Oct 4, 2012 6:10 PM

Gallery: Why Polaroid Was the Apple of Its Time

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*To introduce the Spectra system in 1986, Polaroid erected this gigantic booth in front of the World Trade Center.* Photo: Enrique Valdivia
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*The Polaroid Model 95 went on sale in 1948, outselling Edwin Land’s optimistic projections.* Photo: Danny Kim

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*Edwin Land reveals his invention to the world, in 1947.* Photo: Polaroid
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*The general patent for the Polaroid system. Dozens of specific processes and details were patented separately.*

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*The Swinger, introduced in 1965 and aimed at teenagers, sold like crazy, even though its photos were small and black-and-white only.* Photo: Danny Kim
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*The final design of the Polaroid SX-70 folded down to the size of a cigar case, and could fit in a (large) coat pocket.* Photo: Danny Kim

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The lawsuit between Polaroid and Kodak over their competing instant-camera lines was the biggest patent case of its time — and the settlement is, to this day, one of the largest in history. *Photo: Danny Kim*
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*Popular Science gave Polaroid's and Kodak's instant cameras each their own cover story. In head-to-head ratings, it expressed preference for Polaroid’s sleeker cameras and Kodak’s color.*

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*Ansel Adams sent back a long memo to Polaroid, registering his agitation that Polavision wasn’t being demonstrated and sold well — but he admitted that he hadn’t had great success using it himself.* Photo: Ted Voss
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*The Soviet Moment instant camera and film. Few Soviet citizens could afford it.* Photo: © 2001 Michael Cardinali/Courtesy MIT Museum

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