The Coolidge examiner., 1931-03-20

plans. The lat
ter advised him
to take a Photographic outfit with
him. This was in the days OF
President Grants administration.
While the trip never material
lied, George Eastman, the young
bank clerk, then and there began
a deep study of photography. tie
had been interested in the art
from the time he was fifteen years
old, but until he made plans for
southern trip he had never really
applied himself to the study of the
subject.
The result of his studies gave
the world the kodak and the mod
George Eastman was born in
Waterville. N Y, in 1854. A few
years later his father moved to
Rochester where he established
commercial school, teaching his
pupils business methods by actual
experience. The father died in
1860.
George was an only son. He
was a quiet and somewhat shy lad.
His mother made many sacrifices
to keep him in school until he was
fourteen years old. She taught
him never to buy anything unless
he could pay for it, with the result
that he was never in debt.
He got his first job as an office
boy in an insurance office. His
wages amounted to 50 a week. He
worked his way up until he was
getting 5000 a year. Frequently
he labored over his books eleven
hours a day.
He had a chance to become a
boOkkeeper in a savings bank at
$1,000 a year. The young man
didn't hesitate about accepting an
opportunity that brought with it
such a substantial increase in sal
airy. When his pay was low his
mother had taken in bOarders so
as to keep a nice home for her
only son.
He was twenty years old when
he went to work in the bank. He
remained there seven years, dur
ing which time he took up the
study of photography in earnest in
view of his contemplated trip to
the West Indies. He brought a
camera and took lessons on the
wet plate process. Glass plates
were in use then. They had to be
sensitized before using, a tedious
process.
This meant that the photOgra-
pher of the day had to carry a
bulky equipment if he worked in
the field. Treatment of the plates
made it necessary to take a silver
bath and dark tent so as to pre-
pare the plates properly to receive
an image.
The amateur enthusiast took
such an equipment with him on a
trip to Lake Superior, which was a
substitute for the planned but not
carried out excursion to San Do
mingO. His experience on his vaca-
tion showed him that the joys of
picture taking could be made
available to every one only through
the perfection of a process which
would substitute compact and light
equipment for the bulky parapher-
MALTA and eliminate the tedious
process of preparing each plate.
Meanwhile his career in the bank
was not progressing to suit him.
The official. whose assistant he was,
resigned his position. Young East
mans work had been most salts
factory. He looked forward con-
fidently to moving up q notch and
succeeding his immediate superior.
But he didn't get the job. The
place went to relative of one of
the directors of the institution.
That convinced him that he had
better get out of the bank as soon
as possible. He determined to go
on his Own when he could see his
way clear to do so.
He rented small room fer his
experiments in the dry plate proc
ess. He worked hard and intelli-
gently but not without the disap-
pOintments that come to all inven-
tors. He was often too tired to
undress when he went to bed. Ere
quently he slept from Saturday
night until Monday morning, awak-
ening only to eat the meals his de-
voted mother brought to him.
He didn't have to seek money
to finance his experiments. His
mother had taught him thrift as a
little fellow and he never forgot
the lesson. He saved $3.50 the
first year he worked. He had
$4,000 in the bank when he was
twenty-five years old His first
Photographic equipment cost him
nearly 500.
From that he built the great in
dustrial concern which today bears
his name.
Co. 1880. by The North American