With the Wall Street Journal reporing Polaroid is considering Bankruptcy, citing about 2 Billion in debt, what effect will this have on the availability of Polaroid film?

-- Dan Smith (shooter@brigham.net), July 11, 2001

Answers

I guess it all depends wether it is a reorganization or a flat out cessation of business. With a 2 billion dollar debt I suspect the creditors are not going to let it go under and will facilitate terms, so the outlook for the near future should not be too bad,but I would not be buying any new polaroid equipment if I were you! or stock for that matter...:-)))

-- Jorge Gasteazoro (jorgegm@worldnet.att.net), July 11, 2001.

There is debt andthere is debt. What Polaroid faces immediately is a note that is due either Friday or next week for $300,000,000. ifthey defaultthey are in serious trouble. Bankruptcy will probably be there way out of the immediate mess and give them breathing room to reorganize.

My info comes from last Sunday's NYT.

-- Ellis Vener Photography (evphoto@heartstone.com), July 11, 2001.

I'm probably going to get in trouble for this answer.

There is no plan in the future to change the production schedules of 4x5, 8x10 and 20x24.

Yes we have problems.

Bill

-- Bill Jefferson (jefferw@polaroid.com), July 12, 2001.

Bankruptcy doesn't mean the business closes. Chrysler and Continental airlines are two examples of companies who have filed (actually did Chrysler file bankruptcy?? Continental certainly did) and come back quite well. It usually means a stressful time for the employees.

Polaroid has a lot of valuable intellectual property. For all I know (I know nothing!) their professional instant film products are a profitable division of the company...

-- mike rosenlof (mike_rosenlof@yahoo.com), July 12, 2001.

I am very sad about this whole matter, Dr Land was the Thomas Edison of the UK and an amazing guy, all we seem to have these days are a bunch of bean counters.. where are the visionarys? Its depressing to consider what lies ahead for traditional image makeing. damn you digital, cant you just leave us be.

-- bill zelinski (willy226@yahoo.com), July 12, 2001.

Hmm...I don't know about that...I was always under the impression that professional lines in all companies, whether film/paper mmanufacturers, or equipment were not the big money earners. I would be very surprised to learn that Polaroid is making alot of money off their pro films...I've heard that their biggest sellers are more of the sticky camera type films...and the integral films. I imagine they've taken a real beating from the rise of cheap photofinishing, point'n'shoots, and now digital cameras & inkjet printers. Think about all the technical imaging equipment & films they used to offer...forensic cameras, dental cameras, passports, IDs, copy cameras...alot of this stuff is being done more & more on digital. Just look at the duping films & copy films EK has discontinued as well...like it or not it's coming our way....and as far as intellectual property, when are those patents up anyways?

I want to see them continue though, because I rely heavily on type 55 film, and really don't want to work without it....

-- DK Thompson (kthompson@moh.dcr.state.nc.us), July 12, 2001.