Category Archives: history

before TV; before video;

Posted on November 22, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. … we had home movies. Originally 16mm, during the depression Kodak began selling 8mm versions and post war in a scramble to expand market size and improve image quality, Kodak moved to ‘Super 8’. In the late 1930s, Kodachrome … Continue reading →

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days of war surplus photo supplies and gear

Posted on November 21, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. Some of us may remember the days when the local war surplus store had stocks of photo paper, film, chemicals, equipment, etc. at big discounts since the cost was already paid once by tax dollars. This November, 1947 American … Continue reading →

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a beacon in the dark

Posted on November 20, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. Another American company, Whitehouse Products, in Brooklyn took a shot at the American photography market with its cheap plastic camera, the Beacon. The Beacon was simply a box camera tarted up like a minicam. It retailed for about 8 … Continue reading →

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flattened

Posted on November 17, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. Wow! Just over a century ago Steichen photographed the then recently completed ‘flatiron’ building in NYC (so called from its shape – we have a similar building here). According to the article, “Edward Steichen’s The Flatiron, an iconic photo of … Continue reading →

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pirates of New York City

Posted on November 15, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. Univex (Universal Camera Corp) advertised its Buccaneer 35mm camera in November, 1947, a few years before declaring bankruptcy. Known for their unusual camera designs, the company was said to be ethically challenged. The body of the Buccaneer shown in this … Continue reading →

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win some … lose some …

Posted on November 12, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. Did you ever think about technological trade-offs? Overtime better ways to manufacture; better quality; lower cost; broader acceptance; etc. all worked together to wring out lower cost and better quality to the consumer. Just consider photography. In the early … Continue reading →

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a Kodak ‘Rollei’

Posted on November 10, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. In its hey day, Kodak made a variety of camera formats. One was a twin lens reflex design competing in a market held by Rollei at the high and medium end. Like its German competitor, this TLR captured photos … Continue reading →

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shooting star

Posted on November 9, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. This May, 1947 ad from Popular Mechanics touted the Meteor – a cheap 620 camera designed like a 35mm camera – as ideal for “photo-eager folk who want to start on the streamlined path to a great photo-future”. The maker … Continue reading →

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the Leonards of Port Perry

Posted on November 8, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. The brief newspaper article titled “Port Perry recorded on film by the Leonards” caught George Dunbar’s eye. George writes, “This item from the Port Perry Star of Oct. 1, 1991 leads me to believe that the skylights of Leonard’s … Continue reading →

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the last movie

Posted on November 7, 2022 by Robert

Toronto.  The digital era brought with it amazing television, incredible cameras, smartphones with a multitude of devices built-in, digital movies sent by internet or satellite, and much, much, more. It also hastened the demise of antiquated infrastructure such as old … Continue reading →

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