some emulsion coating history

[papermaker]

In my research on Kodak photo paper history, I've come across a story that might be amusing to those dealing with issues regarding emulsion coating papers. Seems that a new coating process was being developed but there was no experimental or pilot equipment to trial it on. So the coater was located at the bottom of a 5-story elevator, the paper web was attached to the bottom of the elevator car, and the paper was drawn through the coater by running the elevator to the top floor. The coated paper was left hanging in the elevator shaft to dry and was later sampled for testing. Since the elevator was in use during working hours and was not light-tight the only time to run the experiments was after dark on weekends. The account says that the rig worked and new machines were designed and installed that could run "over 20 feet per minute." There is no description of the coater and the story is undated but there is a reference to the individual who ran the elevator experiment who shows up on a 1917 organizational chart as an assist. superintendent in the sensitizing department.

 

[Photo Engineer]

That would be the trough coater pictured in the Dutch film about Kodak that was posted here recently. That was about the time it was introduced. I thought it was phased out before the late 50s when the Dutch / Kodak film was reported to have been made though.

Wonderful story!

BTW. We missed you at lunch last week!

PE

 

[Ray Rogers]

the paper was drawn through the coater by running the elevator to the top floor.

Nice find!

Wonder what the coating speed was?

 

[Photo Engineer]

Typically, under 100 ft / min.

PE