Category Archives: history

old (and large) studio cameras and supports

Posted on January 4, 2026 by Robert

Toronto. In an earlier post I mentioned Neil Fox and his interest in old wooden cameras. An example of his work is shown in the December 31, 2025 post (A Colourful Lecturer). Neil (see left) attended our fall 2000 fair … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , | Comments Off on old (and large) studio cameras and supports

the fair of fairs

Posted on January 3, 2026 by Robert

Toronto. Mid last century ANY photographic related product worth owning was first announced at Photokina in Germany. In issue 26-3 (Nov 2003) member Gunter Ott wrote an extensive article on Photokina after his visited the fair’s 50th anniversary, held in … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , | Comments Off on the fair of fairs

Frank’s cameras

Posted on January 2, 2026 by Robert

Toronto. It’s a new year and a post on an article in a new issue – issue 26 – issued under the very capable hands of editor Robert Lansdale. Both Bob and wife Marge are now deceased. Both were retired … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Frank’s cameras

a colourful lecturer …

Posted on December 31, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. Bill Belier’s column “A Treasure From My Collection” in issue 26-2 addresses Neil Fox of Humber College and his hobby of restoring the massive studio cameras of the past. Also experienced in many aspects colour film photography, Neil spoke … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on a colourful lecturer …

bigger is better …

Posted on December 30, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. Once the CdV size of photos ran its course, entrepreneurs used larger size carded photos to spark sales, culminating in the very large ‘promenade’ photos. An article by Bob Wilson highlights the history of carded photos starting with the … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , | Comments Off on bigger is better …

on the move again …

Posted on December 29, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. After Leitz sold its Midland plant to the American military contractor  Hughes Aircraft (Los Angeles), Leica sales and repair in Canada bounced from one distributor to another, landing briefly at Lisle-Kelco who closed in 2003. The brief article accompanying … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on on the move again …

ghost of fairs past …

Posted on December 28, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. … with apologies to Dickens and his short story, “A Christmas Carol”. Our spring 2000 fair offered fodder for a photo essay in issue 26-2 of our journal. The camera at right is just one of the items offered … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on ghost of fairs past …

a man and his collection …

Posted on December 26, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. We collectors often seem too busy to notice others. In issue 26-2, editor Bob Lansdale used this photo of past president Les Jones and just some of his collection at the time. Les was a professional sports photographer specializing … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , | Comments Off on a man and his collection …

focussing issue resolved …

Posted on December 24, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. Consistent with editor Lansdale’s inspiration to celebrate our 25th anniversary, the folks at the Cascade Panorama Historical Society sent in a juicy article by Milan Zahorcak titled, “What the …?”. Milan describes the problem raised when an old lens … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , | Comments Off on focussing issue resolved …

cooking the books …

Posted on December 23, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. … is a common expression for redoing accounting entries to intentionally favour someone. In the case of photography, some products were re-badged to show a different maker and/or country. In this case, the maker and country are shown as … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged | Comments Off on cooking the books …