873:. For several years, Polaroid was the principal sponsor of NASCAR's 125 mile 836: 712: 275: 245: 212: 163: 124: 20: 3556:– former specialist design and development department at Vale of Leven plant 1905:

10.1002/1097-0266(200010/11)21:10/11<1147::AID-SMJ128>3.0.CO;2-R

1581:"MACRIS inventory record and NRHP nomination for B & B Chemical Company" 3858: 3327:"What is the difference between a CZA-10011, CZA-20011 and a PoGo Printer?" 1290: 1079: 1012: 939: 774: 766: 718:

The Impossible Project (already led by Oskar Smołokowski) was rebranded as

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on its film business. This type of managerial failure is also known as the

237: 202: 2416:"MINT SLR670-S Noir is a refurbished Polaroid SX-70 with added auto modes" 1989:, World Wide Licenses Ltd. Article dated 2002-09-24, retrieved 2006-12-01. 3868: 3725: 1004: 927: 832: 742: 647: 638: 476:

National Register of Historic Places listings in Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Polaroid Automatic 350 instant camera, made from 1969 to 1971, MSRP $ 150

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on Polaroid's branding, including background information on the company.

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By mid 1991, they stopped selling floppy disks. The packaging used both

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magazine in 1972 with the inscription, "A Genius and His Magic Camera".

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In 1977, Land introduced the Polaroid Instant Home Movie camera named

3796: 3791: 1063: 981: 758: 699: 90: 2926: 2796:"PerfectData Drops Sale of Floppy Disks, Cites Downturn in Industry" 3786: 2936: 2623:"What's new in computer repair: recovering data from damaged disks" 2289:"Polaroid Acquired by The Impossible Project's Largest Shareholder" 923: 795: 762: 723: 557: 1518: 1071:– a light-polarizing material developed by Edwin H. Land 345:

Polaroid 80B Highlander instant camera made in the USA, circa 1959

282:, have been developed and released by various licensees globally. 3781: 3529: 2827:"Shawna Robinson 1993 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results" 1441:""Just One of the Boys": Edwin Land and The Polaroid Corporation" 1346: 1317:

Polaroid Acquired by The Impossible Project’s Largest Shareholder

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The Alchemy of Us: How Humans and Matter Transformed One Another

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In the 1990s, Polaroid was involved in corporate sponsorship of

726:, Netherlands being rebranded under the new name later in 2017. 330: 37: 3750: 3393:"Polaroid Announces the Sc1630 Smart Camera Powered by Android" 2079:"Polaroid in Bankruptcy Again, Cites Petters Charges (Update3)" 1920:"How can we understand the digital transformation of business?" 870: 847:

listed it a notch lower in an almost reverse alphabetical list,

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Open Forum Project, Harvard Business School Digital Initiative

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Efforts to preserve and restore vintage Polaroid camera models

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