About Us
The Kodak R&D Retirees Lunch Group met semiannually for over fifty years. It was a great opportunity to see old friends, enjoy an excellent lunch, and learn interesting information from top Kodak executives and local experts.
The Luncheon Steering Committee, reflecting on dropping lunch attendance in recent years aggravated by covid concerns by many members and the lack of relevant Kodak speakers and topics, declared "our work is done! Why wait?" The formal lunches will not continue. Let's give a shout out to Gordon Jarvis, Hal Langworthy, Jim Patton, and Gary Einhaus who led the group the last thirty years.
While the formal lunch has ended, emails will continue including invitations for any informal lunches. If you are not already on the list and would like to be included in future emailings, let us know. New email address? Let us know that, too! You snooze, you lose.
This website will continue as long as Jim Patton is north of the grass. He checks the D&C daily to be sure.
Kodak R&D Retirees Lunch Group
Bob Shanebrook's "Making KODAK Film, 2nd Edition" available
The first edition provided a great deal of information that had never been published. Nearly all of the additional information in the new book has never been published. Certainly never gathered together in a comprehensive explanation of film manufacturing.The book includes:
1. History of film base manufacturing including American Film, cellulose nitrate, cellulose acetate, Estar Base and others.
2. Expanded discussion of historic and modern emulsion making processes and equipment.
3. History of coating technology and expanded discussion of curtain coating including photographs of an operating Kodak curtain coater and the thread-up path of Kodak’s Building 38 Film Coating Machine.
4. Expanded description and photographs of finished film configurations and the finishing processes. Of special interest is motion picture film finishing using high speed T-perforators.
5. Detailed descriptions of photographic film image forming mechanisms for black-and-white films, color negative films, Ektachrome Films, and Kodachrome Films.
6. Technical descriptions and history of Kodak Films that are used for consumer, professional, motion picture, x-ray, micrographic, graphic, aerial, and scientific applications.
7. Description of past and current Kodak Worldwide manufacturing plants, interactions between the plants, and technology transfers.
8. First-hand description of working in Kodak’s film business in the 1980’s.
9. Information based on private communications with over 100 photographic experts.
10. Addition of over 225 photographs and diagrams.
11. Identification of sources of information; over 600 footnoted references.
12. A table of figures and an index to facilitate finding information in the book.
The book is 470 pages, 8.5 x 11 inches and four-color printed on 80-pound gloss paper. It is gloss-film lamination hard-cover bound. Shipping weight is 5 pounds. It was printed and bound in Rochester NY, USA
The price of the book is $125. In addition, there is a $15 shipping charge and sales tax for NY State delivery. If requested, books will be signed by the author.
Check or money order:
Robert Shanebrook
439 Avondale Road
Rochester, NY 14622
International: All prices in US dollars. I charge what USPS charges for shipping. USPS flat rate shipping is about the same for 1, 2, or 3 books to many countries. Contact Bob at makingKODAKfilm@yahoo.com
Useful Links:
- Send us an email to join and receive our mailings or to update your contact info.
- Want to find an email address for a KRL Retiree? Try Clark Kurtz's database! You need the password.
- If you do not have it, click "Get Kurtz Password" and we can send it to you.
History of Electrophotography at Kodak Available
Gordon Jarvis was the first researcher at Kodak to work on electrophotography. The man who was there from the beginning wrote a wonderful history of electrophotography at Kodak in 1988. If you worked at Kodak and would like a PDF of this history, click here.
This is a substantial expansion of the first edition. The first edition's 94 pages provided a high level view of the technology used to provide silver halide films. The positive response encouraged me to write a second edition with much more in-depth coverage of the subject. To gather information, I consulted over 100 photographic film experts. This resulted in a 470-page book that includes an additional 225 illustrations and over 600 footnoted references. Check out the website!
Kodak Research Retirees Gathered for June 2024 lunch
Over 40 KRL Kodak Research Retirees joined an informal lunch at the Winton Road Distillery on June 14. Attendance set a new record. Some folks did not leave until after 2 pm. The plan is to have another lunch in December. Do not miss out.
If you are not on the KRL Retiree mailing list, please let Gary Einhaus know
PayPal:
makingKODAKfilm@yahoo.com
On-line Magazines, Newspapers, Books, etc. from EKC
It's all here. Lots of history and nostalgia. Kodakery. Instruction Books. More. Take a look for yourself!.
Kodak Historical Collection at Rush Rees Library
More stuff for your enjoyment. But... ya gotta go; not online.
Two very interesting Facebook Groups you might enjoy.
- Eastman Kodak Company Family (4,000 members).
- Montanus Photography (4,900 members).
Historic Mural Discovered in B81 Lobby Conference Room
Delta-X, a company engaged in enterprise product data management for traceability & consumer engagement, purchased B-81 for their new headquarters. During restoration of the building, workers discovered a false wall in the front of the B81 Lobby Conference Room. Behind that wall was an amazing mural related to the science and technology that was the hallmark of the Eastman Kodak Company in the early-60's when B-81 was constructed. Perhaps 25 years later, the construction of the Lobby conference room hid the mural for unit now. The Delta-X CEO invited Bob Shanebrook to view the mural. On March 23rd, Bob and Jim Patton went! Here they are standing where once was a chalk board.
The mural was amazing with many obvious and many not-so-obvious facets. A Democrat & Chronicle article from May 19th, 1961 has a picture of Cyril Staud (Head of Kodak Research) and Julian Webb (head of Physics Division) looking at the mural which is described as depicting sound, mechanics, atomic structure, optics, electronics, electrical energy, and photography - all subjects to be studied in the building. In other words, the grand plan for B-81.
The chemically inspired motif forces you to think. My chemistry trained friends point out the carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur (with the atomic number and atomic mass) are part of emulsion making but why fluorine? Jim Reynolds, an intellectual property expert, points out Kodak had obtained patents on fluoride coated lenses. Sounds more than plausible.
Click here for a large image of the mural without those funny looking guys standing in front of it. Please send any thoughts on the significant parts of the mural to Bob. Please note that there are letters added along the bottom and numbers added along the side to help you pinpoint any particular area you want to bring to our attention.
We all love stories with a happy ending. Not to disappoint, Bob Shanebrook reports that new owner will leave the mural exactly where it is for future generations to enjoy.
Post Script: Johnny-come-lately WHEC broadcast the story of the mural on April 8.
Remember those KRL Lab Rosters with photos? Mug shots. Here is one from 1983 - 40 years ago! Lots of memories here.
Finding Information on Kodak Retirement Plans
After the Eastman Kodak Retiree Association (EKRA) closed down in 2021, the National Retiree Legislative Network (NLRN) agreed to pick up the EKRA membership as part of their overcall network and create a Kodak Chapter.
This important contact information is listed on the NRLN site:
- 877-995-6325 for Kodak Retiree Service and Benefits Center (to change tax election, direct deposit, address, or report death)
- 800-747-4968 for Kodak SIP Service
- 866-492-6983 for MetLife Survivor Income Benefit questions and signup (see box above)
- 888-607-4764 Kodak Medical Service records
IMPORTANT!
NEW
Kodak Survivor Income Benefit (SIB) Still Paying Spouses
The Kodak SIB still provides money to survivors of a deceased Kodak retiree whose age + years of service were greater than 75 in 1996. While the program ceased to include new people after 1996, those grandfathered remain eligible for a payout, albeit limited. I believe the maximum payout is approximately $10K.
To check on your eligibility and apply for benefits, call 800-638-6420. You will be led through a series of prompts (#2 for group life claims, #2 for other, #4 for other, and #1 for Beneficiary) at which point the computer will begin asking questions like the SSN of the deceased. If you are already receiving benefits, contact the program at 800-458-2479 prompt #2. Persistence is key. The only time I talked with a person was at the payment line (800-458-2479 prompt #2) so go back there as a last resort.
Kodak Prepares to Terminate U.S. Pension Plan, Book Gain of More Than $500 Million. Read more here.
Kodak sent this letter to Kodak retirees (and perhaps others) on November 26. Kodak claims the potential termination would not impact the retirement benefits to which current and former employees are entitled The gist is that current retirees will see no change in benefits. Their future checks will come from an insurance company, not KRIP. The money for retirees would be insured by someone other that the PBGC. The letter has more details for those not yet drawing on the pension program.
The National Retiree Legislative Network sent this email.
Kodak R&D Retirees Get-together on June 6th.
Our semi-annual lunch is Friday, June 6th at the Distillery (3010 S Winton Road) at noon. Feel free to invite other R&D Retirees. If you do plan to come, please let Liz Patton know.
NEW!