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- [00:01]
Lindsey Graham
There are more ways than ever to.
- [00:02]
Harold Booth
Listen to History Daily ad free. Listen with Wondry plus in the Wondery.
- [00:06]
Lindsey Graham
App as a member of Noiser plus.
- [00:08]
Narrator
At noiser.com or in Apple Podcasts.
- [00:11]
Lindsey Graham
Or you can get all of History Daily plus other fantastic history podcasts@intohristory.com It's 1942 at a glass manufacturer in Cambridge, Massachusetts. 33 year old Edwin Land walks into a high ceilinged room. Normally this is a research and development lab, but its workbenches and scientific equipment have all been cleared away. In her place, mounted on a pedestal in the center of the room, is a machine gun. A few months ago, the Japanese attacked Pearl harbor and the United States was dragged into World War II. Edwin immediately informed the U.S. government that the resources of his high tech company were at their disposal. Five years ago, he set up his Polaroid Corporation to produce a special kind of glass with cutting edge light filtering properties. Today, he's testing a new type of military training apparatus built using that technology. A 3D combat simulator. Edwin takes hold of the machine gun, just like the ones fitted to American bombers. He points its barrel at a giant screen covering the wall at the far end of the lab. Then he pulls a pair of goggles over his head. These goggles have been fitted with the special lenses and make his surroundings look a little blurry, but Edwin knows that's about to change. Speakers pipe in the low drone of the bomber's engines into the room. Then the giant screen flickers to life, showing sharply focused clouds slowly drifting through the sky. Edwin stares at the screen and grips the gun tightly. Suddenly, a fighter plane dives across the picture and thanks to Edwin's special 3D goggles, the plane looks like it's about to fly right out of the screen. Edwin can't help flinching, even though he knew he was coming. So he collects himself and then aims the gun at the plane. Edwin pulls the trigger, but rather than firing bullets, the gun emits a shaft of light that hits the screen. Edwin can see that he's missed the fighter, so he adjusts his aim and fires again. This time the light shines on the fighter's wing, indicating a hit. After a few moments, the film runs out and the screen flickers and then goes dark. A second or two later, the noise from the speaker cuts out too. Edwin removes his goggles and smiles. With this 3D training, he's sure that American airmen will be even more prepared to take the fight to the Nazis and Japanese and help America and its allies win World War II. Edwin Land will never fight for his country during the war, but his contribution will still be significant. He'll develop several new products that will help American troops secure victory on the battlefield. And then, when the fighting's over, Edwin will find a more peaceful use for his innovations. He'll produce a camera with the ability to print photographs instantly, a remarkable new technology that will become known as a Polaroid after it first goes on sale and stuns American consumers on November 26, 1948.
- [03:15]
Harold Booth
Hey prime members, have you heard? You can listen to your favorite podcasts ad free. That's good news. With Amazon Music, you have access to the largest catalog of Ad Free Top podcasts included with your prime membership.
- [03:28]
Lindsey Graham
To start listening, download the Amazon Music app for free or go to Amazon.com.
- [03:33]
Harold Booth
ADFreePodcasts that's Amazon.com ADFreeP Podcasts to catch.
- [03:39]
Lindsey Graham
Up on the latest episodes without the ads.
- [03:42]
Narrator
History Daily is sponsored by Audible, whose best of 2024 picks are here. Discover the year's top audiobooks and originals in all your favorite genres, from memoirs and sci fi to mysteries and thrillers. Audible's curated list in every category is the best way to hear 2024's best in audio entertainment, like a stunning new full cast production of George Orwell's 1984 heartfelt memoirs like Supreme Court Justice Kentanji Brown Jackson's lovely one, the year's best fiction like the Women by Kristin Han, Percival Everett's brilliantly subversive title James, or a personal pick of mine, Malcolm Gladwell's latest audiobook, Revenge of the Tipping Point. Find a new favorite and get listening with Audible because there's more to imagine when you listen. Go to audible.com historydaily and discover all the years best waiting for you.
- [04:34]
Lindsey Graham
From Noiser and Airship. I'm Lindsey Graham and this is History Daily. History is made every day on this podcast. Every day we tell the true stories of the people and events that shaped our world. Today is November 26th, 1948 the first Polaroid instant camera. It's 1928 at the New York Public Library, 14 years before Edwin Land builds a 3D training aid for American bomber crews. 19 year old Edwin turns the page of a thick book while jotting down notes on a pad of paper. A small stack of books separates Edwin from the other patrons of the library's reading room, and Edwin reaches up and takes the next one from the top of the pile. He's a regular visitor to the New York Public Library. Two years ago he began studying optics at Harvard University, but Edwin soon Discovered that academic life wasn't for him. He wanted to conduct his own real world experiments and make his own discoveries. So Edwin dropped out of school, Moved to New York and started visiting the well stocked public library. There, he began researching a topic that's long been a source of fascination to polarization. Polarization is not a new discovery. Scientists have known for years that all light moves in a fluctuating wave. And geologists have discovered that some rock crystals can block certain frequencies of light. No one has yet been able to recreate this geological phenomenon In a laboratory environment. But thanks to his in depth research, Edwin thinks he could be the one to do it. And when he's read everything the library has on the subject, he begins conducting experiments in his home laboratory. Through a painstaking process of trial and error, Edwin succeeds in growing small crystals on plastic sheets. But since there's no way to neatly arrange them, they don't work together to block light as he wants them to. Until Edwin makes a breakthrough. He discovers he can use a magnetic field to align the crystals in a uniform way. And when he does that, the crystals successfully block some of the light beams. When oriented a specific way, Edwin's made the world's first artificial polarizer. Edwin patents his new invention, which he calls a light polarizing sheet. Then he asks permission to return to Harvard. But he doesn't want to rejoin his peers in the lecture hall. Instead, Edwin shows his polarizer to his old professors and asks them if he can set up a proper laboratory at the university. It's an unusual request for a dropout, but one professor spots the potential and agrees to partner up on a research project to develop the polarizer further. And it's pretty soon thereafter that news of Edwin's invention spreads. With several businesses seeing its potential, General Electric offers Edwin a large salary and a chance to run a bigger, better equipped research lab. But Edwin turns the offer down. Although the cash is tempting, he doesn't want to lose control over his discovery. So he keeps working. And in 1935, six years after discovering how to make an artificial polarizer, Edwin launches his first product Using the technology. His variable sunglasses can be adjusted to the brightness of the surroundings. When it's sunny, the filter can be set to let in less light. And when it's dark, they can let more in. But Edwin doesn't actually sell the glasses himself. Instead, he licenses the idea to a more established business. But the success of the variable sunglasses proves that there is commercial potential in his invention. So two years later, Edwin forms the Polaroid Corporation to launch A new range of light polarizing products. He manufactures filters that control the amount of light let in by camera lenses and airplane windows. He sells a special glare free desk lamp and glare free car headlights. And at the New York World's Fair in 1939, he unveils his spectacular new technology goggles with polarized lenses that replicate a 3D image. Two years later, by 1941, Polaroid is growing fast and has annual sales of $1 million, equivalent of almost 50 million today. But the company changes tack when World War II breaks out. Edwin realizes that he can build products that no other company can, and he offers his services to the US Military. Soon, the Polaroid plant is churning out thousands of polarized goggles to stop pilots from being dazzled by the glare of the sun. It makes variable density goggles that allow gunners to darken or lighten their field of view. It produces reconnaissance cameras with special polarized lenses to cut down glare. And Edwin even develops goggles for military dogs and horses that protect their eyes from debris and bright flashes. But the war effort also gives back to Edwin. He and the rest of the Polaroid research department learn how to innovate quickly. So when the tide turns against the Nazis and allied troops gain the advantage in the war, Edwin will begin to think about how his technological advances can be used in peacetime. He'll need to come up with new ideas and new products for a post war age. And among them will be one device that will become synonymous with the Polaroid brand. A new camera that will usher in a new form of instant photography. History Daily is sponsored by Greenlight.
- [09:56]
Harold Booth
This weekend, we're doing something pretty special for our daughter. We're heading to New Orleans to see Taylor Swift. And yeah, that squeal you just heard.
- [10:05]
Lindsey Graham
From what seemed like hundreds of miles.
- [10:06]
Harold Booth
Away was in fact her level of excitement reaching a piercing, audible buzz.
- [10:11]
Lindsey Graham
But we were clear to her this is a very special trip and we saved up for it.
- [10:15]
Harold Booth
This is something she understands because she's saving, too, with Greenlight. Greenlight is a debit card and money app made for families. Parents can send money to their kids and keep an eye on their spending and savings While kids and teens build up money, confidence and lifelong financial literacy skills. You can send your kids instant money transfers, get real time notifications of spending, manage chores, and automate allowance. Millions of parents and kids are learning about money with Greenlight, the easy, convenient way to raise financially smart kids. Sign up for greenlight today@greenlight.com historydaily that's greenlight.com historydaily to try greenlight today greenlight.com.
- [10:54]
Narrator
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- [12:13]
Lindsey Graham
It'S 1943 in Santa Fe, New Mexico, two years after the United States entered World War II. The now 34 year old Edwin Land.
- [12:22]
Harold Booth
Lifts a camera to his eye and.
- [12:24]
Lindsey Graham
Peers through the viewfinder. He adjusts the focus to the smiling face of his three year old daughter Jennifer. Then he presses the shutter button to capture the image and gives her a quick thumbs up to signal that he's taken the photo. Since his company, Polaroid, produces glare free lenses for several camera manufacturers, Edwin's office is always overflowing with the latest models and he's packed several cameras with him on his family's vacation to the Southwest. Edwin is adjusting a few settings on the camera when he feels a pull on his pants leg. It's his daughter Jennifer looking up at him with wide eyes and asking to see the photograph. Edwin chuckles at her misunderstanding and explains to the unhappy Jennifer that he must develop the film first before they can see the photos, and that will take at least a day. At its essence, photographic technology hasn't changed much over the past few decades. Images are captured as a negative on light sensitive film and then this negative is transferred Onto photographic paper, A process that must happen in a darkroom Using special chemicals and expertise. But Jennifer's question sets Edwin thinking. He wonders whether it would be possible to develop film as soon as the shot is taken. That way, photographers wouldn't have to waste before viewing the results of their work. So as his family wanders the streets of Santa Fe, Edwin hangs back, lost in thought. When they return to the hotel, Edwin grabs some paper and a pencil and begins sketching ideas. Within an hour, he has the preliminary design for an instant printing camera. Edwin's idea is to replicate the chemical reactions that normally occur in a darkroom, but in a dry environment inside the camera. Instead, he figures it should be possible to apply the chemicals to the photographic print in an evenly distributed, precisely timed manner. But when he gets back to his lab and starts doing proper research, he soon discovers it's easier said than done. Edwin needs to find a mechanical process that fits in the tight confines of a handheld camera. And then he needs to find the perfect combination of chemicals to get results that are as good as those attained by a traditional dark room. So over the next few years, Edwin works almost exclusively on his idea of an instant camera. He begins with some of the high quality lenses and cameras that Polaroid has developed for military use. Then he shrinks them down to the size of a personal camera. He develops a system of rollers which press the negative photographic film over photographic paper. Then he tests countless combinations of dry chemicals to transfer the image from the negative to the paper. He tries different quantities and speeds. He evaluates the process at different temperatures and in different light conditions. And though Edwin has Polaroid's research and development scientists to help him, no one puts in more hours than Edwin himself. He leaves for work first thing in the morning and returns home late at night. He often takes his meals in the laboratory and wears the same clothes for days on end, until colleagues and families start dropping hints about the smell. But all the time that Edwin puts into his passion project pays off. He eventually identifies a chemical mixture that produces a good quality print. And he's able to design a camera that automatically develops the photograph at a touch of a button. Edwin names his new invention the land camera and unveils it to the public. On February 21, 1947, in front of an audience of experts from the Optical Society of America, Edwin takes a photograph, Waits a few moments, Then unclips a panel at the back of the camera. Normally, this would spoil the film inside, but Edwin takes out the photograph, waits a few more moments, and peels the negative away from the photographic paper. The experts of the Optical Society gasp as Edwin reveals a sharp, sepia toned image. To photographers who've used the same time consuming darkroom development process for decades, Edwin's Instant camera seems miraculous. But for now, Edwin's prototype is an expensive one off. If he's going to make a profit from his new invention, he'll need to scale up production of the Land camera and then he'll need to persuade people to buy them.
- [16:28]
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- [17:12]
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- [17:50]
Lindsey Graham
26, 1948, at the Jordan Marsh department store in Boston, Massachusetts, almost two years after Edwin Land unveiled his prototype. Instant Camera. Marketing executive Harold Booth looks through the viewfinder of a Polaroid Land camera and asks the small crowd of shoppers gathered around his table to smile. Then he presses the shutter button and holds the camera while he unclips the back to remove the photograph he's just taken. A few weeks ago, Edwin Land hired Harold to oversee the launch of his new product. Harold put together a marketing plan for the Land camera that included newspaper and radio ads. But he knew that a radical and expensive new product like this really needed to be seen to be believed. So today, he's personally leading the first public demonstration of Edwin's invention. With a bit of a flourish, Harold peels off the negative from the back of the photograph. And then he invites the shoppers to take a good look. They lean forward, nodding in amazement. They're obviously impressed with the technology and quality of the photographs. And when Harold finishes his demonstration, several of the shoppers want to buy. At a price of 89, 75, the new Polaroid instant camera costs the equivalent of more than $1,000 in modern money. But that doesn't deter many. As soon as the first customers move away clutching their purchases, a new batch of eager shoppers take their place for the next demonstration. By the end of the day, Harold has sold all 57 cameras in stock. So the manager of the store places another order. But he isn't the only retailer who wants to sell the Land camera. Soon, Edwin's groundbreaking device is on sale in New York and Miami and then nationwide. The cameras are so popular with customers that they will be sold for decades to come. And over that time, Polaroid will develop new and even more user friendly models offering high quality full color photographs at the push of a button. At its peak in 1991, Polaroid will record annual revenues of $3 billion. Today, however, digital photography has rendered the instant camera almost obsolete. And Edwin Lands Corporation is now defunct. Apart from a few fans of retro technology, the Polaroid is largely a thing of the past. But its ability to instantly capture and share life's special moments helped redefine people's relationship with photography. Edwin Land's iconic invention might not be flying off shelves anymore, but it changed photography forever the moment it was first unveiled to customers on November 26, 1948. Next on History Daily, November 27, 1895. A year before his death, a wealthy Swedish chemist and inventor amends his will and establishes the Nobel Prize from Noiser and Airship. This is History Daily hosted, edited and executive produced by me, Lindsey Graham Audio editing by Mohammad Shazib Sound design by Molly Bond Music by Thrum this episode is written and researched by Scott Reeves. Edited by Dorian Marina Managing Producer Emily Burke Executive producers are William Simpson for Airship and Pascal Hughes for Noiser.