Corporations: Swinging Polaroid

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Polaroid subcontracts most of its camera manufacturing—U.S. Time Corp makes most Polaroids, Bell & Howell will produce the Swinger in the U.S.—but it is so deeply committed to the film business that it plans to erect a nine-building complex of film plants over the next ten years. Land is also developing a film that will produce instant color transparencies, and negotiating with Tex Thornton's Litton Industries to enter jointly the office-copier business. Polaroid recently opened a film plant in The Netherlands, this fall will open another in Scotland; later this year, U.S. Time will begin producing Swingers in Scotland. One indicator of Polaroid's foreign potential is that in camera-heavy West Germany, despite higher prices than in the U.S., sales of its cameras this year have increased twentyfold.