Category Archives: history

travel scenes long before television

  Toronto. Old photo collectors search diligently for photos that complement their collections. Travel scenes are often enthusiastically collected since many more studio scenes and portraits exist today. Around 2001/2002,  Thomas Ritchie wrote the article, “Pioneers of Landscape Photography in … Continue reading

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boating long ago and far away

Toronto. Image collectors can categorize pictures like that shown at left as ‘travel’, ‘water’, ‘canal’, ‘boats’ or even other names. The photograph was shot c1892 by Italian Paolo Salviati in Venice and titled “Rio Albrizzi”. Editor Lansdale used this shot … Continue reading

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another second look

Toronto. Our late editor, Bob Lansdale occasionally had a column “A Second Look” where he could expand on previous articles when new information arrived. In issue 27-3 “A Second Look” follows the Dietzler Vienna lens to a new home; shows … Continue reading

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food for thought about photos

Toronto. In issue 27-3, George Dunbar raises a now familiar alarm in his article, “Preservation of Invisible Photographs in the 21st Century”. As George points out, the digital era made it easy to take technically excellent photographs but unless printed, … Continue reading

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making it better … sort of …

Toronto. The late Larry Gubas, once president of the Zeiss Historical Society, editor of its journal (Zeiss Historica), and author of a number of Zeiss historical books (including the massive Zeiss and Photography, perhaps his best publication) wrote an interesting … Continue reading

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the tale of a long lens …

Toronto. On a chilly February 15 night in 1983, I attended the PHSC monthly meeting as I usually did each month. A young man (Leon) approached me offering a 135mm Elmar that was once his father’s.  I declined the offer … Continue reading

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it’s magic …

Toronto. It seems appropriate to put Dr Robert Wilson’s book review on our site as the Magic Lantern Society is holding its “21st International Convention” here in Toronto at the Black Creek Pioneer Village this April 24-26th. I bought my … Continue reading

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strummin’

Toronto. Image collectors seem like a gregarious bunch, and no wonder. Many antique stores, junk shops, flea markets, fairs, auction houses, etc. seem to carry old photos which may suit their collection. Greg French down New England way is a … Continue reading

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another use for paper …

Toronto. The idea of roll film revitalized the use of sensitized paper (negatives). In fact various roll film mechanisms were developed to use the medium in cameras. An example is the Warnerke Roll Film Holder. Editor Robert Lansdale wrote about … Continue reading

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a DAR mystery train

Toronto. Collectors of old images sometimes concentrate on transportation photos, or have a subset of their collection comprising of transportation/train photos. Here is a mystery you perhaps can solve. Jeff Ward in Halifax dropped me a line the other day … Continue reading

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