Author Archives: Robert

mirror, mirror in the box

Posted on February 5, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. When the minicams arrived in the late 1920s, the fancier ones used a rangefinder for sharp focus of the chosen subject. A few years later, high end minicams like the Leitz Leica, Zeiss Contax, etc.  accepted interchangeable lenses. It … Continue reading →

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… down in the woods today …

Posted on February 4, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. The photo at left is another bit of family history showing a group of relatives congregating in the woods for a picnic. Photo collectors often choose pricier photos from two centuries ago for their collection, over looking cheaper ‘snap … Continue reading →

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a collection like no other

Posted on February 3, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. Do you know we Canadians have a national collection of papers, photos, and physical objects in Ottawa’s National Museum of Science and Technology (now named Ingenium)? Or that the Museum is a member of the PHSC? The image at … Continue reading →

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some deep thoughts

Posted on February 2, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. PHSC past president and sports photographer (especially soccer), Les Jones, sent me an interesting email the other day. Les writes, “In addition to the Kaleidotrope, I had something that I assumed was incomplete. A wider than normal wooden holder … Continue reading →

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what the hey?

Posted on February 1, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. By the mid last century, all families had cameras thanks to Kodak and its competitors. Family photographers weren’t that interested in resolution or contrast. A good shot was one that turned out – you could see and recognize people … Continue reading →

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peck a little talk a little

Posted on January 31, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. When I see this photo, I think of the song from “The Music Man“, a 1957 broadway musical, made into a movie five years later. Photo collectors have a wide variety of photos in their collection, often a rich … Continue reading →

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keeping you posted …

Posted on January 30, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. An oft over-looked source of photos is postcards. From time to time I visited a postcard show but skipped the photos and photo postcards. Instead I found some that showed the town I grew up in back years before … Continue reading →

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read all about it! newsletter 25-1 is ready

Posted on January 29, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. Editor Patrick Gunn has released his PHSC newsletter 25-1. Click the icon at left for a copy if you aren’t on our MailChimp list (if you are, you will get a notification via MailChimp and can download a copy … Continue reading →

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an illuminating read

Posted on January 28, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. In 1995 we heard a talk by Michael Torosian about his Lumiere Press enterprise which prints fine quality reproductions of old and rare books including volumes about photography from its early days. In issue 21-1 an anonymous article (likely … Continue reading →

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a tip of the capa

Posted on January 27, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. One of our exchange groups, C.A.P.A.,  Focuses on the more modern and artistic aspect of our favourite endeavour. You can read of their latest successes here. Click on the January 2025 newsletter on the above link. All past newsletter … Continue reading →

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