Category Archives: history

minute men

Posted on July 3, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. Old P.T. was tagged as saying, “There’s a sucker born every minute“. If not, how could the old Popular Mechanics ads attract anyone? Take for example this October, 1934 advertisement they ran aimed at all wannabe photographers: For a … Continue reading →

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a Kodak challenge in 1934

Posted on July 1, 2022 by Robert

Toronto.  This challenge may simply spark curiosity or indifference with the smart phone crowd, who shoot full colour indoors and out; be it sunny or gloomy; on subjects close and far (and all things in-between) then casually send the best … Continue reading →

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national (USA) camera day

Posted on June 30, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. For a price, Kovels will gladly show you the latest prices for antiques – including those of a photographic nature. Yesterday, June 29th, was known down south as ‘National Camera Day‘ and celebrated as such by Kovels. As far … Continue reading →

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our boys used it too

Posted on June 15, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. Another use for photography was to reduce the size and weight of letters. George Dunbar shares with us an article from the February, 1943 issue of Popular Mechanics titled, “Tiny Films Speed ‘V-Mail’  to Men Overseas“. While the article touts … Continue reading →

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a find in old New Brunswick

Posted on June 10, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. Our president, Clint Hryhorijiw, found the time to send me a wonderful link that reminds us that museums are great resources for photographic historians one and all. The New Brunswick Museum posted an article back on May 2, 2022 … Continue reading →

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have you ever seen a Foton walking … ?

Posted on June 9, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. Back in September of last year, I did a post on the ill-fated B&H Foton camera. Since then, my good friend George Dunbar found another advertisement on the Futon, this time using the famous movie star Joan Crawford as … Continue reading →

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Newfoundland life in the olden days

Posted on June 8, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. My good friend, George Dunbar, enjoys browsing the internet these days for interesting facts about photography and its rich history. Today, George brings us his finds about people on the great island of Newfoundland – the most easterly part … Continue reading →

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do you remember DuPont photo products?

Posted on June 6, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. Do you remember DuPont when they made photographic materials? To day the company is still very active, but no long makes movie films and other more traditional photo products. In May of 1932, the company took out a large … Continue reading →

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doing a Don McLean …

Posted on June 2, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. Les Jones sent me a note that Marlene Cook will be closing  her antique market. On Sunday, May 29th,  Victoria Gibson, the Affordable Housing Reporter for the Toronto Star wrote an article in the Star titled, “Sunday Antique Market at … Continue reading →

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Photo-Era: photography over a century ago

Posted on June 1, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. Photography was an exciting avocation just over a century ago. One of the magazines of the time was called Photo-Era (The American Journal of Photography). This illustrated monthly covered the photographic scene in America. This example was first published … Continue reading →

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