Author Archives: Robert

rhymes with rhinos

Posted on October 25, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. This article in one of the fall of 1955 issues of Popular Mechanics magazine is a puff piece for Bushnell binoculars. The article notes how the binoculars can be attached to a camera as a telephoto lens creating a … Continue reading →

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brother, can you spare $2.98 US?

Posted on October 24, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. Post WW2, any miniature camera was usually called a ‘spy’ camera. Many American marketing companies brought in finished cameras from Occupied Japan and flogged them State-side. Usually the cameras were claimed to be ‘precision’ or ‘precision-made’ although most were … Continue reading →

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YAR (yet another rangefinder)

Posted on October 23, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. Graflex had a great line of large format cameras, ruggedly made, and very popular. Many professional news and street photographers used one of the cameras day or night. One perceived shortfall was the lack of a means to focus … Continue reading →

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catch the wave II

Posted on October 22, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. A recent post, “catch the wave“, spoke of Kodak’s technique to ‘monetize’ the latest popularity of stereo in the 1950s. A brief (very brief) competitor emerged in 1955 – the Delta Stereo by Lennor Engineering Co in Illinois. The … Continue reading →

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.. and the kitchen sink

Posted on October 21, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. In the mid last century, Kodak was a giant in the photographic industry. The Feb 1955 Popular Mechanics ad shows just how all encompassing mighty Kodak was here in North America. The ad offers many darkroom tools that amateurs … Continue reading →

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attention film fans

Posted on October 20, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. A note from Birgit Buchart of Lomography fame announces a price cut for 120 roll film to spark sales of their medium format films. So if you use the old technology in 120 roll format, please dig into your … Continue reading →

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history in 50-100 years

Posted on October 19, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. The vast majority of photos taken today seem to be taken with a camera in the ubiquitous smart phone. Professionals and advanced (experienced) amateurs migrate to DSLRs or mirrorless cameras. Software makes the technical aspect of photos almost perfect. … Continue reading →

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catch the wave

Posted on October 18, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. As mentioned many posts back, stereo has a surge in popularity about once every half century as new technology improves the images. In the 1950s another surge hit with toys, cameras, books, articles, movies, slides, colour, viewers, and projectors … Continue reading →

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remember Stanley?

Posted on October 17, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. As a kid in grade school, I remember a photo in my geography book. It was taken in Stanley Park, BC and showed a huge fir tree trunk with an early automobile and people nestled inside at the bottom. … Continue reading →

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Vieux Montreal

Posted on October 16, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. George Dunbar writes, “Plenty of wonderful archived images for viewing and sale at this site: https://www.shorpy.com/. George used the photo at left of Jacques Cartier Square c1900 in Old Montreal as an example of the interesting and historic photos available … Continue reading →

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