George Eastman Demonstrates Dry Plate Photography

of coating photographic plates evenly with gelatin emulsion, making large-scale manufacturing practical. In April 1880, Eastman patented his plate-coating system and opened a dry plate manufacturing business in Rochester. The following year, he partnered with Henry A. Strong to establish the Eastman Dry Plate Company. The company supplied photographers with ready-made dry plates, eliminating much of the preparation work that had previously been required. This business became the starting point for Eastman’s broader efforts to simplify photography and expand its accessibility. Eastman’s success with dry plates provided both the technical experience and financial resources needed for further innovations. During the 1880s, he expanded into flexible photographic film and camera development, eventually introducing the Kodak camera in 1888. The dry plate enterprise therefore served as the foundation of what would become the Eastman Kodak Company, one of the most influential businesses in the history of photography. #GeorgeEastman #Kodak #PhotographyHistory #DryPlatePhotography #FilmPhotography #CameraInnovation #EastmanKodak