A little bit of photographic history .

[uraniumnitrate]

A gentleman named George Eastman as a rumour says visited Hungary and liked the country and the people that much that he ordered the London based Kodak plant to arrange and open a manufacturing plant in Hungary. I think he just thought of big money but this statement stays on me! The plant had been taken over the communist after the Second World War and renamed to Forte! I wonder sometimes if the old guy did get some compensation but it would be Kodak’s tasks to tell the whole story. The people who worked and works down there always been and are very proud of there heritage. Even during the communist aria but never said it out loud.
So when I’m talking about Forte I always thinking of Kodak and to tell you the truth sometimes it’s feels like that I’m working with an good old Kodak film which I believe still it is which I appreciate very much as I believe that under the communist regime not much technical development went on. Here is one address you can see an image of the company in 1922

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If you know other companies story than share with us as this is interesting because with out of those guys we would be nothing but a bunch of what?

I would like to know what had happened to that London based Kodak plant does anybody knows that?

 

[PHOTOTONE]

I am guessing that Forte (under communist rule) didn't upgrade their equipment to take advantage of modern manufacturing practices in the film industry, like the rest of the world did? While I am sure Forte is good product, I wonder what vintage are their coating lines?

 

[rwyoung]

Not even close to being on-topic but if you have any contacts at Forte, Uraniumnitrite, you might want to let them know that they have a bad link on their web page for color films and papers:

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The three links for color film go to the Bromofort product page. Not terribly helpful...

 

[nworth]

The communists considered it immoral (as well as too expensive) to compensate the capitalist former owners of the properties they seized.

 

[Photo Engineer]

It should be noted that there were a number of Hungarian people who remained in Rochester or moved their after WWII, and either they or their children continued to work in the Rochester plant. Several worked in the Research Labs.

PE

 

[uraniumnitrate]

I am guessing that Forte (under communist rule) didn't upgrade their equipment to take advantage of modern manufacturing practices in the film industry, like the rest of the world did? While I am sure Forte is good product, I wonder what vintage are their coating lines?

Much, and not much the coating head is only 6 or 7 years old and manufactured in Switzerland as I know. The films had double layer and contain a lots of silver because to tell you the truth it’s still a Kodak recipe as it where before the war! I think after the communist’s fall they haven’t had a time to change anything except they manufacture that new paper called Polywarmtone and polygrade with a variable contrast but others are the same! For example the Ivory is the same as Kodak had once upon a time. Sadly they stop producing the Verdita paper. I just know some people as a long time user. So I had a couple of friends at Agfa too!

 

[uraniumnitrate]

Not even close to being on-topic but if you have any contacts at Forte, Uraniumnitrite, you might want to let them know that they have a bad link on their web page for color films and papers:

Dead Link Removed

The three links for color film go to the Bromofort product page. Not terribly helpful...

I don't think they have any color in production nowadays! The digital possibly killed that even there.

 

[uraniumnitrate]

The communists considered it immoral (as well as too expensive) to compensate the capitalist former owners of the properties they seized.

I think both of your statemens feet in well in the big picture.

 

[rwyoung]

I don't think they have any color in production nowadays! The digital possibly killed that even there.

Even less helpfull on their part. Still, it would be nice if they would update their web site and remove dead links. Seem to find a lot of dead links these days on film/paper/chemistry company sites.

 

[uraniumnitrate]

Even less helpfull on their part. Still, it would be nice if they would update their web site and remove dead links. Seem to find a lot of dead links these days on film/paper/chemistry company sites.

I'm gonna tell them I promise you that!

 

[Metroman]

I would like to know what had happened to that London based Kodak plant does anybody knows that?

I live down the road from the London plant and it is still going strong. From their web site:

"The largest and oldest site, at Harrow in northwest London, manufactures Ektacolor photographic paper and finishes Inkjet paper together with a wide range of Graphics film materials for the printing and publishing industry. The plant, opened in 1896, is today among the Company's most modern and most productive.

It is the world's biggest single facility for the manufacture of photographic paper and the Ektacolor consumer and professional products coated and finished here are supplied to customers in Europe, Russia, Africa, Asia, the Middle East as well as the United States"

Hope that helps.

 

[uraniumnitrate]

Hope that helps.

Yes of course! It's nice to know that is still alive and well!
Thanks.

 

[Photo Engineer]

Andy;

Having visited the Harrow plant several times, I must have walked up your road from the train station to the plant. I knew that they had shut down most of the research there, but didn't know the fate of the coating facility.

PE

 

[Metroman]

PE

The piece on the Harrow plant is here:

http://www.kodak.com/UK/en/corp/manufactureLogistics.jhtml

Sadly the plant employs less people now than in it's heyday. Was a major employer and contributor to the local economy. Has amazing recreational, sports facilities, sports fields and their soccer team are still playing in the local league.

I did have a site bookmarked that is owned by a retired employee and had some wonderful pictures of the plant over the years. If I can find it I will post it

 

[Photo Engineer]

Andy, thanks.

I knew several of the people there and worked closely with them until my retirement. Sadly, I've lost contact with them. I travelled all over that area with one of them acting as my host and got to see a great many sights.

PE

 

[jnash67]

My mother came over from Hungary in 1956, so I find info like this very interesting. Thank you very much. What town was this plant located?

 

[uraniumnitrate]

My mother came over from Hungary in 1956, so I find info like this very interesting. Thank you very much. What town was this plant located?

The English is located in Harrow in northwest London as Andy stated and the Hungarian located in Vac which is only a couple of miles north of Budapest by the river of Donau.

 

[jnash67]

Thank you for the information. My mother grew up near Csorna, the town is called Achalug, I know its spelled wrong, but that is pretty close. I hope to make it back there some day, the last time I was there was in 1979. Things have changed drastically since then.