Category Archives: history

a one-eyed tropical wizard

Posted on June 23, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. In the early 1900s, various English companies made glass-plate SLRs. The idea was to use the same lens for both viewing and photographing. A mirror changed the direction for viewing (vertical) to photographing (straight through). In the tropics, the … Continue reading →

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one for the birds

Posted on June 22, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. A rare Pettibone projector from 1888 is nick-named ‘the Peacock’ with the circular array of slides. Such a strange device was displayed about 15 years ago at our fall fair. It was photographed by the late Bob Lansdale, our … Continue reading →

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a Gordian Knot in photography

Posted on June 21, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. You may recall the story of the Gordian Knot in Greek Mythology. In a way the illusive Gordon camera was photography’s ‘Gordian Knot’. Issue 35-2 of our journal covers the saga and in fact uses the Gordon camera as … Continue reading →

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…the holly and the ivy …

Posted on June 20, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. Rats! Wrong web site! This should be about Photographica, not Christmas in July(ish). Oh well, let’s talk about the Holly camera, at least it’s Photographica. A rare, unsuccessful German plastic box camera of 1950 vintage, The Holly uses 120 … Continue reading →

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scaring the daylight out

Posted on June 19, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. Bob Lansdale, our late editor, was a staunch supporter of Canadian technology and innovation. An article in issue 29-3 stated, “… detailed in Photographic Canadiana Vol. 29-3 that the daylight developing machine was patented April 17, 1900 by Arthur … Continue reading →

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Ted Shepherd’s Replica Camera

Posted on June 18, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. The world was electrified in early 1839 when Louie Daguerre’s amazing process for creating images by the action of sunlight was announced. The new process meant new devices to ‘capture’ these images. Being French, Daguerre’s early cameras were made … Continue reading →

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slice and dice

Posted on June 15, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. Dr Edgerton experimented with high speed flash in the 1930s. He analysed motion by triggering the flash rapidly as the the subject moved. It was a precursor to electronic flash which was also called strobe light in the mid … Continue reading →

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corny but collectible

Posted on June 14, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. Image collectors lust after all kinds of images. The farm couple at left while a bit homely to current tastes, hold some unusual items. Collectors might have included this image in their collections for many reasons (process, symbolism, subjects, … Continue reading →

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who the heck is Todd Webb?

Posted on June 12, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. Years ago, I was busy devouring large photograph ‘coffee table books’ including Frank photographs in the book he co-authored called “The Americans“.  The Washington Post on the 5th of this June had an interesting article/review titled. “Two photographers traveled … Continue reading →

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pretty as a picture

Posted on June 11, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. In fact this is a picture from the Toronto Reference Library of a little girl photographed by Alfred Pittaway in 1893. Image collectors may have eclectic tastes, or focus on one aspect such as: Clarity, process, studio or subject. … Continue reading →

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