Category Archives: history

a head for photography

Posted on July 11, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. George Dunbar sent me this image of a diver using a Leica with the special release accessory operated by teeth. This is photo number 17 in the series, “Weird, Wonderful Photos from Another Era” shown in an article by … Continue reading →

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the next generation?

Posted on July 10, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. Trekkies everywhere will recognize this famous inter-galactic spaceship. When the art of photography was announced in January, 1839, it too was revolutionary: Two different processes were announced – one in France; one in England. Both were monochromatic,  dead slow, … Continue reading →

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lookin’ for Llewellyn

Posted on July 9, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. On June 17th, Kay McGinnis wrote me searching for information on Llewellyn Abbott, or more precisely our articles on his photo studio employers in the big smoke. I sent Kay copies as asked and sent her request on to … Continue reading →

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“I see”, said the blind man …

Posted on July 6, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. — as he picked up his hammer and saw … This old bromide was around when I was a kid. The photograph at left was taken by P (Philip) H Figary, 590 Yonge St, Toronto (west side of Yonge, a … Continue reading →

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Al Who’s little Italian Buddy

Posted on July 4, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. The company “San Giorgio” (St George in English) was founded in Genova, Italy in 1905 to manufacture automobiles. Like many companies, products changed to those with more potential for profit. San Giorgio S.I.p.A. dropped automobiles and moved on to … Continue reading →

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New York in 1914 with the prototype Leica camera

Posted on July 2, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. On the eve of the Great War, the son and namesake of Ernst Leitz, Ernst Leitz II, arrived  in the Big Apple with the novel tiny ur-Leica created by Oskar Barnack. Leitz took a number of street scenes with … Continue reading →

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a great smoke

Posted on June 30, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. Many of us are unaware that the U.S. civil war prompted Britain to establish our country in 1867. Ulysses  S Grant led the North in the fierce battle over slavery. This CdV is stored in the archive of the … Continue reading →

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home movies over 60 years ago

Posted on June 29, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. Back in January of this year I did a post on DeJur and their 1954 ad in LIFE Two years later they are still banging away at home movies via an ad in LIFE.  As mentioned in my January … Continue reading →

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fresh eggs

Posted on June 27, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. A few decades ago at Bell I had a boss who suggested I run with my suggestion. “After all”, he said, “it’s your fresh egg”. Have you ever noticed that be it cars, cameras, microscopes, sewing machines, radios, televisions, or … Continue reading →

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keep on truckin’

Posted on June 26, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. Items from the website Fans in a Flashbulb have appeared here before. The site is a blog and like our site, uses WordPress to format the site and add posts. In the about menu item, the site defines itself … Continue reading →

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