Category Archives: history

essence of beauty

Posted on October 2, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. James Esson founded his photographic studio  in the tiny village about an hour today west of Toronto. The village of Preston, Ontario, since absorbed in larger communities, had a population of some 1,400 souls in 1884. The history of … Continue reading →

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some thoughts on construction

Posted on September 28, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. Have you noticed that many things take on the construction skills of the day? As a kid, radio chassis and cameras were often manufactured in metal. Parts were held together by screws and rivets. This applied to cars, kitchen … Continue reading →

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stairway to heaven

Posted on September 22, 2025 by Robert

Toronto.  Around 2014 there was considerable activity here as the old WCH building and garage were replaced by new, more modern facilities as the province worked hard to change their medical management process. For collectors of old images, one segment … Continue reading →

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fire sale

Posted on September 21, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. Another reason to shop early for Christmas! In late 1958 I moved from the Labrador woods to the metropolis of Knob Lake, Quebec (renamed as Schefferville, Quebec). Its main employer was the mining company called Iron Ore and its … Continue reading →

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midnight at the films

Posted on September 20, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. Today we take the amazing speed of our media – sensors – for granted, but for much of the pre-digital era, media was far too slow for night scenes unless a tripod was used, subjects were motionless (or followed … Continue reading →

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the good old hockey game …

Posted on September 19, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. With fall comes cold weather … and hockey. Image collectors sometimes have a sub-collection of sports photos. All sort of games and sports photos over the years are candidates for collectors – action shots, individual players, or even team … Continue reading →

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a kid again …

Posted on September 18, 2025 by Robert

Toronto.  … doing what I did again. When PHSC president Clint Hryhorijiw sent me an  email with this link to a Guardian article on Photo Booths, it immediately brought to mind the booths I saw at fairs and malls last … Continue reading →

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transitions

Posted on September 17, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. Years ago when the late Don Douglas and I did our dog  and pony show for the PHSC, I did a brief review of the black and white processes in the 19th century while Don used his Ansco camera … Continue reading →

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sometimes its not a fake …

Posted on September 16, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. … it’s just contracted out. An article in Digital Camera World by David S Young  titled, “This “fake” Nikon camera changed everything. Here’s the curious tale of the Nikkorex F …” tells how Mamiya came to make the famous … Continue reading →

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autumn leaves

Posted on September 15, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. Fall is here once again. The boys of summer are working hard to win the race for the pennant and possibly enter the ‘World Series’. If you watch baseball, you know the Jays are leading their division at the … Continue reading →

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