all that glitters

Posted on October 28, 2018 by Robert

Kodak Ad – May 4, 1953 issue of LIFE magazine

Toronto. Kodak was fond of using medals for various reasons, so we saw nothing unusual when a LIFE ad the spring of 1953  (pp68-69) used such a medallion to announce the 65th anniversary show of Kodak snapshot cameras (the first camera named Kodak was sold in 1888). Our editor dropped a note over to a member in Rochester who was both a Kodak retiree and a numismatic collector.

He offered, “No, I have never seen such a medal, and would certainly like to have one. I’m wondering IF they actually exist, or might just be an advertising graphic, produced for the magazine illustration?

“I have seen other advertising items that looked so genuine but were never actually produced in the real world.”

Thanks to George Dunbar for sourcing this ad; Bob Lansdale for contacting our member across the lake; and Nick Graver who offered his opinion on the validity of this particular medallion.

And as to the cameras, I have seen them all when new. The Brownie Hawkeye flash kit was a gift I used in high school so many years ago. The ad covers all three key items in the 1950s: black and white film, colour film, and flash. Before the second world war, both colour film and flash were very, very rare in amateur circles.

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18th WestLicht Photo Auction

Posted on October 27, 2018 by Robert

the decisive moment
Cartier-Bresson 1932
print from 1990s

Toronto. Stefan Musil of WestLicht in Vienna sent me an email announcing the 18th Photo Auction. We all (well, me anyway) remember Cartier-Bresson and his “Decisive Moment” shot in 1932  behind the Saint-Lazare train station with a Leica.

Now amongst the lots to go under the hammer on Friday evening, November 23rd, 2018 is a beautiful silver-gelatin print made in the 1990s and signed by Bresson himself. Estimated value is about 10,000 Euros! Take a peek at the auction catalogue here. And read the press kit here.

Even better, drop by the auction house in Vienna and see what suits your personal collection.

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the Rexo – an old option to Kodak

Posted on October 26, 2018 by Robert

B&J Rex0 camera of 1919
Click to see period ad

Toronto. Before Kodak became the “Great Yellow Father“, it had serious competitors in the camera department. One such option was the Burke & James Rexo camera. Eastman was aggressive in eradicating competition, but B&J managed to stay afloat.

I came across B&J much later (1970s or 1980s) and once had a primitive 4×5 enlarger they made. Once I managed to tracked it down in this house, I sold it to another PHSC executive member decades ago.

The Rexo folder followed the traditional camera design of the time, competing with similar cameras made by Kodak and others who went after the amateur market.

For more details on this old gem, have a look at the article on the “Made in Chicago Museum” website. And thanks to PHSC member and friend George Dunbar. It was George who emailed me about finding the interesting Made in Chicago Museum web site, a source of many very interesting articles about products once made in the windy city.

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roadwork cancels Montreal Show (was Nov 4th)

Posted on October 25, 2018 by Robert

Show Cancelled

Toronto. Less than an hour ago I received an email from my friend Sol Hadef in Montreal.

He received word on short notice that roadwork on highway 40 starts the weekend of his show.

As a result he felt obliged to cancel the event.

If you have equipment to sell or need for various items, please contact Sol Directly at the contact information on his poster or web site.

Montreal Fall Show Cancelled

 

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try the old film look using Instax and Lomo’Instant

Posted on October 25, 2018 by Robert

Lomo’Instant Automat Glass – Elbrus model

Toronto. The gang at Lomography are busy serving the niche photographer who likes the Fuji Instax instant colour photos using traditional film technology (their other cameras use negative film).

Birgit Buchart, in the big apple, sent me an email recently via the PHSC. She is promoting the latest in the line of Lomography cameras, the “Lomo’Instant Automat Glass, Elbrus Edition” shown at left. There is a press release here for more details.  And with the holiday season rapidly approaching,  the young company has a number of  holiday offerings here as well.

You can see sample photos here on Google Drive or even visit their online store in Europe (you will need your German dictionary handy)!

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Photo Review Benefit Auction in Philly

Posted on October 24, 2018 by Robert

Julia Margaret Cameron Portrait c1864

Toronto. Fancy a quick trip to the city of brotherly love this month? Stephen Perloff sent me an email this past Monday to announce the latest Benefit Auction this Saturday in Philadelphia. Benefits go to the Daguerreian Society.

Stephen writes, “I wanted to alert you that The Photo Review Benefit Auction is this Saturday evening in Philadelphia. We have a wide range of wonderful 19th-century images from George N. Barnard and Julia Margaret Cameron to Édouard Baldus and Achille Quinet, as well as great 20th-century and contemporary prints from Ansel Adams and Duane Michals to Michael Kenna and Maggie Taylor.

“You can view the catalogue and bid online at http://www.photoreview.org/auction.
“Bids can be made live during the auction at Invaluable (https://www.invaluable.com/catalog/2mjqr2exsq) and Live Auctioneers (https://www.liveauctioneers.com/auctioneer/844/the-photo-review/)
“Stephen Perloff
Editor
The Photo Review and The Daguerreian Society Quarterly and Annual
340 East Maple Avenue, Suite 200
Langhorne, PA 19047
USA
215-891-0214
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Ansco camera ad in 1953

Posted on October 23, 2018 by Robert

Ansco Cameras in a 1953 ad

Toronto. Ah! Ansco. This ad appeared in 1953, about 25 years before Ansco became GAF (it was a subsidiary of GAF since 1939).  Never strong up here, one bought Ansco to avoid the leader of good inexpensive cameras – Kodak.

Have a look at the ad and reminisce on the good old days when one bought Ansco to defy “Big Yellow”. Personally, I used Anscochrome colour slide film. At 32 ASA, it was faster than the Kodachrome (I used it too) of the day. And more importantly, it was sold in bulk and you could develop it yourself! The film and process were patterned on the Agfa process which also used large molecule colour couplers.

My thanks once again to friend and PHSC member George Dunbar for taking the time to ferret out this bit of memorabilia from over six decades ago when film was king with no alternatives in sight!

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Eaton Drug Co photographic catalogue II

Posted on October 22, 2018 by Robert

Eaton Drug Co. Cameras 1909/10

Toronto. Around this date last year I did a post on John Morden’s pdf version of the Eaton Photographic catalogue provided by Bob Wilson for one of our anniversaries.

The other day my good friend George Dunbar emailed me about finding a spread of photographic gear from Eaton Drug Co, in the Toronto Public Library system (TPL). If you collect, do a browse of your local library, archive, school, etc. you may just find a long forgotten gem!

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PHSC Fall Estate Auction this Sunday Dec 2, 2018

Posted on October 21, 2018 by Robert

Dec 2 PHSC Estate Auction

Toronto. Our next auction will be held this coming December 2, 2018. As it will be an estate auction, no lots will be accepted at the door this time (Sorry). Just click the bookmark at left to get details on time, location, etc. Remember there is free admission and free parking.

We will have many high end items to auction including the sampling of Hasselblad, Nikon, Sinar, electronic flash guns, etc. shown below.  First click on the Sample lots image below, then click on the Leica IIf icon to see more. Then click any image to see an enlarged view and get the arrows to see an enlarged view of the other lots.

We added our second batch of lots November 22 from another estate. Take a look. Leica, Canon, Zeiss, Nikon, digital, film, movie, and more! Some items are boxed and unused.

And on November 30th we added some more sample photos at the end of the slides – including digital cameras (many boxed), movie cameras, and Kodak folders. See you this Sunday!

N.B. All photographs taken in situ by our president and auctioneer, Lewko (Clint) Hryhorijiw.

Sample lots – click for more

 

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a new Canadian Photographic magazine

Posted on October 20, 2018 by Robert

New Canadian Magazine

Toronto. Last Sunday, at PHSC’s Fall Fair, PHSC Membership Secretary, Wayne Gilbert was handing out a new free Canadian magazine issued by  Henry’s. The magazine was just the second issue, A letter size 52 page glossy, it promoted both Henry’s and the products it sells in it store chain.

Catering to modern day professionals and talented amateurs, most articles are a page or so in length, with lots of interesting and informative adverts. Lots of photos to attract the eye accustomed to screen time rather than text.

Like the heavier and more mature Photo News, this magazine appears to use advertising to cover costs and avoids direct technical comparison of competing products. I enjoyed this issue. If you missed getting a copy, drop into your local Henry’s or go online and have a look for yourself!

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