Explains Bombshell In Photography

Northern Advocate, 13 June 1947, Page 8

Explains Bombshell In Photography

What the United States Press described as a “bombshell in photograph}- was the subject of a speech bv Mr T. FI. Morrison at a Whangarei Junior Chamber of Commerce luncheon held in Butler's Room yesterday. The senior vice-chairman (Mr F. J. Philpott) introduced Mr Morrison.

The bombshell in photography, said Mr Morrison, was the invention by Mr Edwin H. Land, an American scientist, of a camera, which, besides taking a photograph, developed and printed the film, all in the space of 50 to 60 seconds.

Two rolls of paper film, one negative, one positive—the positive roll having a sealed strip attached in which are processing materials —are contained in the camera.

After the exposure is made the film negative and the special positive paper, turned by a knob, pass through the pressure rollers which cause the sealed strips, or pods, to burst. A fluid is spread evenly over both negative and positive surfaces. What emerges from the camera is a sandwich of the positive and negative materials with the processing solution between them. There is provision for cutting the film into its proper sizes by two knife blades. QUICK PROCESS When these two materials are stripped apart, the photographer has a paper negative, which is thrown away, and a positive print which will not fade or deteriorate more than any other photograph. Forty to 60 seconds are allowed to elapse for making the print before the two materials are separated. Mr Morrison illustrated his address by means of a diagram hung on the wall. Dealers and finishers in the United States regarded the invention somewhat sceptically and their attitude was, ‘'Let's wait and see," said Mr Morrison. They said that Land’s invention, with its revolutionary principles, would influence dealers' business as j slowly as television was affecting radio. Most retailers, however, regarded the Land's process as an advance in photography. Mr L. Quin, assistant secretary of the chamber, thanked Mr Morrison for his interesting address, after which members asked him questions relating to the invention, and its effects on various aspects of photography.