Category Archives: history

Hey, Rita!

Posted on March 4, 2026 by Robert

Toronto. Pre WW2, standalone meters began to appear. The more expensive ones used a selenium cell. In 1951, camera-mounted meters came along, often with a means to attach a booster cell. Selenium meters (and older) were okay in sunlight but … Continue reading →

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a penny for your thoughts

Posted on March 1, 2026 by Robert

Toronto. When the widely popular little Leica cameras first came out in the mid 1920s they were very utilitarian in design. To meet demand for features and versatility, Leitz made accessories. In many cases an accessory simply over-came an earlier … Continue reading →

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well, how about flora then?

Posted on February 27, 2026 by Robert

Toronto. Experienced collectors of images can be quite choosey. Particular processes, older photos, famous people, etc., the list goes on. A sub-category of photos may include flora of various stripes such as blossoms, cacti, plants, trees, etc. While this colour … Continue reading →

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see any more fauna?

Posted on February 26, 2026 by Robert

Toronto. A sub-set of old photos collectors like to collect are fauna. Either wild or domestic. Sometimes a particular species. Or a special era. This example, while far too recent to be collectible, could be considered either fauna or pets. … Continue reading →

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a closer view

Posted on February 24, 2026 by Robert

Toronto. When supplementary lenses, extension tubes, and ‘spider legs’ proved successful in the early 1930s, Leitz came up with more ways to allow the tiny Leica to operate closer to the subject. One idea was to use a variable depth … Continue reading →

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the itsy bitsy spider …

Posted on February 23, 2026 by Robert

Toronto. … climbed up the water spout. In the mid 1920s, Leitz made the tiny Leica to help retain its well trained mechanics in the face of post war hyper-inflation. The camera was an overwhelming success. In fact it was … Continue reading →

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the better to see …

Posted on February 22, 2026 by Robert

Toronto. … you with, said the wolf to Little Red Riding Hood. In the last century, Leitz made close-up devices for the Leica. Both various focussing slide gadgets and mirror boxes used common five power magnifiers code named LGCOO (on … Continue reading →

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oh! to be in Paris …

Posted on February 21, 2026 by Robert

Toronto. The city of light is featured in issue 26-5 in an article by Günter Ott on the AGO exhibit of works by the Parisian photographer Eugène Atget. While the show described took place about a quarter century ago, it … Continue reading →

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The Kinetoscope Castle

Posted on February 19, 2026 by Robert

Toronto. Editor Bob Lansdale in this article writes about visiting the town of Fowlerville, a few miles northwest of Detroit with some MiPHS members. The house he visited has a huge collection of kinetoscopes – and antique audio equipment as … Continue reading →

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being frank

Posted on February 18, 2026 by Robert

Toronto. The cover shot for issue 26-5 is shown at left. The original was taken by Frank Micklethwaite around 1890 when the area was the business district of Toronto. For the cover shot this time, editor Lansdale devotes a full … Continue reading →

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