part of the gift to the late Dr Wilson from his uncle
Toronto. We all have memories of how we became involved in photography. Sometimes a camera or cameras are gifted and our innate curiosity takes over. The late Dr Robert Wilson, for many years very active in the PHSC – you may have bought old books or old stereo images from him at one of our fairs – received a gift and a letter.
In issue 25-4 of our journal, Bob shares that letter with us along with photos of the goodies received from a favourite uncle. The gift was literally the foundation of a camera collection in itself. The letter begins: “Dear Bob: I quite enjoyed our brief conversation about photography and so you may appreciate some of the old stuff I am passing on to you for disposition or retention as you please.
“My mother, your grandmother, had an interest in photography and taught me how to develop films and make prints in the 1930’s when I was in knee pants. We used wax trays and blackened out all the windows in the kitchen at xxxx Main East in Hamilton. You will find her old split-back printing frame in the junk box.
“You could buy developers and hypo in any drug store in those days. Later when I was using the house to practice dentistry, I naturally had a darkroom so I could process my X-Ray films. At that time the only camera I had was an old box camera using the then-popular 120 film.
“I can remember drooling over the Eaton’s catalogues which had pictures of fabulous cameras. One of the cameras that I ‘worshiped’ most was a Mercury 35mm at a cost of $90.00 in the years 1945-48. If you multiply by the inflation factor ( at least x15 ) you will see why owning one was a wild dream when the yearly salary for a public school teacher was only $900-$1200.
“Many years later I bought the one in the box for about $10 and used it up at the cottage in the fifties.” …
You can read all of this letter in the issue 25-4 pdf file on the free members-only DVD/memory stick. Non members can find out how to join above and at right. Any member questions may be emailed to Lilianne at member@phsc.ca.
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