a different Montreal studio

corner of Craig & Bleury, Montreal during the 1886 flood

Toronto. We have all heard about the famous Notman studio on Bleury in Montreal. Here is another studio on the corner of Bleury and Craig.

This is the Summerhayes & Walford studio on second and third floors of the building.

Editor Lansdale had a fondness for Canadian photographic history and as such he diligently researched any and all leads. He was well aware that Canadian enterprise in this as in many other businesses was over shadowed by the mighty UK, European and especially American operations.

He wrote his findings on this studio in issue 27-1 under the title “A Letter from Montreal …”. The article is highlighted by this précis: “Several years ago I was attracted to a photograph in the pages of The Beaver. It showed the 1886 flooding of Montreal with floating wooden sidewalks at Craig and Bleury streets. At this corner Summerhayes & Walford had their photographic studio for many years in the late nineteenth century.

“Dr. Wallace F. Walford of Perth, Ontario sent in the photo and is a grandson of Alfred Gradham Walford who operated the studio with his brother-in-law Robert Summerhayes. They eventually sold out to Notman and Sons. Dr. Walford noted that the bowler-hatted man in the foreground was ‘Dad’s brother – Fred Walford.’

“My appeal to The Beaver for more information produced a reply from Dr. Walford with an accompanying hand written letter on lined yellow foolscap, dated: March 13th 1950. It was a letter from Alfred G.S. Walford to his son Ernest Walford (Maj. Gen. A.E. Walford MM. ED., C.B.E.). I found the correspondence fascinating on aspects of Canadian photographic history. – editor R.L.”

Read all of this tale and see the photos in the issue 27-1 pdf on the free members-only DVD/thumb drive. See the top and right under ‘Membership’ to join. Address any questions to member@phsc.ca.

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fairs past, fairs present

Univex Mercury 35mm camera from the Spring Fair in 2001

Toronto. Our spring fair a quarter century ago, was held just north of the city in the Soccer Centre. Mark Singer added a free bus service from the TTC subway for the convenience of  some attendees.

The centre also offered lots of free parking. The fair was well attended. We were searching for a better venue and moved up to Markham as one of our members was prominent in the Soccer Centre at that time.

In issue 27-1. there are two pages of items and scenes at the fair as photographed and written  by editor Lansdale. One of his many choices shown above left was an American Univex Mercury camera with its unusual shape.

Our current Spring Fair (2026) is set for May 24th down at Trident Hall (Islington and Evans) in southwest Toronto. The Hall has easier access via TTC and free parking in the area. As we approach the date, a poster and details will be pinned to this web site.

 

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remembering Boris ..

Boris Spremo c2001 by Robert Lansdale

Toronto. A PHSC speaker and member, Boris first spoke at our March 2001 meeting. I did a memorial post when Boris died in August, 2017 at 81 years of age. At the time he was writing a book of his adventures and photos, since completed by his children.

A lengthy article was written by editor Lansdale in issue 27-1. It begins, “Boris Spremo was an energetic news photographer. It all started in his homeland of Yugoslavia where Boris was fascinated by his cousin’s cameras. He pestered his father so much that a Zeiss folder was finally acquired in a local flea market.

“That was for his thirteenth birthday and it led him to cover high school sports and social events before taking formal training at the Belgrade Cinematographic Institute.

“Mr. Spremo immigrated to Canada in 1957, accepting his first job as a dishwasher in the basement of Toronto’s Royal York Hotel. Delivery boy, tobacco picker, a miner at Elliot Lake, all were interim jobs while he learned the English language.

“He finally landed a job as a darkroom technician. Three months on a tobacco farm netted him $310.00 with which he purchased a 4×5 Busch Pressman and electronic flash. That enabled him to do week-end weddings for a studio, being paid $15.00 each – sometimes three in a day.

“Luck was with Boris when he covered a soccer game that turned into a riot. With only five sheets of film he got two good game-action photos and three riot shots. These served to introduce him to the Globe and Mail and within six months he was hired as a staff photographer.” …

Members read all of the lengthy illustrated article in the issue 27-1 pdf file on the free members-only DVD/thumb drive. Send any questions to member@phsc.ca. Not a member? Joining is a snap! See ‘Membership’ above or at right.

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seen any ‘lizards’ recently?

a rare Lizar camera c1902 – Challenge Dayspool No. 1

Toronto. Most of our event offerings are either German or North American. Occasionally we see English products. Rarely do we see Scottish cameras.

The remarkable camera in Bill Belier’s issue 27-1 column is a rare Lizars (not lizard) from Scotland. The camera is made  by J. Lizars in Glasgow, Scotland.

Bill begins his article, “One of the most collectable of the early folding roll film bellows cameras would have to be the Challenge Dayspool No. 1 (circa 1902) manufactured by J. Lizars of Glasgow, Scotland.

“This exquisite instrument is a joy to behold for it reflects the fine craftsmanship and attention to detail so much admired and associated with the British cabinet makers’ guild of that era.

“As I prepare this article, I have before me just such a camera… a treasure from the collection of a PHSC charter member and our founding President, John Linsky.

“A Lizars camera had been on his “want list” for some time and I remember being just as delighted as he was when he called some time ago to announce… ‘Hey, guess what?… I just got a Lizars through a friend of mine right here in Toronto!’” …

Members read all of Bill’s column in the issue 27-1 pdf file on the free members-only DVD/memory stick. See ‘Membership’ above and at right to join. Email questions to member@phsc.ca.

There may be a rare camera like this one in one of our 2026 events. The Spring Fair will take place May 24, 2026 at the Trident Hall in the southwest end of Toronto. A poster and details will be pinned here closer to the event.

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everything old is new again

digital portrait of a new baby adjacent to a century plus old head rest

Toronto. There is a saying that there is nothing new under the sun.

As a kid, I made a radio with a tiny bit of ‘fools gold’ (iron pyrite) and a thin copper wire ‘cat’s whisker’. This rustic semi-conductor radio wave detector was superseded by vacuum tubes which years late were succeeded by transistors (semi-conductors), in turn replaced by integrated circuits with tens of transistors and eventually millions of them (semi-conductors one and all)!

In 1839, Louise Daguerre announced his Daguerreotype process. It too was superseded by faster, wider spectrum solutions applied to paper, plates of glass, then to film, to be superseded by digital technology. This prompted some enthusiasts like Dr Mike Robinson (past president of the PHSC) to revert to the old processes with a modern twist.

Dr Robinson took the phot0 above with a digital camera, and later used a Daguerreotype camera and processed the image accordingly. What goes around, comes around.

The digital shot was used for the cover of the PHSC Journal issue 27-1.  Describing the photograph, editor Bob Lansdale writes, “[Then] PHSC Vice President, Mike Robinson, was quick to announce the arrival of his daughter Grania Grace Christie Robinson on the 26th of March, 2001 with a photographic announcement card.

“In the pattern of his Century Darkroom where he teaches daguerreotype and ambrotype processes, he created this setting with a 19th century headrest supporting a modern mobile seat.

“The thought-provoking digital image has since been circling the globe via internet. The young lady also held still for 14 seconds while Mike exposed a daguerreotype portrait.”

While you might not find such a charming baby photo at our events, you are sure to fine an item that is irresistible to you. Our spring fair is set for May 24th. Details will be pinned to this site as we near the fair date.

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that time again

Photoed Time issue
cover mock up

Toronto. Our favourite editor, Rita Godlevskis, sent off an email announcing the latest edition of Photoed magazine.

Rita titles this issue theme as, “Daylight savings/ Contemplating TIME” and comments, “The shift in clocks has us thinking about how artists have shared their work interpreting the idea of TIME”.

Collectors of old photos can search for photos  of the interpretation of time in years past at our events.

For example, collectors may find such photos at our coming May 24 Spring Fair along with lots of other nifty items to tweak the interest of both photo and camera collectors. I will add a poster and details to this site closer to the fair date.

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PHSC News 26-1 (Mar – plus Jan/Feb) now available

PHSC News 26-1 cover

Toronto. Springish weather …  and another issue to delight the eye – all 18 pages. Editor Gunn out did himself again, this time covering a slow news period of January and February 2026 in this March 2026 edition.

Issue 26-1 covers Awards (TMU Books), Events (Book launch – Hannah Maynard, Magic Lantern Society convention, Spring fair, tentative spring spring Auction. Columns like ‘From our web blog’, Photography, etc. Upcoming events,

Click on the cover icon at left to see a copy (this is our first 2026 issue).

This Issue has the great eye-grabbing layout and quality as expected from Patrick.  Just a reminder, we are an all volunteer operation, relying on its volunteers, and their talents!

Click here for a copy of 26-1 or visit NEWSLETTER above for this and all other issues. If  you prefer a release notice sent directly to your in-box, email news@phsc.ca and your email address will be added to our MailChimp list.

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ever see a German hummingbird …

a Zeiss Ikon Kolibri   (1930-c1935)

Toronto. Our nearby photo society in Michigan, MiPHS,  announce the recent release of the 54-1 (spring 2026) issue of Photogram. This edition includes an article dubbed “The Poor Man’s Leica” – the Kolibri (German for Hummingbird).

The Kolibri is a Zeiss Ikon camera from the early 1930s and one of a number of ‘minicams’ of the era as the Leitz concept of “small negative/big print” gained enthusiastic  members in the face of the growing great depression of the 1930s.

MiPHS members can read Chuck Fehl’s article about this novel camera in the current 32 page issue of Photogram. To join MiPHS, see the instructions on the MiPHS web site (linked above).

Also, you may find  a Kolibri or two at our PHSC Spring Fair in south-west Toronto this coming May 24, 2026. Or if not, other items fitting a camera or old photograph collection. I will pin a poster and details to this site as we get closer to the fair date.

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simpler times

a cheap reloadable camera from Lomography that replicates the feel of the disposables of film days

Toronto. Do you remember when we used film? At one time, it was popular at get-togethers to place a ‘disposable’ camera on each table for people to record the table ‘sitters’ etc, and leave the used cameras with the host.

Some collectors include these disposable cameras in their collection.

Harking back to that simpler time, film niche enthusiasts can now get a ‘reloadable‘, ‘disposable’  camera from Lomography to recreate the colours the disposable camera prints were noted for.

And if you are here in the big smoke, Check out Downtown Camera first!

PS. Our spring fair will be on May 24th this year. A poster will be pinned here as the date approaches.

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do you TLR?

c1937 Rolleiflex 621 at PHSNE fair in April

Toronto. Snap Shots 31-7 was recently issued by the PHSNE. The newsletter announced their camera show ‘Photographica 93″ on Saturday, April 25th, 2026. An item featured in the show will be this Rolleiflex Standard 621 with a 75mm f/3.5 Zeiss Tessar lens.

The camera, based on the Tessar, would have been made around  1934 to 1937. It will be on the PHSNE table (until it is sold).

Join the PHSNE to get a copy of their newsletter and visit Photographica 93 this April 25th down in Newton, MA. to add to your camera collection/user gear.

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