taking the measure of light

Posted on July 18, 2021 by Robert

Weston Master II ad in a June, 1947 Popular Photography ad.

Toronto. Last century, a professional was able to decide the needed exposure for a printable negative. To be safe, critical shots could be bracketed – a shot taken at both double and half the estimated exposure. Also, with orthochromatic film, the development could be viewed and a trained eye could shorten or extend the time or change the temperature to get a printable gamma curve with details in the highlights and shadows alike. For large sheet films, a pencil and a knife could ‘correct’ the gamma curve.

Various exposure calculating devices allowed a better ‘guesstimate’ for the necessary exposure. In the mid-last century the questions were which maker to choose and whether reflected or incident light readings gave the best result. Of course until CdS cells arrived NO meter helped indoors or at night.

Eventually hand-held meters were replaced with clip-on or built-in meters. My first meter was a clip-on for a Minolta rangefinder camera. The meter was linked to the shutter setting. A hand-held meter was a step up for me and the big decision was Weston vs. GE. I went with Weston and bought a Master III. Used mainly in reflected mode, the big selenium cell of the meter failed just when needed most – at dusk and indoors.

Thanks to my good friend, George Dunbar for sharing this ad from the June 1947 issue of Popular Photography. The Weston ad is page 28 (Master II) and the GE ad is on page 11.

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wither thou goest, Kardon?

Posted on July 17, 2021 by Robert

Kardon version of Leica IIIa in Pop Photo ad summer, 1947

Toronto. When America was finally dragged into WW2 on the side of Britain, they  had a problem. The Leitz NY organization was taken over by the US government, but no high quality American made 35mm cameras were available. Peter Kardon of the Premier Instrument Company of NY stepped in. He offered to use the Leitz NY equipment to make a camera based on the pre war Leica IIIa using Kodak lenses.

However; Leitz NY manufacturing equipment proved to be unrepairable to Kardon’s dismay, and worse, the Leica IIIa was hand assembled and adjusted by highly trained factory craftsmen. Kardon redesigned the IIIa for precision manufacture and assembly using many tools and dies made especially for this version of the IIIa.

Sadly, while his camera was a technical success, it was a financial failure. The war ended just as the camera was manufactured and it was too expensive to compete with Japanese and German rangefinder cameras. More, Kardon cameras used by government agents in Europe post war tagged them as American spies since expensive retail Kardons were seldom used by tourists.

This ad from page 141 of the July, 1947 issue of Popular Photography records the valiant effort of Kardon to enter the post war America retail market. My thanks to friend and fellow PHSC member, George Dunbar, for this snap shot of photographic history. By the way, a Kardon camera was worth far more in 2001 than it was new – or even used or even a used Leica IIIa! And they are worth even more today!

Note. The title of the post is based on a song from the 1950s based on the old testament of the Bible!

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Dr Hanin Hannouch: Lippmann Process – July 21st PHSC Presentation

Posted on July 16, 2021 by Robert

Dr Hanin Hannouch

Toronto.  Dr Hanin Hannouch: Lippmann Process. Dr Hannouch will be speaking to us from Germany next Wednesday on the Lippmann process. Find out what a dead parrot (this one’s not a Monty Python routine) has to do with an experimental 1880s/1890s colour process. Join us on July 21, 2021 at 8 pm (we begin around 7:30 with a social get together – all welcome).

Go to Eventbrite for more information and to register. Tickets are free!  If there are any questions, go to program@phsc.ca and our programme director, Celio Barreto, will help you.

Remember, in the Q&A after the talk, Zoom audience questions are welcome. Take this opportunity to hear and see Dr Hannouch and learn more about an historic experiment in capturing colour by the action of light (a decade before Autochrome and long before Kodachrome appeared on the market).

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remembering Bob Lansdale

Posted on July 15, 2021 by Robert

A young Bob Lansdale in Jack Marshall’s darkroom (early 1950s)

Toronto. Bob’s son Robert sent over these images and asked me to switch them into yesterday’s post which I agreed to do. However; both sets are so wonderful I decided to do a second post instead.

When I first met Bob, little did I know that he was so innovative – always thinking of ways to achieve an improvement and attract more members. For those of you who are unaware of Bob’s contributions, let me state some of them once again. Hs first and longest duty for the PHSC was to edit the journal, “Photographic Canadiana” which he did with enthusiasm and professionalism right to his end.

He did lengthy research into Canadian photographers and inventors, unearthing and publishing details that got buried in the noise of histories published by far bigger countries. He expanded his network of willing writers world wide. In time, he began to get offers of material written by many others.

Worried about society events that missed the publishing deadline, he conceived a free pdf-style newsletter that continues to this day.  To eliminate wasted journal pages, he dropped the back cover advertisement began by Jack Addison in the early days of the society and moved other material to a newly created “news sheet” that was packaged with each issue of the journal. Continue reading →

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the end of an era in journalism

Posted on July 14, 2021 by Robert

Editor Bob Lansdale with his Nikon and Leica M in 1982 (courtesy of son Robert)

Toronto. Our journal editor died at 2 am Tuesday (yesterday). Bob Lansdale was 90 years old. He was a valued member of the PHSC and a personal friend. The images below are courtesy of his eldest son, Robert.

Bob joined the society in the membership year of 1985. Once he finished editing and producing his late wife’s book of selected columns that she wrote for the publications of the PPO/PPOC, he collaborated with then editor, the late EvRoseborough, to learn the structure and distribution of Photographic Canadiana.

In January, 1997 Bob became editor with issue 22-4. He continued as editor right up to his death with the pdf  publication of issue 47-2 just a few days ago – over 100 issues edited making Bob the longest running editor of Photographic Canadiana to date.

While editor, Bob expanded his network and encouraged others (including members) to write articles addressing mainly photographic history in Canada. In November 2001 he produced his first pdf newsletter to address the need for a means to report timely events between issues of the journal and to solve the cost of colour images on paper. Continue reading →

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it’s not easy being green

Posted on July 13, 2021 by Robert

What ever happened to Anken film? Ad from June 1947 issue of Pop Photography.

Toronto. … sang Kermit the frog in his famous 1970 song on Sesame Street so many years ago. This apparently applied to a film called “Anken” too. The film was orthochromatic and, according to the ads, available in the most popular roll film sizes (127 120/620, 116/616). No mention of 135 (35mm) which became a major force in the industry especially the last half of the past century.

I never came across Anken film which was made by the “Anken Chemical & Film Company” of Newton New Jersey. A company called “Anken Chemical & Film Corporation” appears to have replaced the earlier company. On the internet, there are various references to Anken of Newton NJ. In the 1960s, the company made photographic paper. Later on, lawsuits suggested they were into photo copiers. Later still there is reference to a truck system for shipping goods in the States. The film and company seem to have vanished over time.

The above ad appears in the June 1947 issue of Popular Photography. Our thanks to good friend George Dunbar for suggesting this ad and link as part of our photographic history.

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all a twitter

Posted on July 12, 2021 by Robert

PHSC Twitter

Toronto.  Well, it had to come to this. Twitter, I mean. When the society was established back in 1974, everyone had a land line and a postal address. Personal computers were unheard of. Mobile telephones were massive affairs used only by companies and very deep pocketed folk.

Later, businesses could have and use a new concept – the toll free telephone number. It could be used country, continent or even world-wide (for a fee to the owner).

Personal computers (so called micro computers) began to appear in the 1980s. They were a bit too pricey at the start but quickly dropped in relative cost. Bulletin boards popped up as a means for individuals to communicate via “modems” that cost nearly as much as a  personal computer. Continue reading →

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all that’s fit to photograph

Posted on July 11, 2021 by Robert

Graflex ad in the December 1946 issue of Pop Photography

Toronto. The best known press cameras according to Hollywood seem to be the ubiquitous Speed Graphic models. This ad from the December, 1946  issue of Popular Photography [link repeated here for the viewer’s convenience]  suggests why.

My thanks to good friend, retired industrial photographer/videographer, and PHSC member, George Dunbar, for sharing his interesting find with us.

NB. The title of this post is a riff on one of the most famous ‘catch phrases’ in Newspaper History, “All the News That’s Fit to Print“. Owner of the NY Times, Adolph Ochs, coined it in 1897 and it remains the slogan of the NY Times newspaper today.

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John Kantymir 1966-2021

Posted on July 10, 2021 by Robert

PHSC July trunk sale in 2015. Photo by Bob Lansdale

Toronto. It was with great shock and sadness that we learned of the passing of our 1st VP, John Nicholas Kantymir, suddenly at home the evening of July 8th, 2021. John leaves behind his wife and children. He was always involved with our auctions and fairs. John joined the executive team shortly after Clint became our president.

He and wife Carri made the long trek to most executive meetings. Carri often helped with the refreshments. John was also a frequent contributor to the “A Treasure from my Collection” column in Photographic Canadiana. His knowledge was most welcome in estimating the value of items and lots presented at our auctions.

John’s obituary reads, “It is with great sadness and sorrow that the family announces John’s sudden passing on July 8, 2021 in his 55th year. Beloved husband of Carolin (nee Sawatzky). Loving father of Nicole, Michelle, Robert (Destiny), Stephen and Kerrin (Travis). Caring grandpa to William, Elliawna, Izek, Ethan and Ariel.

“Predeceased by his father Bill Kantymir (Big Daddy). John was V.P. for the Photographic Historical Society of Canada. (PHSC) The family will receive friends at the ARMSTRONG FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL, 179 Clarence Street, Port Colborne on Tuesday, July 13, 2021 from 1 – 3 p.m. (Due to COVID restrictions, attendance will be monitored, gathering limits will be enforced and face masks are required.)

“A private funeral service will follow in the Armstrong Chapel. To view the service a link will be made available on Monday July 12, 2021 at 2 p.m. Please go to YouTube and type into the search bar – Armstrong Funeral Home & Chapel Port Colborne John Kantymir Funeral Service, and you will be able to view the service.

“If so desired, memorial donations may be made in his memory to the Photographic Historical Society of Canada, 666 Burnhamthorpe Rd., Box 11703, Etobicoke, ON, M9C 2Z0 – phsc.ca Online photos, memories, condolences and donations may be shared at www.armstrongfuneralhome.ca”.

 

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want more about cabinet cards?

Posted on July 10, 2021 by Robert

Studio shot of two safety bicycles and their male riders. Taken by McCormick in Belleville ON

Toronto. You are in luck! Our sister organization, the Daguerreian Society in the States is hosting an online talk this Saturday (July 10, 2021) afternoon by Senior Curator of Photographs, John Rohrbach, of the Amon Carter Museum of American Art in Texas titled, “What’s So Special about Cabinet Cards“.

There is usually a small fee for their talks. Sign up now for this talk via PayPal (no account needed). You can also join the Daguerreian Society too!

The internet and libraries, archives, books, etc are alternatives to learn more about these oversize CDV style photo cards so popular late in the 19th century.

Come out to our fairs, shows, meetings and auctions to find the cards and many other treasures. As COVID-19 restrictions are loosened, we will return to in person activities. Follow our web site and the “PHSC News” newsletters for the latest news.

 

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