Category Archives: history

when ‘BC’ meant battery-capacitor

Posted on May 26, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. One of the nagging things affecting the wide use of flash bulbs was the risk of having dying batteries when the old camera and flash were dug out to be used for an event. For a brief period of … Continue reading →

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do you remember Kodachrome?

Posted on May 22, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. From the late 1800s to pre WW2, colour was a huge challenge. The additive colour process was very slow. Mosaics and fine screens were used to record and display colour photographs. Colour photography was revolutionized in 1935 when Kodachrome … Continue reading →

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golden rule days

Posted on May 21, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. Remember your grade school days? My dad went to a little one room country school. At his school, children couldn’t attend unless they could walk the miles from farm to school house. He was seven when he started school. … Continue reading →

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another way to make money …

Posted on May 20, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. … with photography! Weegee in NYC last century seemed to find many ways to make money from his photography besides taking street photos at night of crimes, etc. –  like books and promotions. George Dunbar writes, “Weegee, one of … Continue reading →

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cool!

Posted on May 19, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. When I saw this article sent to me by George Dunbar, it reminded me of two things: the movie shorts about  ‘Our Gang‘ and the Saturday Evening Post sketches by well known illustrator, Norman Rockwell. Anyone who studied optics … Continue reading →

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what’s in a name?

Posted on May 18, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. A brand name denotes the style and quality of a company’s products. Post war, an American foundation was incorporated to promote national or international names over small local firms. The foundation was called, “Brand Names Foundation, Inc.” and was … Continue reading →

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to do or not to do …

Posted on May 17, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. In the vast number of antique photos in archives, libraries, collections, or available for purchase, many have suffered the slings and arrows of time – fading, foxing, bent, broken, torn or worse.  When modern digital technology came along, it … Continue reading →

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careful, Helen – there may be gifts here

Posted on May 14, 2023 by Robert

Toronto.  A December 1952 ad for Kodak is a two page spread of photography gifts for the budding amateur shutter-bug. Like all photo industry firms, Kodak worked hard to expand their market share. In this case by augmenting the potential … Continue reading →

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in the dark of the night

Posted on May 13, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. Post war, everyone in the photographic industry strived to gain new photographers; none more than Kodak. Gearing up for their Christmas 1952 trade, this Kodak ad in the October, 1952 issue of Popular Mechanics promoted the idea that darkroom … Continue reading →

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90 ways to leave your job

Posted on May 12, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. Some years ago one of our founders, Larry Boccioletti, spent a miserable year in NYC as the hired head of a mail order photography programme. Larry said in all the time in Manhattan, he worked such long hours, and … Continue reading →

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