Kodak Colour Processing
One event in 1956 was to have a significant effect on Hemel Hempstead which is still felt today - and also, even in those early days, showed the area’s ability to adapt to change.
Rolls Razor announced that it was to close its factory because of mounting losses and fears of a world slump - it was going back ‘home’ to Cricklewood.
But the company sold their site and land for expansion to Kodak and so began a period of 20 years or so when Hemel Hempstead becaame known to some as 'Kodatown.'
Outside Kodak Colour Processing whichwas in Maylands Avenue |
Colour photography was just beginning to become something that everyone could enjoy.
Kodacolor film was introduced in 1957 and all the processing was to be carried out at the Hemel Hempstead plant in Maylands Avenue.
By 1959 millions of yellow packets containing undeveloped holiday and family snaps and cine film - and sometimes more private scenes that had to be vetted by Kodak staff - were being sent to Hemel Hempstead for processing every year.
There were no one-hour, or even 24 hour, processing shops in the High Street in those days.
But there were labour shortages in the late 1950s and Kodak decided to target women, especially mums, in their recruitment advertising with shifts that could fit in with family life.
One of the company's 1959 advertisements was a rhyme which ended 'Kodak must have women - why not you?' The minimum starting wage back in 1959 was £6. 17s 6d.
The summer months brought more holiday photographs and Kodak introduced a 6pm to 10pm shift which was ideal for mothers.
But the popularity of colour snaps attracted those who believed they could make big money and soon the cheap processing firms, bitterly opposed by the unions, were springing up.
Then came High Street processing and Kodak eventually pulled out of processing in Hemel Hempstead with that side of the business going to Europe.
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