“A real manufacturing facility”? It had its own Zip Code and Fire Department. It was the largest user of Silver in the world. Flat Cars of Silver would be lined up on the railroad tracks.
My wife’s aunt’s boyfriend (practically my twin, in terms of affiliation) was the retired director of public relations for Kodak. Around twenty years ago he arranged a tour of one particular plant in downtown Rochester for me, completely without any prompting from me, and it would have seemed ungracious for me to decline. It was an interesting tour of a huge, buzzing, and largely automated facility. My wife had cousins in Rochester and they all either worked for Xerox of Kodak. Everything he says about Kodak people is true: wonderful, gracious Americans, all.
Remember when Kodak was sued by Polaroid and LOST over their instant pictures?
Kodak had the classic error. They did not know the business they were in. Even when it was staring them in the face. (remember the phrase “Kodak moment?” It was because film cost money and your images per roll were limited.)
They ALMOST had an idea with the printer with the cheeper ink but then failed again.
Perhaps the reason Kodak failed is the same reason Pan Am ultimatly failed.