Category Archives: history

strummin’

Posted on April 3, 2026 by Robert

Toronto. Image collectors seem like a gregarious bunch, and no wonder. Many antique stores, junk shops, flea markets, fairs, auction houses, etc. seem to carry old photos which may suit their collection. Greg French down New England way is a … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on strummin’

another use for paper …

Posted on March 20, 2026 by Robert

Toronto. The idea of roll film revitalized the use of sensitized paper (negatives). In fact various roll film mechanisms were developed to use the medium in cameras. An example is the Warnerke Roll Film Holder. Editor Robert Lansdale wrote about … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on another use for paper …

a DAR mystery train

Posted on March 19, 2026 by Robert

Toronto. Collectors of old images sometimes concentrate on transportation photos, or have a subset of their collection comprising of transportation/train photos. Here is a mystery you perhaps can solve. Jeff Ward in Halifax dropped me a line the other day … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on a DAR mystery train

flying off the shelf …

Posted on March 18, 2026 by Robert

Toronto. … Like a bat out of hell. In late 1948, Edwin Land dropped a bombshell on the photographic world.  He put to market a revolutionary camera and film system that took a monochrome photo and developed the positive print … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , | Comments Off on flying off the shelf …

top ‘o the mornin’ to ya

Posted on March 17, 2026 by Robert

Toronto. As we near St Pattie’s day, this is a suitable post. It is based on a follow up article titled “A SECOND LOOK …”. Editor Lansdale expands on photographer John Turner reporting a lens swap between Dr Mike Robinson … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on top ‘o the mornin’ to ya

a different Montreal studio

Posted on March 16, 2026 by Robert

Toronto. We have all heard about the famous Notman studio on Bleury in Montreal. Here is another studio on the corner of Bleury and Craig. This is the Summerhayes & Walford studio on second and third floors of the building. Editor … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , | Comments Off on a different Montreal studio

seen any ‘lizards’ recently?

Posted on March 13, 2026 by Robert

Toronto. Most of our event offerings are either German or North American. Occasionally we see English products. Rarely do we see Scottish cameras. The remarkable camera in Bill Belier’s issue 27-1 column is a rare Lizars (not lizard) from Scotland. … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on seen any ‘lizards’ recently?

everything old is new again

Posted on March 12, 2026 by Robert

Toronto. There is a saying that there is nothing new under the sun. As a kid, I made a radio with a tiny bit of ‘fools gold’ (iron pyrite) and a thin copper wire ‘cat’s whisker’. This rustic semi-conductor radio … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on everything old is new again

all in a row

Posted on March 6, 2026 by Robert

Toronto. Those wanting to make the odd close-up but not wanting to pay for fancy accessories resorted to extension tubes – those tubes that fit between the camera body and lens to extend the lens for closer subjects. Most camera … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on all in a row

its getting closer

Posted on March 5, 2026 by Robert

Toronto. As Leitz moved to the phenomenally successful M-series cameras, the accessories changed to complement the new line. A strange ‘bug-eyed’ little gadget called a SOOKY-M is just such a wonder. Like the screw mount NOOKY, this gadget gives the … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on its getting closer