The Polaroid camera is one of the most iconic in the world. Not only did it change the history of photography and the way we take photographs, it also contributed to many photographic inventions and technology that has emerged along the way. This timeline tells you all about the camera that made instant print pictures a reality. Although the brand has suffered as technology advanced and digital cameras and smartphone cameras took over, it has managed to adapt and evolve and is still a house hold name.

1932

Edwin H. Land invents the plastic sheet light polarizer.

1932

Edwin H. Land and George Wheelwright open Land-Wheelwright Laboratories.

1937

Land founds the Polaroid Corporation in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in the USA.

1943

Land begins to think about instant photographs after his daughter Jennifer asks him a pertinent question. For 3 years he works on a camera in secret.

1945

During World War II Land’s company helps develop high-quality optics and night-vision goggles and devices. They also help to the design a U-2 spy plane.

1947

The first instant peel apart film demonstration is held in New York City. A sepia coloured imagei is revealed after only 60 seconds of processing time.

1948

The new Polaroid Land Camera Model 95 is ready to be released to the public and sells out almost instantly.

1950

The first real black and white Polaroid film is launched.

1956

The one-millionth Polaroid Land camera is made.

1963

Polacolor instant colour film makes its debut and the Model 100 Land Camera is introduced.

1965

Polaroid Swinger camera is launched.

1972

Polaroid swaps peel apart film for new integral film sheets.

1973

Polaroid SX-70 Land Camera is launched with the new film design.

1977

The Polaroid OneStep Land camera is released.

1981

The Polaroid 600 series camera and film are released.

1983

PolaPan, Polachrome, Polablue and additional 35mm instant transparency films are released along with the Polaroid Autoprocessor.

1986

The Polaroid Spectra camera system and film is released.

1990

Polaroid wins $909 million in a Kodak patent lawsuit for copyright infringement.

1991

Edwin H. Land passes away.

1996

The Polaroid camera-to-television prototype is released.

2001

Polaroid files for bankruptcy protection.

2002

Petters Group Worldwide buys the Polaroid Holding Company.

2005

Polaroid’s operations are acquired by Flextronics.

2007

Polaroid cameras halt production

2008

The Impossible Project (TIP) buys manufacturing equipment from the Polaroid Holding Company for $3.1M

2010

TIP begins to sell Impossible film and Polaroid cameras.

2012

A Polaroid Classic range is released in collaboration with the Polaroid Corporation.

2015

Marquette Cos. acquires the majority ownership of Polaroid for a whopping $70 million.

2015

TIP I-Type camera and film are announced as ne products.

2017

TIP’s biggest shareholder acquires the Polaroid brand and its IP.

2017

TIP rebrands as Polaroid Basics and a new Polaroid OneStep 2 camera and updated I-Type film is released. These products are still available to this day, so Mr Lands dream has not died, it has just changed with the times.