Tech History Made on February 21, 1947

On this day in 1947 the Polaroid camera was demonstrated for the first time by inventor Edwin Land. Land, very successful inventor, was second only to Thomas Edison in number of patents. Land was only in his twenties when he invented the plastic sheet-light polarizer.

Land-Wheelwright Laboratories was co founded by Land in 1932. The company made various polarizers that were used for scientific and commercial applications. In 1937 the company was renamed Polaroid Corporation. The company did very well during WWII producing optics for the military, including designing optics for the Cold War's U-2 spy plane.

Land was known for his insane work habits. He would work for days on end without sleeping or changing clothes. Shifts were set up so assistants could be at their best when working with him. Land once said"My whole life has been spent trying to teach people that intense concentration for hour after hour can bring out in people resources they didn't know they had".

In 1947 Land demonstrated the Polaroid camera for the first time. The picture took 60 seconds to develop. In 1963 a color version was offered with Polacolor film. The Polaroid Land camera was produced until 1983. Unfortunately after Lands death, Polaroid Corporation did not do so well and filled for bankruptcy protection in 2001. In recent news, Polaroid announced it will not longer be making the film used in the Polaroid camera.

Polaroid had been overshadowed by the quickness and detail of digital but every adult can remember the first time they shook a Polaroid. A joy that will now end with this generation.