Category Archives: history

the 49th

Posted on June 17, 2023 by Robert

Toronto.  In school we were taught that the 49th parallel out west forms a boundary between the States and Canada. Do a search for 49th and you can see a rich pile of data on what was really not such … Continue reading →

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some thoughts on Portraits

Posted on June 15, 2023 by Robert

Toronto.  When you look carefully at the portrait of Éva Gauthier, the young patron of M Topley appears to be a three dimensional study with her features carefully modelled. This is accomplished by careful use of the lighting. Francois Deslauriers … Continue reading →

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foul-play

Posted on June 11, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. This c1920 portrait of a child, Henri Groulx, sitting next to a hen and smoking is from the image collection of the ‘Library and Archives Canada‘. Discovered by George Dunbar, it is another reminder of the many historic photos … Continue reading →

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I, Robot

Posted on June 10, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. In a March, 1950 article in Popular Science magazine, a “Robot” was shown in a military darkroom. The gadget processed 8×10 colour negatives. A time was MANUALLY set for each bath, then the Robot took over, dunking the films … Continue reading →

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leaping’ lizards, Sandy!

Posted on June 9, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. … as Little Orphan Annie often said to her mutt … This article from the start of 1950 reports a colour projector for less than a sawbuck! While the inexpensive bakelite device projected Kodachrome slides, there was a small … Continue reading →

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moonshot

Posted on June 8, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. Nearly 54 years today, on July 21, 1969, our world changed forever. Exciting news – man first walked on the moon. This photo, of Buzz Aldrin was taken by Neil Armstrong with a 70mm ‘Lunar Surface Camera’. Science students … Continue reading →

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a tale of two ads

Posted on June 6, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. That persistent seeker of photo history, George Dunbar, spotted these ads by Kodak while browsing issues of Popular Science. George thought it interesting that Kodak chose to feature a young lady carrying an autographic Kodak camera in its January … Continue reading →

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casting away

Posted on June 5, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. When I was a kid around the end of WW2, my dad took me to visit a relative who had a metal casting business, Bill made sailing ship lights, ‘doggie’ banks, souvenir lights, etc. like the sailing ship light … Continue reading →

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photography and real estate? really?

Posted on June 3, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. Real estate is a huge user of photography, even today. In the 1930s, Realtors like CYRIL R. DEMARA CO. LTD. would own engraved cameras (the engraving shown is on a 1937 Leica IIIa). Others then and now would choose … Continue reading →

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for the record

Posted on June 2, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. One very special use of photography is recording problems for insurance or police. We often think of portraiture, street scenes and landscapes, but this important function gives visual detail not easily conveyed by the written word. Disasters like this … Continue reading →

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