Category Archives: history

shifting value over time

Posted on April 20, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. Like many antiques, old photographs tend to appreciate with age. The value of a specific photograph  depends on many factors: condition, process used, subject (famous? pedestrian? newsworthy? etc.), current interest, studio, turnover, … A note from past president, sports … Continue reading →

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dry your photos m’dear …

Posted on April 19, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. Do you remember glass plates and film?  These negative materials were contact printed or an enlarger was used to create the inverted paper print we used to see in grannie’s album or perhaps our own album or ‘box of … Continue reading →

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t’row da book at him!

Posted on April 18, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. Our society was founded in 1974 during the rapid growth of Photographic Historical Societies –  essentially like-minded folk who collected cameras and possibly old  photographs. Over time ranks swelled as people interested in the history of photography joined, followed … Continue reading →

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blink of an eye

Posted on April 17, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. Up until dry plates became common, camera shutters were simply unnecessary. Timing could be easily set by holding something like a dark hat over the lens then briefly removing and replacing it. Once dry plates and later film became … Continue reading →

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calling all photographers …

Posted on April 15, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. A fitting post title for this novel c1948 camera/radio. Editor Bob Lansdale (who ensures these bright crisp images) writes about his cover shot for issue 23-2, “The Tom Thumb Camera Radio, produced by the Automatic Radio Mfg. Co. of … Continue reading →

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a secret revealed …

Posted on April 14, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. A few days ago I did a post on a small press for photographs (issue 23-1). It was accompanied by the following from Robert  Wilson, “During the long period that cartes de visite and cabinet prints were in vogue … Continue reading →

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steady there, lad

Posted on April 13, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. For a large part of photographic history, the media was so abysmally slow a tripod was necessary plus a means to steady subjects. To  this end, Charlie Kruger offered a light, handy support adjustable for a realistic pose. One … Continue reading →

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searching for a house

Posted on April 8, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. The cover shot on issue 23-1 features a horse and coach caught by a daguerreotype camera. An article inside titled, “A SEARCH FOR THE ALBION HOUSE” by the late Graham Garrett explains the reason for the cover shot. Graham’s … Continue reading →

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jimmy’s back in town

Posted on April 6, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. In issue 22-5, Part 1 of Dr Reichstein’s article on James Inglis appeared. Issue 23-1 continues the story with Part 2. Part 2 begins, “The decade of the eighties [1880s] was to be one of extraordinary activity for Inglis. … Continue reading →

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cameras, cameras, everywhere …

Posted on April 4, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. … and not a print in sight. Shades of smartphones. Last century, when film was in its prime, people argued which camera maker or model was the best and who made the best lenses. As Don Douglas put it … Continue reading →

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