let there be light …

Posted on August 5, 2025 by Robert

ad for flash – The Professional Photographer 1896

Toronto. As mentioned in recent posts, our late editor Bob Lansdale was able to convince exchange members to submit articles for reprint as we celebrated our 25th anniversary of the journal in 1999.

John Naslanic, editor of  the MiPHS’ Photogram, offered this article (and illustrations) on artificial illumination used to allow photographs to be taken under poor light conditions in the days of ultra slow media and modest aperture lenses.

John began the article, “‘No I might need it.’ That is what MiPHS member Davis B. Hilmer said when I tried to buy one of his powder flashguns. This was in 1972 and Davis was 75 years old then. He was selling off some of his equipment at 65 Canfield St. in Detroit, where he had operated as a commercial photographer for fifty years.

“His client list included a number of Detroit companies, including J.L. Hudson. Davis knew that flash powder produced a tremendous amount of light for only a few pennies, and could light up a banquet hall, or even a large outdoor arena. Flashbulbs cost a heck of a lot more and weren’t nearly as effective.

“For the first 25 years or so, photography depended almost entirely on the sun, or the daylight coming in a north skylight. No photos could be taken at night or on dark wintry days. With new processes, the metal magnesium was produced cheaply, and magnesium ribbon could be used to light up interiors, but it burned too slowly for portrait work.

“The magnesium flash-lamp was devised. Pure magnesium powder was held in a reservoir and blown through an alcohol flame, which resulted in a bright flash for about 1/10th of a second, which could be used to take portraits. One drawback was the billow of white smoke of magnesium oxide that formed and clouded the studio.

“Another unmentioned drawback was that when magnesium oxide reacted with water, it becomes magnesium hydroxide – the chemical name for milk of magnesia, a rather aggressive laxative. (A drink of orange juice, vodka and milk of magnesia is called a Philips screwdriver.)” …

Members read this and the other articles in the 25-1 pdf file on the free members-only DVD/memory stick. The disk/stick contains pdf versions of the first 40 volumes of our journal. See MEMBERSHIP above or at right to join.  Email any questions to Lilianne at member@phsc.ca. Collectors may find old flash photos, or powders, or flash apparatus at our 2025 events. Up next is our fall fair on October 19th, 2025 at Trident Hall on Evans near Islington. See PHSC News 25-7. A poster with details will be pinned to this site a few weeks before the fair.

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ride ’em cowboy!

Posted on August 4, 2025 by Robert

WEHA Chrome 6-II c1938 photo courtesy of John Keesing   

Toronto. You likely never heard of the Weha camera – its name sounds more like a cowboy shouting a top a horse! However in the WW2 time frame, the little Japanese camera was sold in the far east.

As I mentioned earlier, our late editor, Bob Lansdale, celebrated our 25th by asking exchange members to offer suitable articles. We got a dilly from Ian Carron, co-editor of Back Focus, the journal of the Australian Photographic Collectors Society (Inc).

Ian once owned a camera shop “down under” and tells the tale of a rare used WEHA camera he sent off for repair after purchase. Ian recounts, “One of the most interesting cameras to appear in my shop recently was the one illustrated [left]. The Weha Chrome-Six, a quite rare camera from the WW II era. It was brought in by a lass from Queensland, visiting her parents, and had been brought back from Japan by her father who was in the occupation forces at the end of hostilities.

“The condition was rather poor, mainly due to laying around unused for so long. I sent the camera to Yoshi of Nagami Camera Service at Mooroolbark and his estimate was around $120, mainly in labour.

“Contacting the owner I found that they needed a quick sale as their son had become victim of ‘Crown Casino Fever’, had lost his house, his marriage and then ended his own life. The money was needed to help pay for his funeral. What does one do in that situation?

“Contacting other society members, we worked out a fair value, I paid them and then requested Yoshi go ahead and recondition the camera. This was one of the easier jobs and, after some weeks, he advised that the courier had arrived before he’d packed the camera but waited while he did so.

“Being in a hurry, as couriers usually are, he did not wait for Yoshi to address the parcel, explaining that he knew us…and that is where the camera went missing!

“There was much anxiety to think that this gem-of-history might slip from my hands and never be seen again. The courier misunderstood Yoshi and sent it to CHA, one of our wholesale suppliers, while we are C&H.

“Eventually it worked out. The item was tracked down and arrived into my (by now) sweaty and anxious hands. ? – Ian Carron”

The entire article is shown here. The rest ( cut line, preamble, etc.) can be seen on the issue 25-1 pdf (sorry, it’s members only). Come out to the PHSC fall events. While you may not see a WEHA, you will have a good time and be able to add to your collection. See us at the fall fair on October 19th. (Details are in the 25-7 PHSC News and will be posted her closer to the fair time.

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July 2025 PHSC News issue 25-7

Posted on August 3, 2025 by Robert

Monthly newsletter of the PHSC

Toronto. Well Patrick did it again! This issue is a real gob smacker! Click on the icon of the cover at left to snag a copy.  This is the seventh in an eye-appealing series of monthly newsletters by  Patrick Gunn of the PHSC. Issue 7 is a delight to read as well as see!

This newsletter has both great quality and stunning  layout. Please note that we are an all volunteer operation and as such we rely on our volunteers, especially those with envious talent (emphasis on talent)!

Click here for a copy of 25-7 or visit NEWSLETTER above for this and all other issues. Do you prefer a personal copy (notice sent directly to your in-box)? Just email news@phsc.ca and be added to our MailChimp list.

This and all issues are free, featuring many news items and announcements. Drop editor Gunn (or me) a line if you have/want specific photo gear included in the newsletter notices – we have lots of space in this age of electronic files! A fine alternative or complement to the many on-line platforms around.

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astronomy’s debt to photography

Posted on August 2, 2025 by Robert

model of Hubble telescope by author

Toronto. Many of us ‘scan the skies’ as well as searching  tera firma for old cameras and photos. Image collectors may even have some ‘sky’ photos in their collection, and if so, will find the article noted here of special interest.

As volume 25 of the journal coincided with our quarter century anniversary, editor Bob Lansdale took it upon himself to solicit memorable articles from our exchange members.

For issue 25-1, the American Photographic Historical Society  (APHS) submitted an article it had reprinted courtesy of George Helmke (the article first appeared in Sperry Observations in 1997). At the time Mr Helmke was both an APHS member, author of this article, editor of Sperry Observations, and curator of the Fleetwood (NJ) Museum. Reproduction by the APHS was secured by the late George Gilbert, editor of Photographica (APHS journal), author, and lecturer (Mr Gilbert also spoke at a PHSC meeting).

Mr Helmke begins his article (title of this post) with this prècis. “Marcia Bartusiak, in her popular book Through a Universe Darkly, makes the statement, “Photography turned out to be a technological advance as revolutionary to astronomy as the development of the telescope itself.” …A very strong statement, but is it justified?

“If we examine the role of photography in astronomy and consider its benefit to serious observers we may judge Bartusiak’s statement to be not far off target. The principal role of photography in astronomy is easily explained. It provides the astronomer with a means of recording the effects of photons (quanta), the units by which light is measured, accumulating them over an extended period of time on a light sensitive photographic emulsion or on a light sensitive electronic device.” …

Members delighted in reading Mr Helmke’s full article in 25-1 pdf on the free members-only DVD/thumb drive. You can too! Just join up! The fee is very inexpensive and easy to apply – see ‘MEMBERSHIP’ above or ‘Membership’ at right.

Questions can be sent to Lilianne at member@phsc.ca.

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not all cameras are badged for the west …

Posted on August 1, 2025 by Robert

Unusual Contarex camera from Zeiss – photo courtesy of Lars Sundberg  of Finland

Toronto. With issue 25-1, late editor Bob Lansdale celebrated the society’s 25th anniversary with a number of stories that originally appeared in other journals.  One such article by the late Larry Gubas was titled ‘”Anonymous” Zeiss Ikon Cameras’. This article is from the Zeiss Historica journal edited by Mr Gubas for the Zeiss Historical Society.

Larry begins, “Check our main illustration for this article [Contarex at left] and compare the details to an official photograph of the same camera. It looks rather normal for a Contarex first model, doesn’t it? Well, look again. There are some legitimate differences from a regular Contarex which must be inspected by someone as interested as a Zeiss collector.

“The picture and the information comes from one of our distant Zeiss Historica Society members, Lars Sundberg of Kiperhaantie, Finland. On this camera, the Zeiss Ikon logo usually appears in two places. On the front of the bezel, as  you look at the camera under the rewind knob on the right, the engraved lens cell trademark is typically under the rewind knob.

“It also should appear on the rear center on the leather directly under the eyepiece it appears with the words “Made in Germany.” Well on this camera, it does not appear at all.” …

Learn why this is a legitimate Contarex in spite of the strange badging by reading all of Mr Gubas’s article in the issue 25-1 pdf file on the free members-only DVD/thumb drive. See above (MEMBERSHIP) or at right  (Membership) to join. Email any membership questions to Lilianne at member@phsc.ca.  And be sure to visit our 2025 events. Next in line is our famous fall fair on October 19th at Trident Hall. While we can’t say you will find that special Contarex offered, you will see items to clearly compliment your collection. A post will go up with details closer to the event.

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there are boxes …

Posted on July 31, 2025 by Robert

Stereoscopic (?) Carlton TLR from an email. Courtesy of the auction house.

Toronto.  … and there are boxes.  Cameras – film and digital – follow a few specific designs. Perhaps the simplest and often cheapest is the box camera. The box dimensions (plus  the lens) determine the format of the image while the box dimensions hold the sensitive material at one end and the lens(es), aperture, and shutter at the other. The lens is usually a simple affair with a modest full aperture allowing subjects from about 10 feet to infinity to be in focus in the early afternoon sun.

Unusual designs include special viewing screens like TLR, plate changing mechanisms, stereo capability, aperture adjustment, shutter adjustment, etc.

A friend and fellow PHSC member wrote in a recent email, “An unusual piece. Just sold at a Canadian auction house for $520 + 15% commission plus tax = approx $650 – ON-line with no inspection! There’s just a few references on line – uses 12 plates.

“RARE – 1894-1900 London Stereoscopic Box Camera
Stereoscopic Carlton 4 x 5 Box Camera  TLR Camera – Recessed Lenses”. [NB please ignore the silly ads on the link! No mention of cameras but camera displayed on the auction site has the same Cheapside address.]

I was unable to verify this TLR box camera was made as a stereo camera. According to McKeown’s 11th edition, the London Stereoscopic & Photographic Co. rebadged imported and locally made cameras at a time when stereo was popular.  While the camera has two lenses, one is likely also used for viewing (TLR bit) and the other for taking the image. Possibly the Carlton used both lenses for stereo, but I can find no confirmation. The lens use is a guess on my part.

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summertime ….

Posted on July 30, 2025 by Robert

outdoor cat nap – summer 2008

Toronto. … and the living is easy. As shown at left, our cat enjoys a pleasant snooze in the great outdoors.

Image collectors often ‘categorize’ their collection. While the cat photo at left is a recent one, it represents the kind of photograph collectors group under categories like  “pet photos”.

While the owner(s) are not shown at left, as any pet lover knows there is a strong bond between them and a pet. An old shot I have in my own collection is a B&W lantern slide of a pooch on its owner’s side table. Non pet lovers would be appalled to see a dog standing on a well made, varnished table.

There are many sources these days for old photos. Be sure to visit our 2025 events (see at right under PHSC EVENTS). Our next event will be the Fall Fair on Sunday, October 19th at Trident Hall on Evans in the west end of Toronto. Details will appear in a post closer to the show date.

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Middlemiss & Hunter

Posted on July 29, 2025 by Robert

Upper Canada College  before 1878 as photographed by Thos Hunter.

Toronto. The other day the great grandson of Toronto photographer Thomas Hunter sent me some photos taken by his great grandfather and exhibited in the 1878 Paris France World’s Fair exhibit in the Canada Pavillon. The link suggests Canada – established as a Dominion 21 years earlier – was not especially noticeable on the world stage beyond being a colony of England.

At left is one photograph taken by Thos Hunter and displayed in Paris – Upper Canada College (UCC). The college still exists today at its Deer Park location in Toronto and at Norval, Ontario.

The selection of photos sent to the PHSC was also sent to a Heritage Toronto contact. Images collectors can check for any Middlemiss & Hunter (late Ewing & Co.) images. A visit to Heritage Toronto may also be in order.

Visit our 2025 events to find added images fore your collection. Our next event is the famous Fall Fair which is set for October 19th this year at the usual Trident Hall location.

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another kind of brownie …

Posted on July 28, 2025 by Robert

Kodak Brownie cameras photo courtesy of RETROFOCUS

Toronto. …. not the tasty chocolate treat mother used to make. These are cartoon characters created over a century ago and a popular brand of less expensive Kodak cameras as illustrated in this post.

In issue 25-1, a reprint from RETROFOCUS, up Edmonton way, states, “Created by Canadian-born Palmer Cox, the ‘Brownies’ were creatures based on Scottish folklore characters who, in contrast to fairies, were the swarthy folk who came out at night and did chores left unfinished during the day.

“The Brownies were high-spirited folk and mixed their good deeds with a lot of rascally fun. When the American Frank Brownell invented the ‘Brownie’ camera it was decided that Cox’s fairy tale ‘Brownies’ were ideally suited to promote the one-dollar camera in 1900.

“Here are their stories. Palmer Cox’s family had immigrated to the Granby region of Quebec from the Scottish Grampian mountains bringing with them the legends of the ‘night sprites’. These legends became young Cox’s inspiration which he later adapted to the 19th-century world in the illustrated poem ‘The Brownies Ride’ for the St. Nicholas Magazine, February 1883.

“Cox studied at the Granby Academy of Arts, and also later in San Francisco and New York. An adventurous fellow, he apparently tried his luck at gold hunting in California during the mid-1860s. There he also published his first book, California Scenes.

“In 1875 he moved to New York where he worked for Wild Oats, a humourous weekly paper, and became a U.S. citizen. Cox drew the Brownies as bulbous creatures with large eyes, spindly arms and legs – with one exception: the top-hat-and-tails character who throughout Cox’s stories has always had less exaggerated features. Each character had a different name, including: the Chinaman, the Indian, the Policeman, the Canadian, the Dude, the Arab, the Irishman, and even Teddy Roosevelt Brownie. Their success also spawned a theatre play!”

This is followed by a lengthy article written by Philippe Maurice and ©1996. The article is titled, “Palmer Cox –’Brownies’ and Frank Brownell’s Brownie Cameras”. “This article first appeared in the Winter 1996 issue of Time Exposure, the newsletter of the Calgary Photographic Historical Society.”

To see the photographs and read Mr Maurice’s article, members opened the pdf file for issue 25-1 on the free members-only DVD/stick. See above (MEMBERSHIP) or at right (Membership) to join. Email any questions to Lilianne at member@phsc.ca.

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thoughts on cameras

Posted on July 27, 2025 by Robert

before landing, Taken by Kalum Carter with his OPPO smartphone

Toronto. An article in Digital Camera World out of England called, “I left my compact camera in the hotel and shot Sweden with my phone” resonated for me. The photographer had traditional digital cameras along, but settled for his two ‘smart’ phones with  their tiny Hasselblad designed cameras (the artistic “H” below the photo). Sadly, the OPPO model Carter uses is NOT offered outside China in spite of its excellent Hasselblad designed camera.

Our youngest and her family holidayed in Stockholm a few weeks ago. Both her and her husband captured many exciting digital images – all on their phone. No film or digital camera in sight!

We received a couple of emails  from them, each with a digital image attached – correctly exposed, balanced and sharp. One image was taken indoors at a museum; the second outdoors at an ancient church door in sunlight.

Arriving home, my daughter and her children dropped by with her phone. We saw all the images my daughter had captured on their holiday, often zooming in on details too tiny to see clearly at the original image size.

I couldn’t help but imagine the difference between the speed of availability, technical perfection, and ease of presentation with my own vacation photos of old (limited to the shots that ‘came’ out) which took time to process (days to weeks) by me or processed by others, sorted, stored, and located when needed. At the time prints arrived, some were delivered to those nearby; some mailed (an added week or two) to others.

The modern trend seems to be not only digital, but smartphone technology, with features too easy and too impressive to use, instead of a standalone instrument (film or digital). So camera collectors one and all, be aware of our beloved instruments of times past. They are destined to go the way of so many once popular products. CB (GRS) radios, anyone? Vacuum tubes? Film? Flashbulbs? Albums? This list can go on and on …

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