as Horace Greeley once said …

Posted on January 31, 2026 by Robert

Pioneer photographers of the far west 1840-1865

Toronto. …Go west, young man. Many photographers did indeed ‘go west’ – in North America, that is. Messrs Palmquist and Kailbourn recently released a “biographical dictionary” of the “pioneer photographers of the far west“.

This opus was reviewed in issue 26-4. The review begins, “This is a most comprehensive, well documented, biographical dictionary of some 1,500 photographers (and workers engaged in photographically related pursuits) that were active in western North America before 1865.

“It is enriched by some 250 illustrations, many previously unpublished. Peter Palmquist and Thomas Kailbourn, two of America’s leading photo history researchers, have produced an epic production.

“With over 800 pages [above link suggests 639 pages] this is but volume #1. A second volume will take the study eastwards to the Mississippi River and include Prairie Canada and Mexico.” …

The full review is in the issue 26-4 pdf file on the free members-only DVD/thumb drive. Not a member? Well then check out ‘Membership” above and at right. Questions? Email them to member@phsc.ca.

Posted in history | Tagged , , | Comments Off on as Horace Greeley once said …

a really rare one

Posted on January 30, 2026 by Robert

the itinerant photographer’s wet-plate camera

Toronto. I often mention that wet plate cameras usually self destruct as they are used. In this rare example shown in Bill Belier’s column in issue 26-4 it is described by its present owner – Mike Robinson.

Bill begins, “Our ‘treasure’ this month is from the collection of our multi-talented Program Chairman, Mike Robinson, …lecturer, contemporary daguerreotypist, wet-plate photographer and replica builder of early landmark cameras. His story follows…

“The maker of this mahogany and brass half-plate camera was a Mr. C. Burr, described as a ‘London optician and camera maker, 1862–1865’, about whom I have uncovered very little information to date.

“Hopefully, with continued research, I will learn more about this early British craftsman. The sliding box design is of the earliest type of camera construction which was used for daguerreotype, wet-plate collodion or calotype paper negatives. This camera is equipped with a Petzval design portrait lens with Waterhouse stops and a focusing knob.

“The lens (serial #3254) is believed to be original equipment as I found no flange markings or additional mounting screw holes on the body.” …

Yes, indeed. Members could read all about this wet plate camera in Bill’s column in the issue 26-4 pdf file on the free members-only DVD/memory stick. See top or at right “Membership” to join – it’s cheap and easy. In the rare case of questions, email them to member@phsc.ca.

Posted in history | Tagged , , | Comments Off on a really rare one

submerged in religion

Posted on January 29, 2026 by Robert

A Baptist convention in 1868 Toronto captured by R Carswell

Toronto. The article “A Surprising Find!” not only expands on Carswell’s CdVs but discusses the meeting of Baptist clergy in Toronto in 1868 and Carswell’s group photo shown here. It is a collage of individual portraits.

The article by editor Robert Lansdale, begins, “PHSC member Thomas Ritchie brought to my attention two photographs that were found inside an old picture frame; the two aged images were mounted back-to-back on a single cardboard sheet. A 9 1/4 by 11 1/2 inch print of a building graces one side and would appear to be the Bowman’s Hotel according to a sign on an omnibus carriage parked near the right edge and by a part sign on the building.

“Although there were Bowman’s hotels and taverns in early Ontario this appears to be a British scene… the question awaits further research.

“The more interesting photograph, a 7 1/4 by 9 1/2 inch print –brown with age, shows 57 portraits of Baptist Ministers who, according to a caption, ‘attended the Convention in Toronto, October 16–21, 1868’. Credit is given to ‘R. Carswell, Photographer, 6 King Street West, Toronto’.” …

Yes, you are correct – members were able to read the entire article and see the two photographs from Mr Richie’s collection in the pdf file for issue 26-4 on the free members-only DVD/thumb drive. See above or at right to join (Membership). Email any questions to member@phsc.ca.

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on submerged in religion

a pocket full of poses

Posted on January 28, 2026 by Robert

CdVs by Robert Carswell c1866-70 taken in his Toronto studio.

Toronto.  Around the time when the northern part of British North America established  itself as the Dominion of Canada (1867), a Toronto photographer, Robert Carswell, created these CdVs which became part of the late Robert Wilson’s collection. Twenty-five years ago, editor Bob Lansdale chose this quartet of CdVs for the cover shot of issue 26-4.

Inside the issue, Bob describe this cover photograph as follows, “We feature a sample of carte de visite portraits from the 1866-70 time period when Canada was just entering its Confederation.

“Like so many others, twenty-eight year old Robert Carswell operated a photographic enterprise for a short while then was removed from the listings in photographic history.

“We tell the story on pages 6 to 8 of how ‘A Surprising Find!’ led to the discovery of his true success in life.”

Members saw the photos and read the “A Surprising Find!” story in the pdf file for issue 26-4 on the free members-only DVD/memory stick. Check above and at right (Membership) to see the many ways to join. Any questions? Email them to member@phsc.ca.

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on a pocket full of poses

spring camerama

Posted on January 27, 2026 by Robert

Toronto. Our friend Gary Perry has announced his first show of the year. Address any question to Gary at email: cameramashow@gmail.com or use Phone/Text: 905-550-7477.

The Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre
6 Sakura Way, Toronto, M3C 1Z5
Show Hours: 10:00am – 3:00pm
Admission $10, Students $8 (with valid ID)
 

We still have a few vendor tables available so if you have been thinking of getting a table to sell some of your gear now is the time!

Tables cost $100 (8ft) and include entrance for you and a helper. 

March 1, 2026 CAMERAMA show

Posted in activities-other | Tagged , | Comments Off on spring camerama

Winter Photographic History Auction

Posted on January 26, 2026 by Robert

a familiar figure

Toronto. Louis Daguerre is famous for releasing the first publicly announced practical process for photography – and for offering it free to all outside the UK.

His portrait (shown here) is one of the lots in the upcoming auction of old photographic images by Michael Lehr.

Mr Lehr has an auction house down in New Jersey. He announced his latest photographic images auction recently.

The auction will begin on January 31, 2026. Anyone can bid online for a particular lot. Notice of the auction is in this post.   Details on the lots-catalogue offered and how to bid are on his web site.

PS. This is a great chance to add more Americana images to your collection.

Posted in activities-other | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Winter Photographic History Auction

keeping it small …

Posted on January 25, 2026 by Robert

lot 339 – a small Super Baldinette made in the early 1950s by Balda

Toronto. Lot 339 in February’s auction (Feb 15th) is a fine example of keeping cameras small, This Balda folds up like a Retina and can be dropped in a pocket. The auction lots include many small 35mm cameras and a few even smaller subminiature cameras like the famous Minox.

Shown at left is a Super Baldinette made by Balda in the early 1950s. The camera could be purchased with a few different lenses of varying maximum aperture and cost. The camera in lot 339 has a high quality f/2 Rodenstock lens with a Synchro-Compur leaf shutter.

IMPORTANT: OUR AUCTION WAS RESCHEDULED TO FEB 15th DUE TO BAD WEATHER. Come out on Sunday, February 15th  and enjoy the ambience of our first 2026 event, Remember, admission is free and so is the parking. The auction location is the Legion Hall 101 in Long Branch (southwest Toronto). Slightly west of Brown’s line (highway 427/27) on the Lakeshore.

Posted in auction | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on keeping it small …

field of view

Posted on January 24, 2026 by Robert

lot 488 in the Feb 15, 2026 PHSC auction features a field camera with lens

Toronto. In the 1800s professional outdoor photographers were easy to spot: A dark viewing cloth, a wooden tripod and a field camera shouted it out loud!

The wooden view camera spanned the wet plate and dry plate eras. Smaller, metal or leather covered view cameras with far more elaborate adjustments joined the market when cut film arrived. Even roll film backs came along as film was introduced.

The 1800s field camera, like later ‘folders’, could be collapsed to make the beast easier to store and move. Basically, a thin wooden box at the back of the camera held a ground glass for focussing plus a means to replace the ground glass with an emulsion-coated glass plate. At the front was the lens board and lens combination, separated by a bellows, sometime ‘square’ but usually like a pyramid on its side. Various brass bits allow focussing and some lens adjustment, folding, and trim.

Shown here is lot 488, a typical dry plate field camera with Waterhouse stops to adjust the lens aperture (wet plate field cameras are rare as the very act of using the camera slowly destroys its wooden parts).

IMPORTANT: OUR AUCTION WAS RESCHEDULED DUE TO BAD WEATHER. Join us at our February 15, 2026 auction and see the amazing lots ready for the hammer. You are sure to find items for your collection or your user gear!

Note: The post title is a riff on the 1989 movie title “Field of Dreams“.

Posted in auction | Tagged , , | Comments Off on field of view

*** AUCTION DATE CHANGE ***

Posted on January 23, 2026 by Robert

HI FOLKS

DUE TO THE COLD WEATHER THIS WEEKEND

AND THE FORECAST FOR HEAVY SNOW THIS SUNDAY, JAN 25th

OUR AUCTION HAS BEENED MOVED TO FEB 15, 2026

AT THE SAME PLACE.  A NEW POSTER WILL GO LIVE TONIGHT

THE PHSC APOLOGIZES FOR THE POSSIBLE INCONVENIENCE 

STAY WARM!

Posted in auction | Comments Off on *** AUCTION DATE CHANGE ***

it isn’t easy being square …

Posted on January 23, 2026 by Robert

lot 355 -a Voigtlander Superb TLR from the 1930s

Toronto. Most cameras/negatives produce a rectangular image but some do not. Instead, the photographer can expose for the square image, or visualize a landscape or portrait print.

One issue with smaller cameras was the ‘squinty’ viewfinder. To solve this issue, one camera design evolved to a viewfinder as big as the negative creating the famous twin lens reflex camera (TLR).

However; solving one problem raised another: the camera was almost impossible to use on its side. This was solved by making the negative format square eliminated the need to hold the camera sideways.

IMPORTANT: OUR AUCTION WAS RESCHEDULED TO FEB 15th DUE TO BAD WEATHER.  A typical TLR is the Voigtländer Superb (lot 355). This and a few other TLRs will be offered at our February 15th auction. Come on down to our first 2026 event and bid on items that tweak your interest (collecting, using, etc.)

NB: The title of this post is a riff on Kermit the frog’s famous ditty,”It’s Not Easy Being Green“.

Posted in auction | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on it isn’t easy being square …