Author Archives: Robert

before TV; before video;

Posted on November 22, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. … we had home movies. Originally 16mm, during the depression Kodak began selling 8mm versions and post war in a scramble to expand market size and improve image quality, Kodak moved to ‘Super 8’. In the late 1930s, Kodachrome … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on before TV; before video;

days of war surplus photo supplies and gear

Posted on November 21, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. Some of us may remember the days when the local war surplus store had stocks of photo paper, film, chemicals, equipment, etc. at big discounts since the cost was already paid once by tax dollars. This November, 1947 American … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on days of war surplus photo supplies and gear

a beacon in the dark

Posted on November 20, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. Another American company, Whitehouse Products, in Brooklyn took a shot at the American photography market with its cheap plastic camera, the Beacon. The Beacon was simply a box camera tarted up like a minicam. It retailed for about 8 … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on a beacon in the dark

what goes around …

Posted on November 19, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. … comes around. The cirkut cameras must be very attractive to collectors – I have about 10 posts on them. Wednesday, November 16th, we had an interesting presentation on Cirkut and Panoramic cameras and Cirkut kits by Christopher Creighton. … Continue reading →

Posted in program | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on what goes around …

Larry Towell Book Signing: November 26th, 2022, 2-5pm

Posted on November 18, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. The Stephen Bulger Gallery announces a book signing by Canadian photographer and author, Larry Towell on the 26th of this month. Anyone around the GTHA on the 26th should drop by Stephen’s gallery in Toronto and meet photographer Larry … Continue reading →

Posted in activities-other | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Larry Towell Book Signing: November 26th, 2022, 2-5pm

flattened

Posted on November 17, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. Wow! Just over a century ago Steichen photographed the then recently completed ‘flatiron’ building in NYC (so called from its shape – we have a similar building here). According to the article, “Edward Steichen’s The Flatiron, an iconic photo of … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on flattened

Bob Chambers 1939 – 2022

Posted on November 16, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. We were sorry to hear from son-in-law Graham Yeates that Bob Chambers had passed away this November 10th. Bob spoke to the PHSC back in 2011 along with  fellow photographer and speaker, Tom Bochsler, both of the Hamilton/Niagara  area. It … Continue reading →

Posted in people | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Bob Chambers 1939 – 2022

pirates of New York City

Posted on November 15, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. Univex (Universal Camera Corp) advertised its Buccaneer 35mm camera in November, 1947, a few years before declaring bankruptcy. Known for their unusual camera designs, the company was said to be ethically challenged. The body of the Buccaneer shown in this … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on pirates of New York City

history in photos

Posted on November 14, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. Our co-editor of the Photographic Canadiana journal, David Bridge,  recently sent me a link to a CTV news item called,”Rare photos of 44 Toronto First World War soldiers discovered“. The glass slides are professional portraits of WW1 soldiers in … Continue reading →

Posted in activities-other | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on history in photos

she’s baaack!

Posted on November 13, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. I did a post back on June 2nd noting that the iconic Sunday Antique Market in St Lawrence Hall was closing. I saw in the November 10 Etobicoke Guardian (the local free rag) that Marlene Cook was reopening her … Continue reading →

Posted in activities-other | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on she’s baaack!