Category Archives: history

picture of a beetle

Posted on March 31, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. This article is an example of exchange content that editor Lansdale felt would interest our members. As such, this example is reprinted  in our journal with permission from the Club Rollei magazine back in early 1997 (issue 22-5). The … Continue reading →

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Jimmy Inglis of Montreal

Posted on March 30, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. One of the Canadian photographers in the mid 1800s was Inglis. The photo at left carries the cut-line, “This photograph by James Inglis of Montreal, appeared as a tipped-in frontispiece in the Philadelphia Photographer of November 1866. Editor E.L. Wilson suggested the title “Right still, … Continue reading →

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watch da birdie!

Posted on March 29, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. In the days when emulsions were slow, decent photos needed a few seconds of absolute stillness by the subject. To help, studios added a mechanical ‘bird’ to their camera and for portraits (especially of children) the photographer would exclaim … Continue reading →

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mighty mouse in stereo

Posted on March 28, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. At our fall 1996 fair, the late Bob Lansdale took a number of interesting items back to his ‘mini studio’ and photographed them for issue 22-4 of the journal. In the case of the tiny viewer at left, Bob … Continue reading →

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The Henry Morgan Collection

Posted on March 27, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. Have you ever heard of “The Henry Morgan Collection of Photographic Portraits”? No? In issue 22-4 member Thomas Ritchie wrote an article on the collection. He begins by saying, “A large collection of photographs of eminent Canadians, held in storage for … Continue reading →

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rock of ages

Posted on March 26, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. One of the first old cameras I acquired was a lensless field camera made by the Rochester Optical Co. I was given a lenses (in a shutter) later in Montreal which I added to the camera using a home-made … Continue reading →

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another archive for photo collectors

Posted on March 24, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. MiPHS member and good friend of many PHSC folk, Cynthia Motzenbecker, sent this copy of Anne Bennington-Helber’s email message to the PHSC and others: “I wanted to share the GREAT news that the real-photo postcard series from the David V. … Continue reading →

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not Kit Carson

Posted on March 23, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. As camera collectors, did you ever wonder how the instruments you cherish and lust after made it here as new products to be marketed by retail shops across our nation? For example, I recall the late Bill Belier telling … Continue reading →

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hi yo silver …

Posted on March 22, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. … as the Lone Ranger called to his white steed. My buddy and I used to listen to the radio program featuring the adventures of the Lone Ranger back in the late 1940s. Which brings us to the metal … Continue reading →

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Brodie’s Machine

Posted on March 21, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. Brodie Whitelaw (photographer) was well known to professional photographers in Ontario, especially past-editor Ev Roseborough. Brodie spoke at our May, 1989 meeting displaying a sampling of his skill via many beautiful prints. Born in 1910, Brodie died decades later … Continue reading →

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