A bit more of Kodak history - Bridgehead Photoreconnaissance Film Processing Program ...

[rmazzullo]

Found this from govinfo:

https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GOVPUB-D-PURL-gpo87686/pdf/GOVPUB-D-PURL-gpo87686.pdf

- Bob

 

[BrianShaw]

A good read.

BRIDGEHEAD: Eastman Kodak Company’s Covert Photoreconnaissance Film Processing Program

 

[Sirius Glass]

Thank you. I saved it to my desktop so I can read it whenever I want to.

 

[MattKing]

Thanks for the link. I added some of the program details to the thread title.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I worked at the Kodak Hawkeye facility. I am not responsible for any conclusions you may draw.

 

[Alan Johnson]

I believe that microfilms of the type mentioned on p93 are (were?) produced in China (Lucky 1025) and Russia (Tasma MF-N) but do not know of any sources.
There was a recent report of discontinuation of Agfa microfilm production. The Fuji HR-20 is sold in 100ft lengths.

 

[cmacd123]

the Air films used some Microfilm technology. BUT anything like this is not only "special" but only even mentioned under security seal.

I understood that Eastman Park Micro-graphics who tool over the Kodak and RECORDAK microfilm and Business scanning programs, made and arrangement where AGFA materials in Belgum would stop selling there microfilm as COPEX, and instead sell it under the Imagecapture brand... Being slow, Microfilm tends to have a long shelf life and so the availability of Fuji Microfilm does not indicate current production.

one simalarity to the products metioned in the book, some Microfilm was made on a thin ESTAR base. one project I was involved with used rolls of 215 ft on a standard 100ft 16mm Microfilm spool. these are the same diameter as a 16mm 100ft Movie Spool, but made of plastic with drive holes instead of aluminum like the Movie Spools. The Kodak catalog back in teh day listed all sorts of special windings and packaging including rolls made for several specific machines from various Business equipment makers.

one of the biggest uses of Microfilm at one time was in the banking industry. Cheques before being shipped to another bank to be cleared, would be photgraphed on a "rotary" camera, and the film sent for processing. if a shipment of cheques was lost or destroyed, KOdak or another supplier could print facsimile copies so thet the funds could be cleared.

 

[mshchem]

I ordered a hardcopy, paperback book from Amazon 28 bucks with shipping. Pretty cool stuff. Cold Warriors were bitchin!

 

[MarkS]

I worked as an industrial photographer and photo tech for Eastman Kodak in that building, on those programs, for over twenty years. I made a number of the photographs in that book, and scanned all of those images out of my department's negative files (most of them were originally in color). I operated quite a bit of the lab equipment illustrated, and taught our government customers how to use some of those devices. You can find my name in the credits at the end.

I can tell you that all the films used in those programs were designed and manufactured by Eastman Kodak in Rochester, specifically for those applications. "Lucky" and "Tasma" had absolutely nothing to do with any of it, at any time. I worked with Kodak's film designers from time to time (and an interesting bunch they were), but (being neither an engineer or a scientist) I cannot say how any of those emulsions related to any microfilms.

 

[Alan Johnson]

I can tell you that all the films used in those programs were designed and manufactured by Eastman Kodak in Rochester, specifically for those applications. "Lucky" and "Tasma" had absolutely nothing to do with any of it, at any time.

I realised that, was merely speculating on the availability of microfilm type emulsions today now that the Kodak products are long discontinued. Sorry for any ambiguity in post 6.

 

[MarkS]

No disrespect intended; I just wanted to cut off any "we faked the moon landing" type speculations.
Despite 45 years in the business, I'm quite ignorant of anything related to microfilms. Bob Shanebrook (forum member 'laser') would be the person to ask about them.