Category Archives: history

a c1924 miniature camera

Posted on July 21, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. Not all minicams used 35mm movie film bits – some used paper-backed Kodak roll film. I once had a few of these delightfully compact little Kodak gems. This ad by Kodak in 1924 was reproduced on the back of … Continue reading →

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have muscles, can use an Auto Graflex …

Posted on July 20, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. Back in late 1986, the late Larry Boccioletti (co-founder and past president of the PHSC) wrote in the “Treasures from my Collection” column about his amazing find of a near perfect ‘Auto Graflex’ camera originally purchased (perhaps used) by … Continue reading →

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sitting pretty

Posted on July 19, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. In the summer of 2005, late editor Bob Lansdale was still busy researching the Chromotype and similar carbon process B&W prints that purported to eliminate the nefarious fading issue that plagued photographs in the mid 1800s. Shown at left … Continue reading →

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stan’s little secret

Posted on July 18, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. The PHSC encourages investigation of photographic history in many ways. In late 2012, we announced our first thesis winner from Ryerson (now TMU). The winner, sol Legault (first name all in lower case as requested). Part One of Mr … Continue reading →

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what on earth is a FLOTEMAR

Posted on July 17, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. The late John Kantymir and his father both collected cameras – some very rare. One camera John came across simply had the name “FLOTEMAR” embossed on its base. No other name or country was indicated. A Google search was … Continue reading →

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a metal miniature camera

Posted on July 16, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. Many of us think miniature cameras stem from the 1920s when the Leica was announced but there were many earlier ones. In this case it is a French camera named after Monsieur Marion, and sold around 1885. The late … Continue reading →

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bulls eye!

Posted on July 15, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. In issue 38-3 we reproduce Frank B. Mehlenbacher’s well researched tale of the world’s largest camera manufacturer and its connection with Kodak in Rochester. The manufacturer, Brownell, was born in Ontario and moved to the States when he was … Continue reading →

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pre dating the reflex

Posted on July 13, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. Camera makers could design a camera that used a lens to view and a second one to capture the scene, but did not know how to name the design. The term “divided camera’ fell flat and the term ‘reflex’ … Continue reading →

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pas de duex

Posted on July 10, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. The late Stan White chose to highlight the little Kodak Duex camera in the column “A Treasure from my Collection”. Only retailed for a couple of years, the Duex was an ugly duckling to camera collectors. Stan begins the … Continue reading →

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Dag-nab-it again

Posted on July 9, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. In journal issue 38-2, an article titled, “MATTHEW ISENBURG’S Collection Comes to Toronto” penned by our late editor Bob Lansdale expands on the then recent press release. Bob writes, “The Matthew R. Isenburg Collection of early photography has been … Continue reading →

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