a rare Canon NS
Toronto. A few days back on Nov 29th, 2025, I posted a note about “a couple of rare birds“, the cover shot for issue 25-5. In the following issue, 26-1 editor Lansdale notes an e-mail from Paul Nelson, up Ottawa way, who snapped up the Canon NS.
Our editor Lansdale writes, “Paul Nelson of Carleton Place, Ontario (up near Ottawa) e-mailed us to say that he was surprised but quite delighted to see his camera, the Canon NS, reproduced on the cover of our March/April issue.
“He purchased it a year ago in London while attending a Christie’s auction. Recalls Mr. Nelson, ‘I came back with about 20 cameras including early Leicas and an interesting multi-image plate camera that uses a clock-work motor to move the plate into position. Sheldon Chen is a friend of mine and we had discussed the camera before I left for the auction. As it turns out Sheldon was bidding against me over the phone from Toronto. Heaven knows how much extra that cost me!’
“’I started collecting cameras and photographica about 1971 and have over 600 cameras to this date which includes machine-gun cameras from WW I and II, wood & brass examples, RFDR’s, miniatures and the inevitable folders and boxes. Images cover a wide swath of stereos, cartes, ambrotypes and tintypes.
“‘I’m always looking for unusual cameras as I eventually hope to set up a camera museum here in my home town. I’m proud to be a member of the society as it’s nice to know that I’m not the only crazy camera collector out there’”.
