collector Ron Walker and his milling machine
Toronto. When Ev became editor of Photographic Canadiana, he began changes that pushed our journal into the area of a true magazine. Each issue had an index of contents. Small items of interest to collectors peppered his column “Editor’s Notebook“. Articles covered the society activities: talks, meetings, fairs, auctions. Formal columns were established for the President’s Message, Book Reviews, Toronto Notes, Coming Events, Photographic Museums etc..
Ev recognized that collectors and collecting varied widely and the collectors were our life blood. In that spirit, his newest column, “Meet The Collector”, was established. In issue 19-2 the chosen collector was the late Ron Walker who collected both Zeiss cameras, and various old Microscopes. Ron also enjoyed repairing the old microscopes.
Ev begins, “It’s very easy to meet this collector. Just come to the Gold Room on the third Wednesday of each month. There, Ron and his wife, Joan, graciously supply refreshments which are a highlight of each meeting.
“Ron was born in England. When he was three months old his family immigrated to a Saskatchewan farm. In the tranquil countryside Natural History became a focus for his inquiring mind and when he learned to read, our colleague became a devotee of the writer Ernest Thompson Seton.
“At the age of twelve Ron acquired his first microscope and a Voigtlander Brilliant camera, beginning a life-long interest in science and optics in particular.
“After high school graduation in 1939 the young naturalist enrolled at Queen’s University, Kingston. and was completing the pre-medical course when WWIl intervened. Ron became a pilot in the RCAF, logging many hours in Hudson and Dakota aircraft. …”
Follow the usual routine to read the rest of the article about Ron in the paper copy of 19-2 or as a pdf on the free members-only DVD. Not a member? Follow the MEMBERSHIP stuff above (form) and at right (PayPal). Easy peasy – send a cheque with the form or send the form and use a credit card or your PayPal account . Questions? Email Lilianne at member@phsc.ca.
