Author Archives: Robert

boxing it up

Posted on December 26, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. The first half of the last century, most families used the humble box camera, and my grandmother was no different. The photographer in her small family, she recorded family members, friends, and neighbours over the years, the majority snapped … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on boxing it up

Merry Christmas 2021

Posted on December 25, 2021 by Robert

As the nasty COVID-19 rears its head one more time with the Omicron variation, I wish all viewers a safe holiday. This photo was taken by me over a half century ago with an Exakta VXIIa an hour north of … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Merry Christmas 2021

a really snowy white Christmas

Posted on December 24, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. On December 11, 1944 Toronto had its worst snowfall ever. Over a half metre of snow fell on the city. Nothing moved. A recently married future father-in-law and his friend traipsed blocks along the New Toronto streets to get … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on a really snowy white Christmas

nighthawks and newshounds

Posted on December 23, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. As night descends on the city, sirens cry out warnings. Yellow crime tape surrounds parts of the city. Marking the spot where deaths, accidents, fires, or other maladys of humanity happened. The area is lit up by brief flashes … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on nighthawks and newshounds

lousy timing

Posted on December 22, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. Ansco and its predecessors and future companies tried hard as number two to be better than Kodak in films, papers, cameras etc. In the 1920s, known as Agfa-Ansco, the company built a massive factory which went into production the … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on lousy timing

a 10A century studio camera

Posted on December 21, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. Graflex has had a long and storied history beginning in 1887 when it was established  in NYC as Folmer & Schwing, a maker of bicycles. The company expanded and began making Graflex cameras in 1898. Kodak bought the company … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on a 10A century studio camera

a star is born

Posted on December 20, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. Today, with modern digital cameras and smartphones, we take colour for granted and convert the results to B&W only for a ‘special effect’. It wasn’t always the case. For many decades various colour processes were tried. Some had good … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on a star is born

night moves

Posted on December 19, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. Ahhh, 1934 (before I drew a breath) Kodak was advertising its newest film – Super Sensitive (SS)  Panchromatic – plus a couple of inexpensive cameras and special photoflood bulbs ready to screw into their special reflectors or into ordinary … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on night moves

never heard of Hessercolor – have you?

Posted on December 18, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. George Dunbar sent me a link from the January, 1934 issue of International Photographer. titled, “The Wonders of Hessercolor“.  There is an interesting article on Hesser at “Broadway Photographs“. Hesser took on Kodak and failed to succeed. He was … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on never heard of Hessercolor – have you?

black is beautiful

Posted on December 17, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. In the 1800s and early 1900s, black enamel was a choice for finishing metal. Sewing machines, microscope bases, lamps, and even the ubiquitous Model T Ford all came in the black enamel finish. When Leica cameras were first sold, … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on black is beautiful