this is a strange one …

Posted on May 14, 2025 by Robert

a strange Victorian camera (?) up for auction in the UK

Toronto. My friend and associate at the PHSC, Les Jones (sports photographer and author) sent me an email the other day, saying, some one was auctioning off , “A VICTORIAN MAHOGANY FLOOR STANDING STUDIO CAMERA WITH A HINGED BULLSEYE LENS 22CM IN DIAMETER“.

Shown at left is just one view of this unusual camera (perhaps it is a projector, or an enlarger). The auction takes place live later this month. Click on the link above for details – who knows, the gadget may fit your collection. …

NB. The title of this post is a riff on a 1960s song called, “You are a Strange one“, Sung here by Marianne Faithful.

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two under par …

Posted on May 13, 2025 by Robert

Eagle lands on Totem Pole in BC – courtesy of CTV News and Carlos Paniagua

Toronto. Carlos Paniagua photographed this bald eagle atop the highest totem pole in the world. Carlos is an amateur photographer who enjoys capturing wild life on his camera according to Adam Sawatsky, CTV News, Vancouver.

The short video of this striking result of two days patience is courtesy of our president Clint Hryhorijiw who spotted it on CTV News and sent me a copy.

Over two decades  ago, I watched bald eagles fight over salmon off Queen Charlotte City north of Vancouver Island. In one case, two birds spiralled down to the Pacific with neither willing to give up its hold on supper.

NB. As you likely guessed, two under par on a hole in golf is called an Eagle (no, I am not a golfer – people ducked when I shouted “four”).

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where have all the cameras gone II

Posted on May 12, 2025 by Robert

a c1864 wet-plate stereo camera made by John Stock of NYC.

Toronto. Short answer: to our spring fair, being held May 25th, 2025. Long answer: far more complicated. Cameras from dry plates on can be easily be found, especially at our events.

Earlier daguerreotype and wet-plate cameras are much harder to find (lenses from that earliest era can be found more easily as people seemed to ‘keep’ the brass lenses and toss the beat up wooden cameras).

I suspect that relatively few original daguerreotype cameras were made, and fewer still survived as photographers and others of the time did not see them as collectible. Wet plate cameras are something else. Most were trashed. The very process demanded exposure on glass plates still dripping emulsion and sensitizing solution. This gooey mix turned the plate holding end of the wooden cameras black and caused wood rot to set in.

The photograph (at top left) is from Eaton Lothrop, Jr‘s 1973 book “A Century of Cameras“. The cameras displayed in the book reside in the GEH collection in Rochester NY. Eaton spoke to us in June, 1999 on collecting, “My 37 Years of Collecting”.

My first encounter with a wet plate camera was in Quebec. The camera was in such poor shape I passed it up not realizing that the condition confirmed it to be an authentic wet plate camera.

NB: The post title is a riff on Pete Seeger’s 1955  folk song, “Where Have all the Flowers Gone?” since sung by a multitude of singers and groups.

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thoughts of double vision

Posted on May 11, 2025 by Robert

parts for home-brew stereo?

Toronto. At the May 4th auction, Patrick Gunn snapped these two lots – a pair of similar looking old cameras. The pair show some potential for a home-brew stereo camera like the one built back in late 1997 by Stan White.

These old cameras were once popular amateur cameras (over a century ago) when dry plates (and cut film) were sold.

While the auction is over until the fall one, next up is our spring fair on May 25th. Here you have a great chance to augment your collection – perhaps even finding a camera like those at left above. See all our 2025 events under ‘PHSC EVENTS’ at right.

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traversing tuscany

Posted on May 10, 2025 by Robert

crop of Tuscany photo by Marie-Louise Moutafchieva

Toronto. PhotoEd editor Rita Godlevskis always comes up with an exciting edition for her magazine. She recently posted this notice via MailChimp on Photography in a Brand New Light

Typical is the wonderful work of Marie-Louise Moutafchieva in the article about traversing Tuscany.

Well we are indeed an historical society, works such as this will be considered ‘history’ all too soon.

You may even have colour photographs in your collection since some processes are about 1-1/4 century old now! Be sure to visit our 2025 events (see right side bar, “PHSC EVENTS”) to discover items that complement your collection. Next up is our May 25th fair.

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pictures at an auction

Posted on May 9, 2025 by Robert

Auctioneer Clint Hryhorijiw by Patrick Gunn

Toronto. Multi-talented newsletter editor, Patrick Gunn decided to take and share selected photographs at our spring auction. Like many auctions, the audience was able to browse the individual lots and decide on which ones to bid and what value ceiling to set.

Once started, auctioneer Clint kept a fast pace as each lot was put under the hammer, sold, and set aside for the winning bidder. While this spring’s auction was missing some regulars, the overall bidding resulted in satisfying sales for both buyer and seller with a reasonable amount going to our society to aid in its volunteer objectives.

Our Social Media editor, Mina Markovic plans to upload all of Patrick’s photos this month to the PHSC Instagram channel. This channel is well worth a visit from anyone even remotely interested in photography as Mina and her volunteers  keep the channel lively and interesting.

Note: The title of this post is a riff on the beautiful piano suite by Modest Mussorgsky titled, “Pictures at an Exhibition“. I spent many a peaceful afternoon listening to this suite (and to a lesser degree, the Monty Python parody, “Decomposing Composers).

 

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Hodgkinson & Butters Early Takers

Posted on May 8, 2025 by Robert

an icy struggle

Toronto. Graham Garrett, perhaps best remembers for his research on early Canadian Daguerreotypists, researched and wrote a number of articles for Photographic Canadiana. In issue 23-3 He wrote an article on the daguerreotype photographers Hodgkinson & Butters titled, “Hodgkinson & Butters Early Takers in Atlantic Canada” in the column “Rediscovering Canada’s Photographic Heritage”.

Graham’s article begins with this précis: “Recently, [May 1997] Canada celebrated the opening of the new 13-kilometre long Confederation Bridge constructed across Northumberland Strait betweenNew Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.

“The principal reason for this imaginative engineering project was to fulfill one of the promises made to the latter province in 1873 for year-round transportation to and from the mainland. When the span was completed it marked the passing of a familiar way of life in the region, notably the ferry service that had served residents and visitors alike for generations.

“Actually, the first commercial steam-propelled vessel to ply Northumberland Strait commenced service between Pictou and Charlotte Town 11 May 1832 on a twice-weekly schedule. There were also many hardy individuals during the nineteenth-century who thought little of navigating the windswept passage in small sailing craft or even open boats.

“Unfortunately, this method of transportation had a reputation for being risky at certain times of the year, something that was discovered by two itinerant daguerreian artists who almost lost their lives in 1843 as passengers on one of these early predecessors of the modern-day ferry.” …

You can read all of Graham’s article in full, plus other articles in the issue 23-3 pdf on the free members-only DVD/thumb drive. Joining the PHSC is easy (see MEMBERSHIP above and at right). Any membership questions? Email our membership secretary Lilianne at member@phsc.ca.

Dags (and lots of other photo collectibles) often show up at our events (see PHSC EVENTS at right). Email Mark or Clint at fair@phsc.ca if you have any questions. Our next event is our May 25th fair this Month.

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… and a dash of flash

Posted on May 7, 2025 by Robert

a dash of flash

Toronto. Post WW2, many folk investigated ways to improve flash by incorporating Edgerton’s “Speed-light” concepts in a smaller container to allow electronic flash to compete with and eventually replace flash powder, bulbs, etc.

Jim Miller of Downsview (now part of Toronto) tinkered with this new means of light as early as 1946. In issue 23-3 Ev Roseborough reports Jim’s involvement in an early flash called “Trion”.

Ev’s article, “Trion – an early Canadian designed flash“, begins, “Now tending his grapevines lovingly and expertly caning his furniture, is retired geophysicist Jim Miller of Downsview, Ontario. No one would suspect this vibrant elderly gentleman of designing and building electronic flash units here in Canada as early as 1946.

“These ‘discharge units’ were finding their way into professional photography as some of the commercial and advertising studios in New York were adapting surplus Army Air-force units or using those built by Edgerton. Those were 10,000 watt-seconds, but there was a need for smaller portable units, useful for the average studio and press photographer.

“A quick check through the photo annuals showed an ad for the ‘Dawe’ Photoflash in the BJA of 1948. Ned Eisenstat of Toronto manufactured his Speedstrob in January 1948, but had been using speedlights of different kinds since 1940. So Miller was certainly a pioneer in his miniaturization efforts in ‘46.” …

Ev’s article in full, plus other articles appear in the issue 23-3 pdf on the free members only DVD/thumb drive. Want to join? It’s easy (see MEMBERSHIP above and at right). If you have any membership questions email our membership secretary Lilianne at member@phsc.ca.

Electronic flash units (and lots of other photo collectibles) often show up at our events (see PHSC EVENTS at right). You can email our president Clint at fair@phsc.ca if you have any questions. Our next event is our May 25th “Spring Camera Fair”.

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spring fair time!

Posted on May 6, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. Just weeks after our first 2025 event, the fabulous Spring Auction, we are holding PHSC’s popular Spring Camera Fair (May 25th). Enhance your collection and lighten your wallet – join us at the Trident Hall for our annual photographica-fair!

Our treasurer, John Morden whipped up the tasty little poster shown below in jpeg format. Please ignore the poster links and use this one instead. To get a table or details, email Mark or Clint fair@phsc.ca and you’re in! Bargains for film and digital collectors and users, free parking… and LOTS of food! And, meet fellow collectors and friends – old and new.

PHSC Spring Camera Fair at Trident Hall May 25th, 2025

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home brew in 3D

Posted on May 5, 2025 by Robert

Stan White’s home-brew 5×7 stereo camera in issue 23-3

Toronto. From time to time we all want to leap on the 3D bandwagon and do some personal shots. In issue 23-3 the late Stan White shows us how he created a 5×7 3D camera.

Stan’s article is titled, “Making Your Own 5×7 Stereo Camera”, and begins, “It is a simple undertaking to move into large format photography for stereo cards. It is no co-incidence that any of the early stereo cameras were built around 5×7 plate size.

“After all, the objective is to produce a pair of 3 x 3 inch prints in which case 5×7 does this comfortably with area to spare, top and bottom, which effectively translates into modest rise and drop on the camera – dependent on the coverage of the lens and without the complication of a moving front.

“These days, 5 x 7 is an ideal format since it has dropped out of professional favour and much related equipment is on the market at reasonable prices. Film is still available.

“You could start with an early cameras, but they are “collectors” and are expensive. Besides they were often built without spring-backs which means you have to acquire special plate holders and adapt them to take film. I have also found that ancient lenses have usually deteriorated. It is much easier to start from scratch and you will end up with a superior piece of equipment.” …

All of Stan’s column, plus other articles in the issue appear in the issue 23-3 pdf on the free members only DVD/thumb drive. Not a member? It’s easy to join (see MEMBERSHIP above and at right). If you have any membership related questions, drop an email to our membership secretary Lilianne at member@phsc.ca.

Want a camera to modify – or other goodies for your collection/user gear? Visit our 2025 events! They are listed under ‘PHSC EVENTS’ at right. Up today is our spring auction (May 4th). Any questions can be answered by Clint at fair@phsc.ca or during quiet time in  the auction.

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