100 years of service to Polychrome

Simon Chu,JenChi Huang, JB Huang and I met again for a Japanese lunch at Sazan restaurant in Ardsley NY, our usual hideout. These four represents approximately 100 years of combined service to Polychrome Corporation. As usual it was good to seeing each other and catching up on the recent news such as of grandchildren ( and great grand children in case of Simon), health reports such as aches and pains and a bit of Polychrome related news such as three production plants, in Columbus, Katzenstein and Gunma still operating while Agfa and Fuji cut back their non-domestic production sites.

Polyline May 1973

Polyline May 1973 issue was found inside a book totally unrelated Polychrome. So it is now uploaded for your review. I am hopeful that in case you find something interesting for this archive you will consider sending me the content rather than throwing it away as old junk!

DIC engineer Mr. Kawaguchi accompanied Mr. Nonaka (then in charge of graphic arts div. at DIC), Dr. Oe (R&D director then, later became President of DIC) to tour US,German and English plants. There they met members of Polychrome, Bittner, Kaps, Sens and Hitomi of DIC who was then stationed in Katzenstein. The photo is the Katzenstein brochure handed out during their visit.

Polychrome legacy continues

Those ex Polychromers who did not follow the world of presensitized plates past Kodak Polychrome Grahics days may be interested in learning how our past efforts are still influencing the industry today. Today the three former Polychrome production sites in the USA, Europe and Japan are all in production and the China 2FF plants we licensed our technology in 80' and are active now under the Lucky Huaguang Graphicsname boast production capacity of 175msqm in their web site. (http://hg.luckyfilm.com/en/Page/index.html?cate=330). On the other hand once mighty Agfa ceased production in Branchberg NJ, Leeds UK and recently announced the sale of entire Agfa Graphics to a private investment company Aurelius group (https://www.agfa.com/corporate/news-item/agfa-gevaert-group-completes-the-sale-of-its-offset-solutions-division-to-aurelius-group/). Announcements were made on the closure of Fuji plant in Europe and the USA (https://www.printcan.com/news/2022/20221130984.shtml, https://petapixel.com/2021/07/01/fujifilm-to-close-four-u-s-photo-equipment-plants-and-cut-400-jobs/#:~:text=Fujifilm%20has%20announced%20that%20it,by%20the%20fall%20of%202022.) making the Columbus factory of our Polychrome (now Kodak) to be the only plate factory in the US. This all happened within the quarter century since the name Polychrome disappeared from the American Stock Exchange, it will be interesting to see what change will come during next quarter century! (My goal of living till age 100 years with good health is not sufficient to see this change!)

More pictures of Mr. and Mrs. Halpern

Some more pictures of Mr. and Mrs. Halpern during their days in Tarrytown, New York. Erica Bonime sent me these pictures saying that these were taken at their home but she is not sure when the time was.

Thank you Erica for your contribution.

Mr. and Mrs. Halpern photo

Erica Bonime, niece of Mr. Halpern, found a couple of photos at her mother's hose in AZ recently.

Erica's mother Mrs. Arlene Bonime in red dress is with Mr. Halpern

Mrs.Halpern is with Dr. Stanley Bonime, Erica's father. Thank you Erica for your contribution. You readers may come across photos, notes, etc relating to Polychrome, please forward them to me for uploading here. Thanks Ken

Season's Greeting !

Here is the greeting to all from Hal Pilcher. I join him in wsihing all a great health and happiness. Ken A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW 2023 in health for you all and piece on earth 🎄 🎅👩‍🚀🎅👩‍🚀🎅👩‍🚀 🎄