Author Archives: Robert

anything you can do …

Toronto. Camera collecting has no firm rules. Some folk collect quantity, some quality, and some both. The late Jim Matthew managed to collect some 3,000 plus cameras ranging from the inexpensive to the exotic. A marine engineer, Greater Manchester born … Continue reading

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if it moves, shoot it …

Toronto. An old military saying was, “If it moves salute it; if not, paint it”. My colour blind uncle was a painter on a military base after the end of WW2. He told me the paint tins were marked to … Continue reading

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the importance of being a photographer

Toronto. The internet, streaming services, and television have a voracious appetite for videos. A century or so ago it was magazines and newspapers with the heavy appetites for still images and drawings. Any time before 1839, your ancestor had to … Continue reading

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PHSC News for September 2020

Toronto. Well, it’s September already and the infamous COVID-19 pandemic is still with us! Meantime, our editor extraordinaire, Sonja Pushchak, and her team have composed the first issue of PHSC News (20-03 – September 2020) after our non- break. Page … Continue reading

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flash … bang …

Toronto. In the 19th and early 20th century indoor and night photography required flash for a decent exposure. Unfortunately, the magnesium powder that created a bright light when ignited was unstable and unless great care was taken, it would suddenly … Continue reading

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** Our very first OUTDOOR Auction on October 4th is CANCELLED **

Toronto. The PHSC’s first OUTDOOR auction,  planned for October, 4th IS NOW CANCELLED (September 23). Our regrets to all who planned to attend this event for the high end collectible cameras (from an estate) that we intended to auction. COVID-19 … Continue reading

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stick a pin in it

Toronto. Just over three years ago I did a post on the simple pinhole camera. This wonderful solution to a camera for all even had a day devoted to photographs taken by pinhole cameras (a day in April). My friend … Continue reading

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pretty as a picture

Toronto. Editor Rita Godlevskis and the gang at PhotoEd have whipped up another tasty edition (Fall 2020), this time featuring fresh Canadian portraiture. Check out this exciting issue’s articles and photos. Please note that the PHSC is represented with this ad on … Continue reading

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once upon a time in Canada

Toronto. A few years after the second world war ended, Ernst Leitz established a factory in Midland, Ontario. At this subsidiary factory cameras were assembled from Wetzlar parts, manufactured, and lenses were assembled, manufactured and designed. In our journal, issue … Continue reading

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stretching it

Toronto. Good friend, PHSC member, and photographic historian George Dunbar shared this bit of whimsey with me. The February 1928 issue of “Science and Invention” included an article titled, “Enlarging Photos by Stretching” attributed to an “A W Herbert”. Herbert … Continue reading

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