Kodak or Kodalux?

[P3D Bill Davis <bd3d@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

There seems to be some confusion regarding the Kodak/Kodalux thing, and
most of it seems to exists between my own ears.  Perhaps someone can help
clarify.

As far as I know, *Kodak* closed their last processing lab, the one on
Ridge Road in Rochester, in June 1986.  This was a (the only?) lab that
processed and mounted stereo slides, in preprinted yellow and white mounts
that said "Stereo Color Slide Processed by Kodak" on the back.  These were
returned numbered on the other side.  All of the slides I shot in my first
year of stereo were processed there.  (The 2-day turnaround that someone
mentioned) I never had any mis-mounting problems.  Then they closed.
(There were about a dozen independent labs that continued to offer stereo
mounting.  Kolor Print (in AK?) and one in Mass, as well as Qualex, but
none that I tried matched the quality and accuracy of Kodak.)

What I *think* I know is that this lab had automated mounting machines, the
development of which was what clinched Kodak's decision to build a stereo
camera back in the early 50s.  I think there has been reference to six or
seven of these machines running 24 hours a day during the boom.  Bill Ewald
mentioned this in his talk at NSA '96.

The likelihood that Kodak would have saved any of those machines for the
past twelve  years seems slim.  Most big companies scrap things like that.

What I also *think* I know is that Qualex was a separate entity, a chain of
independent photo labs unrelated to the Kodak labs.  It's unlikely that
they would have had the automated stereo mounting machinery at any time in
their history.  If they are anything more than a recent Kodak purchase, I'd
be surprised. I seem to recall that only fairly recently have they begun to
incorporate "Koda-" into their name. 

So anyhow, the lab with the sometimes sloppy mounting service in TX is
_Kodalux_.  The big company in Rochester which has somehow managed to get
its stock analysis posted to Photo-3D lately is _Kodak_.  Or am I merely a
confused old man?  :--)

Best regards,
Bill Davis
mailto:bd3d@xxxxxxxxxxxxx



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