Our Fall Fair Oct 19th

Posted on October 3, 2025 by Robert

Toronto.  Treasurer John Morden created this tasty poster for our fall fair this month. Details should be clear but if you do have any questions, drop Mark or Clint a line at fair@phsc.ca.

Posted in fair | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Our Fall Fair Oct 19th

essence of beauty

Posted on October 2, 2025 by Robert

James Esson, photographer

Toronto. James Esson founded his photographic studio  in the tiny village about an hour today west of Toronto. The village of Preston, Ontario, since absorbed in larger communities, had a population of some 1,400 souls in 1884.

The history of the studio is told in an illustrated article by Markus Boost, assisted  by Stan White. The article is dedicated to the late Martin Bass. It begins, “It would take great courage to build a lavish photographic studio and portrait gallery in little more than the village of Preston, Ontario which, in 1884, had about 1400 inhabitants – but this is what photographer James Esson did.

“The press described Esson and his studio thus: ‘Mr. Esson’s reputation is continental.  Among his patrons are scores of people in this city, in Montreal, as far west as Winnipeg and from various quarters in the United States. He is undoubtedly a genius among photographers.

“Some years ago, Mr. Esson built one of the handsomest business blocks in Preston in which he has artistically arranged his Atelier. His reception-room is a model of good taste and originality. On the walls are hung specimens of his magnificent work, including many novelties such as are not seen outside of the largest cities and very rarely in these.

“A Cecilian from Heintzman and Co. furnishes music and helps to make the waiting periods of visitors pleasant and delightful. The dressing rooms are luxuriously furnished, and the operating studio is equipped with the most modern photographic apparatus and accessories.

“Esson’s Atelier had two advantages: the proximity of the towns of Hespeler and Galt, and that Preston was a health spa. People were very health conscious in the latter part of the Nineteenth Century. Consumption was rife and outbreaks of infectious and contagious deseases were still prevalent. Those with money, took every opportunity to get out of the cities.

“Sulphur springs were reputed to be advantageous to health. Three grand and numerous smaller hotels, hostels, and boarding houses etc., catered to a continuous flow of people from out of town who came ‘to take the waters.'” …

You can see all of this fine article in the issue 25-2 pdf file on the free members only DVD/thumb drive. See MEMBERSHIP above or Membership at right (skip the postal strike) to join.  Any questions? Drop Lilianne a line at member@phsc.ca.

Visit our latest 2025 Event this month – our famous fall fair on October 19th, 2025. Details are in the PHSC News newsletter (issue 25-7). We will be posting the details here later this month.

Posted in history | Tagged , , | Comments Off on essence of beauty

chasing storm photos …

Posted on October 1, 2025 by Robert

Snow storm in Winter of 1958 in Labrador

Toronto. One interesting category of old photos are those displaying storms. For all the 1800s and early 1900s, Our sensitive media were likely far too slow to capture storms as they occurred. More often the aftermath was captured.

At left is a snow storm in Labrador the winter of 1958. The helicopter spark plugs were removed and gently heated in a kitchen oven so the aircraft could come to life after sitting over night.

Your photo collection may have some storm photos already. While we can’t say for sure that you will find more at our next event, we can say you will find interesting items to add to your collection. Our famous fall fair is next on October 19th. Details are in the July 2025 PHSC News newsletter (issue 25-7) and will appear here in a few days.

The idea for this post came from a song called “Riders on the Storm” by the late Jim Morrison and The Doors.

Posted in fair | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on chasing storm photos …

my lord …

Posted on September 30, 2025 by Robert

St Joe’s c1968 taken from the Cote des Neiges (snow side) side of the structure.

Toronto. I often thought a sub-set of old photo collections could be religion – buildings, people, artifacts, etc. An example is this c1968 shot of St Joseph’s Oratory on Queen Mary Road at Cote des Neiges in Montreal.

This remarkable structure is attributed to the vision of brother Andre, From the front, there are many steps (for pilgrims) up to the basilica entrance. During ww2, the lack of heat in the cruel Montreal winters damaged the structure.

Next up is PHSC’s famous fall fair on October 19th, 2025. Details are here in the July PHSC News newsletter, issue 25-7. While we can’t say you will find old religious photos, you will find lots of interesting articles to add to your collection.

Note: The idea for this post was a line from the 1972 Eagles song, “Take It Easy“.

Posted in fair | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on my lord …

it’s a small world after all!

Posted on September 29, 2025 by Robert

House fly head taken by Charles Krebs, Washington State c2005

Toronto. The image you see at left is the 2005 winner of Nikon’s Small World competition. The competition is open to all for macro images shot through a microscope.  The photo is a magnified view of a house fly head taken by Charles B Krebs on the west coast in Washington State (Charles Krebs Photography Issaquah, Washington, USA).

I first became aware of this competition on recently getting an email from Nikon about their 2025 video winners. The images were in colour and gave a different view of every day items. The images show what photography can do in the macro range!

Take a peak in your collection and see if you have any old macro photos. While we can’t say just what will appear at our fairs, we can say they are a great opportunity to find that special item to add to your collection. The fairs have free parking there and near-by; great food; friendly people; and cheap admission! Our next fair is on October 19th at the Trident Hall Evans/Islington in the west end. See our July PHSC News (issue 25-7) for details.

NB. This post title brings to mind the c1967 child’s song of the same name

Posted in fair | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on it’s a small world after all!

some thoughts on construction

Posted on September 28, 2025 by Robert

my late 1950s Exakta VX IIa partly disassembled

Toronto. Have you noticed that many things take on the construction skills of the day? As a kid, radio chassis and cameras were often manufactured in metal. Parts were held together by screws and rivets. This applied to cars, kitchen appliances, sewing machines, microscopes, etc. as well.

A home tinkerer with patience and care could literally disassemble and reassemble anything. My first quality 35mm camera was assembled in the same way and could be taken apart on the kitchen table. You could see a change was coming as some parts were pressure fitted and others glued. Lenses were a bigger challenge – you  needed a collimator to align the lens elements.

I assembled a few computers and took apart others to marvel at the manufacturing expertise displayed (or occasionally cheap construction). Today (and for the past decade or so) I have had Apple products with nary a screw in sight. I learned on the internet that access was available by un-gluing/re-gluing; using glass panel suction devices, special tools, etc.

Older cameras and lenses from the 1800s were constructed of wood, leather (bellows and sometimes the covering), glass, brass, flat-metal, screws, rings, and various brass parts, etc.  Paint and polish could often make the piece more visibly appealing too.  This allowed a reasonably skilled craftsman to repair, restore, etc such a camera or lens.

Modern cameras (if large enough) have barely visible screws set flush and coloured to blend in. Smartphone cameras are tiny and seemingly impossible to remove and disassemble successfully. If the camera quits, it’s junked in favour of a newer one with better features. Yes, many things today are throwaways, too complex and time consuming to repair.  There is no thought of the future (other than in the mind of canny collectors).

Speaking of collecting, come on over to our fabulous fall fair on October 19th. It is being held in Southwest Toronto at the Trident Hall (Evans/Islington). Good food; public transportation; free parking on site and near by; cheap admission; and bargains for your collection be it plate, film, or digital – hardware or images. Details are in the PHSC News newsletter for July (issue 25-7) and will appear here closer to the fair date.

Posted in history | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on some thoughts on construction

everyday, it’s getting closer …

Posted on September 27, 2025 by Robert

at the fall 2007 fair

Toronto. … our fall  fair, of course! The fair arrives on Sunday, October 19th, 2025 at the Trident Hall in Toronto’a west end.

Lots to see; lots to buy. A great opportunity to add to your collection. Free parking at the fair or close by; great food; and great bargains. Meet friends old and new at this 2025 event.

While we will be posting details at the top of the site’s first page in a week or so, folks can get the same info in the PHSC News for July, 2025 (issue 25-7).

Come early and stay late! Enjoy the show; enjoy the food; enjoy the people!

NB. Hats off to the late Buddy Holly and his 1957 song, Everyday, for the idea of this post. Here’s Buddy singing his song.

Posted in fair | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on everyday, it’s getting closer …

it’s fall! it’s CAMERAMA time!

Posted on September 26, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. Hey gang! Gary’s show for the fall is this Sunday, September 28th!

Posted in activities-other | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on it’s fall! it’s CAMERAMA time!

rise up, rise up

Posted on September 25, 2025 by Robert

rise up, rise up in the air

Toronto. A sub set of old images are transportation photos – cars, bicycles, ships, trains, etc. – and hot air balloons.

The image at left is just balloons at a child’s party.

In our 2025 events you can find all sorts of images and other goodies, not just hot air balloons.

Our next event is our fall fair as started by the late Larry Boccioletti. Set for next month on October 19th, you can find many things to augment your collection including old photographs, old cameras, old lenses, accessories, books, and other photographic memorabilia.

For details see the July 2025 PHSC News newsletter (issue 25-7). As we get closer to the fair date, I will post the information at the top of the first page on this site. By the way, if you would like a personal copy of our newsletter, with notification of availability sent directly to your mail box, just ask at news@phsc.ca.

NB. The post title is from a song last decade by Toronto’s Parachute Club. Here is that song as sung by the ‘Club!

Posted in fair | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on rise up, rise up

asleep in the deep …

Posted on September 24, 2025 by Robert

grannie grabs 40 winks …

Toronto. Fall is here and it’s time to go to the fair. Our next 2025 event is our famous fall fair, October 19, 2025. Details are in the July PHSC News newsletter (issue 25-7).

There will be lots of interesting items to see, many to augment your collection. See friends old and new. Free parking and good food. What a terrific way to spend a Sunday!

Remember to come out – don’t be like grannie! You snooze; you lose (on a great deal for a great item)!

Posted in fair | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on asleep in the deep …