Monthly Archives: March 2026

not so far, far, away

Toronto. I took this shot a couple of decades ago at our Fair in 2006. Along with cameras, I collected lenses, books, brochures, etc, that offered information on the history of photography. I imagine other camera collectors collect lenses too, … Continue reading

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another use for paper …

Toronto. The idea of roll film revitalized the use of sensitized paper (negatives). In fact various roll film mechanisms were developed to use the medium in cameras. An example is the Warnerke Roll Film Holder. Editor Robert Lansdale wrote about … Continue reading

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a DAR mystery train

Toronto. Collectors of old images sometimes concentrate on transportation photos, or have a subset of their collection comprising of transportation/train photos. Here is a mystery you perhaps can solve. Jeff Ward in Halifax dropped me a line the other day … Continue reading

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flying off the shelf …

Toronto. … Like a bat out of hell. In late 1948, Edwin Land dropped a bombshell on the photographic world.  He put to market a revolutionary camera and film system that took a monochrome photo and developed the positive print … Continue reading

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top ‘o the mornin’ to ya

Toronto. As we near St Pattie’s day, this is a suitable post. It is based on a follow up article titled “A SECOND LOOK …”. Editor Lansdale expands on photographer John Turner reporting a lens swap between Dr Mike Robinson … Continue reading

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a different Montreal studio

Toronto. We have all heard about the famous Notman studio on Bleury in Montreal. Here is another studio on the corner of Bleury and Craig. This is the Summerhayes & Walford studio on second and third floors of the building. Editor … Continue reading

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fairs past, fairs present

Toronto. Our spring fair a quarter century ago, was held just north of the city in the Soccer Centre. Mark Singer added a free bus service from the TTC subway for the convenience of  some attendees. The centre also offered … Continue reading

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remembering Boris ..

Toronto. A PHSC speaker and member, Boris first spoke at our March 2001 meeting. I did a memorial post when Boris died in August, 2017 at 81 years of age. At the time he was writing a book of his … Continue reading

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seen any ‘lizards’ recently?

Toronto. Most of our event offerings are either German or North American. Occasionally we see English products. Rarely do we see Scottish cameras. The remarkable camera in Bill Belier’s issue 27-1 column is a rare Lizars (not lizard) from Scotland. … Continue reading

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everything old is new again

Toronto. There is a saying that there is nothing new under the sun. As a kid, I made a radio with a tiny bit of ‘fools gold’ (iron pyrite) and a thin copper wire ‘cat’s whisker’. This rustic semi-conductor radio … Continue reading

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