Private Collection: Kodak Partytime Instant Camera

         In the early 1980's Kodak produced its first instant camera. This was presumably to compete with Polaroid, whom Eastman Kodak had been manufacturing film for some time prior. One Kodak such instant camera was the Partytime model. It used Kodak PR144-10 instant color film. Kodak produced various models of instant cameras during the decade of the 1980's until Polaroid sued for copy right infringement and was awarded over $900 million in damages. Kodak was also ordered to recall all instant cameras they produced,including ones already purchased and own by private consumers and film produced for the of instant cameras. The cameras and film recalled by Kodak were destroyed. But some consumers did not comply with the mandatory recall and kept the cameras and packages of unopened film.

         This is one such camera that was never returned. The previous owner put it away in its box shortly after the film was no longer available and the camera has not been used since, sometime in the later 1980's to early 1990's. The camera is now in the private collection of its current owner in NW Iowa.

References:



History of KODAK Cameras
Instant Camera Settlement
Polaroid Wins $909 Million From Kodak
Polaroid versus Kodak: The Battle for Instant Photography
Polaroid wins Patent Suit against Kodak
Polaroid Once Won an Epic Courtroom Battle with Kodak
Kodak Settles With Polaroid

Smith's Villa and School, 1874 to 2011

Named for Dr. William Remsen Smith the original villa and school has stood on the same grounds in Sioux City since 1874. Changes over the last 137 years has brought it to what it looks like today. That again will change soon because of the new school, built next door and almost complete. The old Smith School building will be torn down sometime in June of 2011 and the ground leveled to make space for a new parking lot.

This blog post may serve as an obituary and a last testament to an important historical part of sioux City, Iowa.

Timeline with Photos:
1874 -











1885 -




1886 to Early 1890's -
































Late 1890's -








1910's -











1925 -











1934 -






May of 2008 -






March of 2010 -
Work "on schedule" for Sioux City's newest school

May of 2011:

Students give Smith Elementary a goodbye hug































Links:
Smith School on Facebook

Biographical Sketch of Dr. William Remsen Smith -