Category Archives: history

… meanwhile, back east …

Posted on June 24, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. For over a century, Montreal was our largest city per capital. And the most well known photographic studio in Montreal was operated by Notman with branches in Ontario and down the American east coast. The studio photograph at left … Continue reading →

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mythography

Posted on June 23, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. When I was a kid, I spent a few weeks in the bush with my dad’s brother. My uncle mentioned his horse was skittish around loud noises so he returned to Ontario. “Like gunshots?”, I naively asked. My uncle … Continue reading →

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THE FRENCH-CANADIAN TRAPPER

Posted on June 22, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. It appears to me that many image collectors enjoy their finds briefly, then offer them at a bit higher price to the next collector. Some, like the owner of this image, and our own editor of the day, Bob … Continue reading →

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on the shoulders of others

Posted on June 21, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. The thing that separates us from all other species on this old ball of dirt is … learning. Humans learn from their ancestors and this learning allows us to extend knowledge, generation after generation. We photographic collectors are very … Continue reading →

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postcards from photographs

Posted on June 19, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. The photograph at left is taken from a postcard made from a photograph by W H Gardiner. It is used as the cover shot for issue  24-2. The image introduces a lengthy illustrated article by a lady who once … Continue reading →

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Marg’s camera

Posted on June 17, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. In issue 24-2 Bill Belier continued his column “A Treasure From My Collection …” with a discussion of a British Press camera – the VN Press Focal-Plane camera. This VN was picked up at one of our fairs by … Continue reading →

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when Leitz made Leicas and lenses in Midland

Posted on June 16, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. Post ww2 Leitz decided to diversify their camera and lens production by adding a plant outside Germany. According to my friend, the late Bill Belier, the Canadian distributor, Walter Carveth, suggested Canada for the new plant  and in particular … Continue reading →

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shooting birds of different feathers …

Posted on June 13, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. Victor learned his hobby before ww2 and post ww2 he designed what he felt was an ideal ‘birder’ camera, and built it in his own factory. It was a 2-1/4 SLR using a Kodak lens. The initial commercial model … Continue reading →

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ready to roll

Posted on June 12, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. The cover of issue 24-1 features John Morrison Taylor on the bike he built in Fredericton, New Brunswick. It was the first hand made bike made in Fredericton. John was the brother of G T Taylor who photographed John … Continue reading →

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suddenly, a shot rang out …

Posted on June 11, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. In the pre-ww2 days of film, the media was relatively slow and lenses were of generally smaller aperture, especially as the focal length increased. The result was to make it difficult to keep longer focal length lenses steady for … Continue reading →

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