Active Stocks
Tue Mar 19 2024 09:07:13
  1. Tata Steel share price
  2. 149.55 -0.03%
  1. Tata Consultancy Services share price
  2. 4,055.65 -2.15%
  1. Power Grid Corporation Of India share price
  2. 263.00 -0.75%
  1. Tata Motors share price
  2. 970.55 -0.17%
  1. NTPC share price
  2. 315.00 -0.68%
Business News/ News / Business Of Life/  A college dropout’s instant dream
BackBack

A college dropout’s instant dream

How a two-time Harvard dropout conducted scientific experiments to create the basics of one of the favourite gadgets, a pocket version of the one-minute camera

Edwin H. Land, a student of Harvard University, dropped out after his freshman year to conduct scientific experiments of the application of polarizing light filters.Premium
Edwin H. Land, a student of Harvard University, dropped out after his freshman year to conduct scientific experiments of the application of polarizing light filters.

If you have hung out at malls or concerts recently, chances are you would have seen people taking pictures in their cutely designed Instax cameras. The popular Instax cameras were launched in 1998 by Fujifilm, but the company was already making instant cameras since the 1980s. However, the history of instant cameras starts from 1926 in the US.

Edwin H. Land, a student of Harvard University, dropped out after his freshman year to conduct scientific experiments of the application of polarizing light filters. It is said he did it despite not having access to a laboratory, by sneaking into Columbia University at night and doing his reading at the New York Public Library. He rejoined Harvard, only to drop out once again, and set up Polaroid Corp., with his physics instructor, George Wheelwright. The first Land camera, as they were called then, was sold for $89.95 at the Jordan Marsh department store in Boston. This Model 95 Land camera became the prototype for all Polaroid Land cameras produced during the next 15 years.

Write to us at businessoflife@livemint.com

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed – it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!

Catch all the Business News, Market News, Breaking News Events and Latest News Updates on Live Mint. Download The Mint News App to get Daily Market Updates.
More Less
Published: 21 Jan 2020, 12:50 AM IST
Next Story footLogo
Recommended For You
Switch to the Mint app for fast and personalized news - Get App