Polychrome Corporation, a brainchild of Mr. Halpern, is now a major part of Kodak Co. and continues to live on. But the small company spirit died on Jan 1. 1998 when the company became a part of DIC-Kodak joint venture. This blog is dedicated to the memory of those who proudly call themselves "Polychromer". ..... Ken Shimazu shimazukenichi@gmail.com
Thursday, March 8, 2018
Additional memo from Mr. Gumbinner 21 Polychrome Berwick
At that time the European common market did not exist. It was decided to erect a plant in England to make the presensitized plates. Tom Heckles (who may have come from Ilford) was the manager of our England office. He rented the lower floor of a building in Watford, a northern suburb of London. Watford is served by both the Underground and regular trains from Euston station. We sent rolls of the paper plates and Polychrome Gmbh sent the aluminum plates. Heckles sheeted the rolls and made the various solutions. Mr, Halpern decided to open a lithographic plate making facility under the auspices of the Osterode plant. Tom Heckles was asked to find a place to make the presensitized plates. He choose Berwick. A city on the south side of the Tweed River. Across the river was Scotland. We acquired a site and installed a 30 inch wide line. I went there a number of times.