Category Archives: history

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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self portrait

Posted on December 29, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. Self portraits or selfies are simple today with the ubiquitous front facing smart phone camera. Before that, a self timer allowed self portraits with  tripod mounted cameras. But how can you capture something that is over in the blink … Continue reading →

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a new tourist in town

Posted on December 28, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. Kodak made many cameras from the in expensive box cameras to the high end minicams. Some of their folders settled into the mid-range with a better, faster lens and a multi-setting flash synchronized leaf shutter. An example with a … Continue reading →

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Oh Sun-Ray Days

Posted on December 27, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. When minicams became the norm, enlargers were no longer an option but became a necessity to make prints from the tiny minicam negatives. Amateurs reluctant to buy high end enlargers (Durst, Omega, Beseler, Leitz, etc.)  costing much more than … Continue reading →

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eye of a hawk

Posted on December 26, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. Traditionally, the day after Christmas is called boxing day.  It was a day to give gifts to the poor. Later on, the day became known for its wide spread sales. As time passed, many sales on other days were … Continue reading →

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’twas the night …

Posted on December 24, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. … before Christmas … as Clement Moore  said in his popular Christmas tale first published in 1823. I didn’t have a decent mouse shot so these hamsters in a Dektol tin will have to do. I took this photo at … Continue reading →

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