Category Archives: history

not a good image …

Posted on December 4, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. Kodak did show up in the last issue of Life (December 1972), but not in their own ad. Instead, a Kodak camera was featured in a colourful Raleigh cigarette ad as one of many ‘free’ items available with B&W … Continue reading →

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a Johnny come lately

Posted on December 3, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. Introduced in 1924, the Leica by Leitz was a flat out success. Two years later, in 1926, its competitor, Zeiss formed the Zeiss-Ikon group to rationalize the German photographic Industry. By 1932, the first Zeiss Contax reached market – … Continue reading →

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in the thrill of the night

Posted on December 1, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. It’s hard to imagine the thrill of first seeing  a photograph emerge in developer under the gloomy illumination of a dim safe light. As a kid, I can remember this thrilling event. At the time, film development was a … Continue reading →

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making a case

Posted on November 30, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. Mid last century, Kodak had a growing public opinion to overcome – that of the quality and professional calibre of their goods. Although Kodak at the time was the largest player in the photo pool, it was often viewed … Continue reading →

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hi fi photos

Posted on November 28, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. In the days of film – especially orthochromatic  B&W, filters on camera were used to improve contrast in a scene. After panchromatic film became the norm, the filters could be used to create negatives and photographs that were closer … Continue reading →

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take ’em … make ’em

Posted on November 27, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. Smartphone users likely never bothered with film, photo paper, gooey darkroom stuff, etc. But at one time it was the only way to take and make photos. For the frugal amongst us back then, photographic manufacturers from time to … Continue reading →

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exploring history

Posted on November 25, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. George Dunbar enjoys writing to editors. I can remember the first letter I saw in the Globe and Mail many years ago. In this particular case, George wrote to the editor about the Niagara-on-the-Lake (NOTL) Museum’s article in the … Continue reading →

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where the big boys are

Posted on November 24, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. Post war serious photographers migrated to the 2-1/4 inch format on 120 roll film. Instead of 120, Kodak had a proprietary 620 version. The short lived Chevron (1953-1956) was Kodak’s high end camera replacing the massive Medalist which was … Continue reading →

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the long and the short of it

Posted on November 23, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. In the late 1800s, dime store museums  all had so called freak shows. The people featured in these shows often frequented nearby studios. One such studio at 229 the Bowery in east New York City, was operated by Chas … Continue reading →

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a different flashlight …

Posted on November 22, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. In the 1950s, one of the big fresh eggs was the portable electronic flash. Mind you the cost would buy a lifetime-plus of flash bulbs and guns for most serious or beginning amateurs. In the December, 1955 issue of … Continue reading →

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