Category Archives: history

snow balls in July

Posted on July 19, 2026 by Robert

Toronto. Old photo collectors might search for old images of blossoms and plants. The image at right is far too recent to even be considered a collectible at present. Our various 2026 events included lots of old photographs. While many … Continue reading →

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full spectrum

Posted on July 16, 2026 by Robert

Toronto. From its invention in 1839 until dry plates hit the market, photography was for specialists only – people with the skill and art necessary for the taking of a good ‘likeness’. When dry plates hit the market, followed about … Continue reading →

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foolin’ around

Posted on July 14, 2026 by Robert

Toronto. Toy cameras came on the market decades ago. I remember purchasing an old Fisher Price toy camera back in the 1970s. Some toy cameras were also made in the digital era and actually could take digital images such as … Continue reading →

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horsing around …

Posted on July 13, 2026 by Robert

Toronto.Until past WW2, Canada was more rural than urban. In the 20s and 30s, youngsters from the east would go west via trains to help with the fall harvest. At left is a photograph showing the arrangement of horses used … Continue reading →

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now open really, really wide

Posted on June 17, 2026 by Robert

Toronto.  In issue 27-5 of our journal, Bill Belier in his column “A Treasure From My Collection”, featured my small collection of Protars which I had obtained from Bill some time earlier. My part of Bill’s article begins, “In September … Continue reading →

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stuck

Posted on June 10, 2026 by Robert

Toronto. For some image collectors, outdoor shots; weather shots; equipment shots; etc all prove attractive. While the photo at left covers all these categories, at c1958 it is a wee bit too new to be a collectible. One can imagine … Continue reading →

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flights of fancy

Posted on June 9, 2026 by Robert

Toronto. While this October 1958 photo of a helicopter atop a mountain in a snow storm is far too new for collecting, some collectors relish photos from the 1800s that show various airplane configurations as the craft evolved. While perhaps … Continue reading →

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break time

Posted on June 7, 2026 by Robert

Toronto. Many old photo collectors specialize in industrial or outdoor images. Such images are harder to find, as the vast majority offered seem to be portraits – some even of famous people. While this photo c1957 is rather new to … Continue reading →

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out with the old …

Posted on June 6, 2026 by Robert

Toronto. … and in with the new. Many image collectors strive for special photos other than the common place portraits – like outdoor, or industry images. Bell was turfing the old ‘C’ carrier for the new ‘N’ carrier around the … Continue reading →

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action central

Posted on June 5, 2026 by Robert

Toronto. The photo at left is too new (about 67 years old) to be collectible. An old photo of any industrial process is of interest to a collector – the older the better. This is a photo of the telephone … Continue reading →

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