COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 333315

Photographic and Photocopying Equipment Manufacturing

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

24companies1849–1982founding years22still active2no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedLeica Camera AGFoundedLeica Camera AG
1849
FoundedA.B.Dick Company
1884
FoundedCarl-Zeiss-StiftungFoundedCarl-Zeiss-Stiftung
1889
FoundedEastman Kodak Company
1901
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedOlivetti S.p.A.FoundedOlivetti S.p.A.
1908
TechnologyThe Ford Model T brings the automobile to the middle class.
1913
EconomyThe Federal Reserve is created.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedNikon Corporation
1917
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
1933
EconomyNew Deal reforms reshape banking and industry.
FoundedKonica CorporationFoundedKonica CorporationFoundedRicoh Company, Ltd.
1936
FoundedPolaroid CorporationFoundedPolaroid Corporation
1937
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long postwar expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented at Bell Labs.
FoundedSANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
1950
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedAgfa Gevaert Group N.V.FoundedAgfa Gevaert Group N.V.
1964
1970
EnvironmentThe EPA is founded; environmental regulation expands.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; Nasdaq opens.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins with the Altair.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
1980
EnvironmentSuperfund law makes polluters pay for cleanup.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedConcord Camera Corporation
1982
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall 22% in a single day.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2001
EconomyThe September 11 attacks; a recession follows.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 begin to take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Leica Camera AG →
Active · founded 1849 · Germany
Leica Camera AG is a manufacturer of high quality equipment for photography, photographic reproduction, and observation.
Leica Camera AG →
Active · founded 1849 · Germany
Leica Camera AG is a manufacturer of high quality equipment for photography, photographic reproduction, and observation.
A.B.Dick Company →
Active · founded 1884
A.B.Dick Company is still going strong after 114 years in business and, after the turn of the new millennium, will be…
A.B.Dick Company →
Active · founded 1884
A.B.Dick Company is still going strong after 114 years in business and, after the turn of the new millennium, will be…
Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung →
Active · founded 1889 · Germany
The Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung, a 'juridical person' under German civil law, is the sole owner of two industrial enterprises,…
Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung →
Active · founded 1889 · Germany
The Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung, a 'juridical person' under German civil law, is the sole owner of two industrial enterprises,…
Eastman Kodak Company →
Active · founded 1901
A multinational corporation whose name and film products are familiar to photographers around the world, Eastman Kodak…
Eastman Kodak Company →
Active · founded 1901
A multinational corporation whose name and film products are familiar to photographers around the world, Eastman Kodak…
Olivetti S.p.A. →
Active · founded 1908 · Italy
Olivetti S.p.A.
Olivetti S.p.A. →
Active · founded 1908 · Italy
Olivetti S.p.A.
Nikon Corporation →
Active · founded 1917 · Japan
While Nikon Corporation is well known in the consumer world for its cameras, the Japanese firm also produces film…
Nikon Corporation →
Active · founded 1917 · Japan
While Nikon Corporation is well known in the consumer world for its cameras, the Japanese firm also produces film…
Konica Corporation →
Active · founded 1936 · Japan
Konica Corporation produces a wide range of products, mainly within the imaging sphere.
Konica Corporation →
Active · founded 1936 · Japan
Konica Corporation produces a wide range of products, mainly within the imaging sphere.
Ricoh Company, Ltd. →
Active · founded 1936 · Japan
Ricoh Company, Ltd.
Ricoh Company, Ltd. →
Active · founded 1936 · Japan
Ricoh Company, Ltd.
Polaroid Corporation →
Active · founded 1937
Polaroid Corporation, founded on Edwin H.
Polaroid Corporation →
Active · founded 1937
Polaroid Corporation, founded on Edwin H.
SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. →
Defunct · founded 1950 · Japan
SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. →
Defunct · founded 1950 · Japan
SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
Agfa Gevaert Group N.V. →
Active · founded 1964 · Belgium
One of the world's most renowned names in photographic films and equipment, Belgium-based Agfa Gevaert Group N.V.
Agfa Gevaert Group N.V. →
Active · founded 1964 · Belgium
One of the world's most renowned names in photographic films and equipment, Belgium-based Agfa Gevaert Group N.V.
Concord Camera Corporation →
Active · founded 1982
With low-cost manufacturing facilities operating in the People's Republic of China, Concord Camera Corporation…
Concord Camera Corporation →
Active · founded 1982
With low-cost manufacturing facilities operating in the People's Republic of China, Concord Camera Corporation…
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