Author Archives: Robert

what a wonderful viewer

Posted on November 4, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. As a little child sitting  in a rocking chair in a dimly lit farmhouse room, I first looked at stereo cards through a Holmes viewer. I was fascinated and thrilled. Scenes leaped out at me as if I was … Continue reading →

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so who needs slow speeds anyway?

Posted on November 3, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. … Besides, the IIf Leica was less expensive to buy than a IIIf. This cosmetically clean c1951 black dial IIf Leica with the correct 5cm f/2 collapsible Summitar lens is lot 201 at next Sunday’s PHSC Museum Auction. The … Continue reading →

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buzzing about …

Posted on November 2, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. Bees and flowers seem to go together. At left a bee extracts nectar from a blossom and leaves some pollen behind. While this photo is obviously too recent to be a collectible, the idea of a collection sub-group of … Continue reading →

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Museum Auction November 9, 2025

Posted on November 1, 2025 by Robert

Toronto.  Coming fast – our Fall 2025 Museum Auction, Sunday, November 9, 2025 in Long Branch (south west Toronto) at the usual venue BUT at the slightly later time (see poster) – free parking [OVERFLOW AT GO TRAIN LOT JUST … Continue reading →

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a down east phenom

Posted on October 31, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. When our late president, Bill Kantymir, came back from vacation many years ago, he was all excited. He discovered a mailbox down in Nova Scotia bearing the name ‘SHERMAN HINES‘. For the unaware, Sherman is a definitive Maritimes photographer … Continue reading →

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more than cameras

Posted on October 30, 2025 by Robert

Toronto.  Collectors of photography generally divide into collectors of cameras and collectors of photos. But either group might collect the accessories and ephemera related to their collection. Stereo buffs – cameras or photos might also collect various viewers, projectors, light … Continue reading →

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cool water

Posted on October 29, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. Old photo collectors value outdoor scenes, work environment, etc. An unusual category might be desert scenes. We learn in school the various desert areas in the world. While the USA has a number of them, the only one I … Continue reading →

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sans photography …

Posted on October 28, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. Have you ever heard of a”chemigraph”?  It is an engraving made on a metal (zinc) plate using chemicals instead of photography. The word originated in German combining chem- + -graph The image can be reproduced as a platinum print. … Continue reading →

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for want of a nickel …

Posted on October 27, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. … a camera is lost. Our PHSC fall auction is coming up fast (November 9th) and we will be posting photos and possibly a lot list when received from our auctioneer. Meantime, don’t forfeit a desired lot next month … Continue reading →

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a button for Christmas …

Posted on October 26, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. Long before television, people could view stereo cards at home to see the world, learn new things, and view comedy. Games used simple objects found in any home. Even in the 1940s, I can remember playing the button game … Continue reading →

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