Category Archives: history

miracle projector

Posted on January 16, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. The toy advertised back in November, 1949 was hardly a new invention since opaque projectors had been around for decades. This dinky little box sat on a picture about 3×4 inches and  projected it on a screen a few … Continue reading →

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pixilated

Posted on January 14, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. Can you imagine a “fine precision camera” for only $6.25 US including a roll of colour film, shipping and all taxes? No? I can’t either, but that is what the makers claimed in this  July, 1949 ad. The cheap … Continue reading →

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a brighter view

Posted on January 12, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. One issue that Kodak likely had with its folders and box cameras was tiny, dim, viewers. Kodak solved this problem in many ways. One was advertised in the April, 1949 issue of Popular Mechanics – a TLR with a … Continue reading →

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Alfred the editor

Posted on January 11, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. Any photo historian worth his salt knows about the great American photographer Alfred Stieglitz. In the late 1800s Stieglitz returned from Europe and settled again in NYC. He combined the two existing camera clubs in NYC and took over … Continue reading →

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discovering photo history

Posted on January 5, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. Our photo historian, George Dunbar, found another interesting site in his pursuit of photographic history through old magazine articles and advertisements. The site includes many issues of an early 1900s magazine called “Photographic Topics”. George writes, “Some great, old … Continue reading →

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the dangers of random sparks

Posted on January 4, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. As a youth, I once took a winter course and stayed at the King Edward in downtown Toronto. My leather soles scraped along the corridor carpets building up a spectacular static discharge when I came close to metal – … Continue reading →

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brave new camera

Posted on January 2, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. In the 1920s after losing the great war (WW1), Germany suffered a massive bout of inflation and depression. The Ernst Leitz optical house in Wetzlar had mainly made microscopes, objectives, eye pieces, accessories, and the occasional other optical item … Continue reading →

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the flying Dutchman

Posted on January 1, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. We at the PHSC wish you one and all peace, prosperity, and good health in the coming year of 2023. We associate New Year’s with a party. This one took place over 60 years ago! Back then Bill was … Continue reading →

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spiking it

Posted on December 31, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. When I was in high school , I enjoyed playing volleyball and (briefly) announcing.  It is fitting that on the last year of the day we feature an historical event – placing ‘the last spike’ on the CPR line … Continue reading →

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all sizes great and small

Posted on December 30, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. From the beginning of analogue (a sensitive coating and emulsion) most cameras were the size of their negative (or in some cases the positive) as prints (if needed) were contact printed. Glass Plate and film sizes varied to match the … Continue reading →

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