Category Archives: history

if you can’t beat them …

Posted on March 26, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. Two events likely resulted in this version of the famous Speed Graphic. First the continuing depression and the need to economize; and secondly the success of the minicam and enlarging making smaller cameras very popular. As advertised in the … Continue reading →

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Canada, eh?

Posted on March 25, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. America is well known for its rather insular approach to us small fry. But occasionally the mighty country to the south goes out of its way to feature an article on a Canadian event. This article, called, “Canadians Pack … Continue reading →

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go big or …

Posted on March 24, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. For decades, I thought of Kodachrome as home movie or 35mm slide film. Journal editor, the late Ev Roseborough, corrected me as did another journal editor, the late Bob Lansdale. When Kodachrome was introduced (1935) it was limited to … Continue reading →

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what a pal!

Posted on March 22, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. In the April, 1932 edition of the International Photographer, this strange camera called the PAL KO or PALKO was advertised. It was described as a post card sized folder that focussed on ground glass. Never heard of it. In … Continue reading →

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a good student

Posted on March 21, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. I recently suggested that Kodak SIX-20 folders and their brethren were “too little, too late“. This ad two years earlier in the International Photographer in 1932 suggests Kodak was covering its bets with imports from the recently purchased Nagel … Continue reading →

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too little, too late

Posted on March 19, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. In this June, 1934 advertisement in Popular Mechanics, Kodak announced its new SIX-20 folder. The camera had lots of features but ignored the growing ground swell of minicam sales. My dad bought a simpler version of the SIX-20 a … Continue reading →

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well, this is a bit awkward …

Posted on March 18, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. The American Cinematographer for May, 1938 carried an ad for the new Eastman Focusing Finder. It was used in the 16mm Ciné-Kodak by swapping out the film magazine. The camera had to be on a tripod or use some … Continue reading →

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reproduction of a famous camera and lens

Posted on March 17, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. The evening of February 17th, 2016, I visited the Ryerson University Library along with a number of other PHSC members. A milestone was the display by the late Willi Nassau of a reproduction of the famous Voigtlander brass daguerreotype … Continue reading →

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taking one for the team …

Posted on March 16, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. Sometimes photography can be down right dangerous. In 1931, a movie cameraman experienced this first hand (er arm) as told in a brief article that appeared in the October, 1931 edition of International Photographer. Click on the picture at … Continue reading →

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the tin man

Posted on March 15, 2022 by Robert

Toronto.  “You can even mail them…” This was a big advantage for tintypes in the days when most ‘likenesses’ were glass encased. Joseph Wyman Brown uses the wet plate process to create authentic modern day tintype portraits. An article by … Continue reading →

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