Monthly Archives: August 2019

a blast from the past…

Posted on August 21, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. … to borrow a line from a local radio station. Aires cameras were made in Tokyo, Japan. The Aires Camera Industries Company lasted less than a decade (1952 – 1960). While short lived, the company rode the wave of … Continue reading →

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double your pleasure

Posted on August 20, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. The “double your pleasure, double your fun” jingle may have applied to Wrigley’s Double Mint gum but it certainly did not apply to accidental photographic double exposures. In fact, camera makers went out of their way to tout their … Continue reading →

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the long and the short of it

Posted on August 19, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. Those photographers wishing to get closer to their subject than their camera allowed had two choices: an auxiliary lens could be added to the front of the normal lens, or if the lens was interchangeable, the lens could be … Continue reading →

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faster than a speeding bullet

Posted on August 18, 2019 by Robert

Toronto, No, it’s not Superman – it’s Super Anscochrome colour film. Anscochrome touted its film as being “faster than standard black-and-white film” on pp32-3 of the June 17, 1957 issue of LIFE. With ads like this, the Binghamton Brigade set … Continue reading →

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a long shot

Posted on August 17, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. I saw this Exakta ad long ago. In fact, it was part of my mental background making me decide to go for an Exakta decades ago back before I was married, or a father.  The big selling point was … Continue reading →

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CNE and Cinematographe

Posted on August 16, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. Cinema and Movies seem so passé these days of TV, streaming, and smartphones but over a century ago movies where the newest means of education and entertainment. The CNE was known as the “Toronto Industrial Exhibition” in those days … Continue reading →

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Louis who? Movies before Edison?

Posted on August 15, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. Thanks to my good friend George Dunbar who emailed me when he found this insightful article. Back in August 29, 2013, the British National Science+Media Museum website in Bradford, UK posted the article by Kieron Casey. Casey suggested that … Continue reading →

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surprise!

Posted on August 14, 2019 by Robert

Toronto.  You do remember actress Mamie Van Doren don’t you? No? What about photographer Ralph Crane? No, again? Then you are either too young or never saw a movie last century in a theatre or on TV! Crane worked for … Continue reading →

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the great yellow father

Posted on August 13, 2019 by Robert

Toronto.  In the early to mid last century Kodak was the pre-eminent name in photography. The company was known world-wide. Retailers featured Kodak film, paper, and if not exclusively camera shops, Kodak cameras and gift kits. Kodak offered every imaginable … Continue reading →

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China through British eyes in 1980s

Posted on August 12, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. Russ Forfar often alerts me to interesting scientific concepts potentially of use in future photographic endeavours. This time Russ sent me a note on a new book by the British photographer Adrian Bradshaw. Adrian has been interested in China … Continue reading →

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