Author Archives: Robert

rhymes with snap-shot …

Toronto. … how about pet-shot? Collectors of old photographs sometimes specialize and sometimes do not. Those who don’t might categorize or group photos with similarities – portraits, work, religion, pets, etc. The photo at left from the late 1970s may … Continue reading

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better than pearl …

Toronto. A young Peter Stackpole shot the construction of the Bay Bridge  (to Oakland) and the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco with his Leica A – the first professional quality and successfully marketed miniature camera. The last edition of … Continue reading

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September 2025 PHSC News 25-9

Toronto. A 15 page issue in the usual fine upscale style we have come to enjoy from editor Gunn. I got a chuckle from the cover- any Torontonian knows the challenge of downtown travel and parking these days! Click on … Continue reading

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amazing Oskar

Toronto. In a recent Digital Camera World article, it was announced that Leica Camera AG had its best  (in revenue) year ever – this on the 100th anniversary of the first sale of Leicas ever. Like many firms in Europe, … Continue reading

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a phoenix moment …

Toronto. Past president, author, sports photographer, etc., etc., Less Jones, sent me an email the other day noting Kodak’s ‘Phoenix‘ moment. The article was recently published in the NYT International Weekly, but since I do not have a current account, … Continue reading

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on collecting old medical photos

Toronto. One of the earliest medical photos around seems to be this re-enactment of the first operation at the Massachusetts General Hospital under ether (taken by  Southworth & Hawes). According to the Massachusetts General Archives, a second re-enactment was taken … Continue reading

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Our Fall Fair Oct 19th

Toronto.  Treasurer John Morden created this tasty poster for our fall fair this month. Details should be clear but if you do have any questions, drop Mark or Clint a line at fair@phsc.ca.

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essence of beauty

Toronto. James Esson founded his photographic studio  in the tiny village about an hour today west of Toronto. The village of Preston, Ontario, since absorbed in larger communities, had a population of some 1,400 souls in 1884. The history of … Continue reading

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chasing storm photos …

Toronto. One interesting category of old photos are those displaying storms. For all the 1800s and early 1900s, Our sensitive media were likely far too slow to capture storms as they occurred. More often the aftermath was captured. At left … Continue reading

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my lord …

Toronto. I often thought a sub-set of old photo collections could be religion – buildings, people, artifacts, etc. An example is this c1968 shot of St Joseph’s Oratory on Queen Mary Road at Cote des Neiges in Montreal. This remarkable … Continue reading

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