keeping you posted …

Posted on January 30, 2025 by Robert

43rd Toronto Postcard Show

Toronto. An oft over-looked source of photos is postcards. From time to time I visited a postcard show but skipped the photos and photo postcards. Instead I found some that showed the town I grew up in back years before I was even born. It was fascinating to me that serious collectors spent a long time pouring over postcard to find the one(s) that fit the holes in their collection.

One of the biggest shows in Canada is here in Toronto. On February 23, 2025, the Toronto Postcard Club will be holding their 43rd annual event at the JCCC. Check out the poster for details (click the icon at left). By the way, there is an interesting history on the TPC website (use the link above, or key in the address).

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read all about it! newsletter 25-1 is ready

Posted on January 29, 2025 by Robert

PHSC Newsletter 25-1

Toronto. Editor Patrick Gunn has released his PHSC newsletter 25-1. Click the icon at left for a copy if you aren’t on our MailChimp list (if you are, you will get a notification via MailChimp and can download a copy from there).

Not listed yet? send me an email at news@phsc.ca with the subject ‘news’ and I will add you to the free list! Now how easy is that?

Editor Gunn will release issue 25-2 in early February, 2025. Note the revised numbering sequence in line with our calendar year – membership year. Go to  the menu bar item above titled ‘NEWSLETTER’ to see all newsletters.

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an illuminating read

Posted on January 28, 2025 by Robert

A 5 volume reproduced set by Lumiere Press

Toronto. In 1995 we heard a talk by Michael Torosian about his Lumiere Press enterprise which prints fine quality reproductions of old and rare books including volumes about photography from its early days.

In issue 21-1 an anonymous article (likely by Ev) told the story of Lumiere Press and Torosian for all members beginning, “The story of Lumiere Press is really the story of Michael Torosian, a remarkably gifted individual who has mastered the graphic arts and merged them to create his own expressions of beauty and philosophy.

“Example of the recreations are housed in public collections at universities and museums across Canada, the United States, Europe and as far away as New Zealand, a complete list of which occupies several pages, in addition to the private libraries of bibliophiles.

“In October of 1980 a proof press, a small collection of foundry type and the tools of the letterpress trade were acquired. By 1986 an Intertype typecasting machine was added to the growing shop, enabling Torosian to publish the first volume of the Homage series, Dedicated to Simplicity,  a reminiscence of Edward Weston written by his son Cole.”

Like all members, you can read the rest of this fine article in the 21-1 pdf file on the free members-only DVD. Don’t have it? Not a member? Well, joining is easy! Check out the MEMBERSHIP sub-menu above (especially the Membership Form) and the PayPal article at right. Send your cheque and form or just the form after using your credit card/PayPal account. Questions? Email Lilianne at member@phsc.ca. Membership is both rewarding and inexpensive.

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a tip of the capa

Posted on January 27, 2025 by Robert

Steer Wrestling Close Up by David Laronde, North Vancouver, BC

Toronto. One of our exchange groups, C.A.P.A.,  Focuses on the more modern and artistic aspect of our favourite endeavour. You can read of their latest successes here.

Click on the January 2025 newsletter on the above link. All past newsletter are also available to you.

The group often runs a photo contest (i.e. future historic images). At left is one of the winners – a heart stopping photo of steer wrestling by David Laronde out in BC. Click on the newsletter contest link to see all the winning B&W photos.

Look closely at these winners in the late last year contest. Some old photos may replicate the concepts. Of course, you can do worse than add ‘future historical photos’ to your own collection. Visit our events this year – list of current firm dates in the right hand side bar – each event will be a post closer to the date.

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a Danish treat

Posted on January 26, 2025 by Robert

Andersen’s model 311 camera

Toronto. When Ev was our editor, one of our exchange journals was the Danish publication “Objektiv”. Ev prided himself in the ability to read other languages, including Danish in this case.

In his Editor’s Notebook for issue 20-5,  Ev recounted the story of Jens Poul Andersen of Nellerød in Denmark. Anderson was a camera maker and inventor. While Andersen made many traditional still and movie cameras, he created a special model 311 around 1923 which used unperforated movie film.

 Ev recounts the tale as follows, “The Danish camera maker and inventor of Nellerød who designed and built many studio, view, motion picture and stereo cameras made a 24 x 60 mm camera for unperforated cine-film about 1923 (N0. 311 ) and a year later model No. 313 in mahogany, for perforated film, measuring 9 x 5 x 23 em with [an f/]6.3 Zeiss Tessar lens in Compur shutter, for Holger Rosenberg.

“Both are in Danmarks Tekniske Museum.”

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Galardo & Miron of Sudbury

Posted on January 25, 2025 by Robert

Emilio Galardo taken by daylight with blinds and screens

Toronto. The Photographic business of Galardo & Miron thrives today.  The business was founded by Emilio Galardo early last Century. In 1994, His granddaughter  Gloria (Galardo) Miron  and her husband Conrad put up an elaborate display and spoke with enthusiasm at one of our Toronto meetings. The business was well known to future journal editor Bob Lansdale who wrote a fully illustrated article for issue 20-5 of our journal.

Bob begins, “Continuously operated by the same family for more than 90 years [as of 1995], this studio has been a real part of the community since Emilio Galardo first decided to make the mining town of Copper Cliff a place to practice the craft he had learned in his native Italy.

“Born in Migriano (Naples) in 1877,  he trained as photographer before going to Paris to learn retouching. Our immigrant photographer worked in a Montreal studio for two years before heading north in 1902.

“From campsite to campsite he trekked, photographing laborers anxious to send photographs home for “mail order” brides.

“In 1903 he returned to Italy to meet the Rosilla Galardo girl he had seen only in a friend‘s picture. Then, with his new bride Emilio gave up the itinerant life and set up a home and studio “up the hills in little Italy”, a section of Copper Cliff populated by his own people.

“In a photo we see his horse and buggy with the Diroid St. studio in the background. The year was 1 904. Life in the mining town was eventful and on one occasion Emilio settled an argument in the studio by drawing his revolver and uttering the word ‘Out’.

“He became a Canadian citizen in 1912. There were five children, of which Pasquale was the eldest. Emilio was largely self-educated and fluent in English, French and Italian.

“The portrait of Emilio Galardo, made by day light is a fine example of the use of blinds and head screens as well as positioning of figure. …”

Members can read the rest of Bob’s thrilling article in the 20-5 pdf file on our free members-only DVD. What? You aren’t a member? Joining is easy! Just check out the MEMBERSHIP sub-menu above (especially the Membership Form) and the PayPal article at right. Send your dues (one or three years) with the form or send the form after using your credit card/PayPal account. Any questions? Email Lilianne at member@phsc.ca. Membership in our society is  both rewarding and inexpensive.

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transportation photos are everywhere …

Posted on January 24, 2025 by Robert

child on tricycle c1940

Toronto. … you just have to look carefully. The photo at left could just as easily fit the category family history; or  snap-shot; or child; or portrait; etc. etc. 

Collectors of photos often categorize their collection and seek  special photos to augment it.

While I usually think of other modes of transportation, this mode too can be considered transportation. The child shown here is riding a tricycle at home or perhaps visiting blocks away. The lady with him looks very young and is possibly his baby-sitter.

Visit our events this year – you just might find the photo etc. you need to complement your collection!  We have fairs and auctions – see the right side bar for dates and places. As the event nears, I will post it here and stick it to the top of the page until the event is held.

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see Mike for antique photos

Posted on January 23, 2025 by Robert

Mike Lehr Antiques – Jan 25, 2025

Toronto. While you wait for our events, visit ML Antiques and see if they can fill gaps in your photo collection. While these photos are American, they may still plug a hole in the collection. Take a look – it’s free!

Photo collectors have a wealth of history in their hands. Collections can be eclectic or specialized. Join the auction on the 25th or offer any excess American items as consignment. In any case, Mike is always worth a peek.

Closer to home, check the right side bar for the PHSC 2025 events. As the date nears, I will feature the event in a post pinned to the top of this site.

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a sad and tragic ending

Posted on January 22, 2025 by Robert

a sad ending for a collection (c1995)

Toronto. Every so often editor Ev Roseborough would reprint an article from others he felt would be of interest to PHSC members. In 20-5, he reprinted an article found in the PHSNE Journal. The article, by Jack Naylor, is titled, “End of the Mamas Collection”.

While Harry Mamas in Jack’s story collected movie gear, Jack’s cautionary tale applies to all collectors. It is indeed a sad story that he tells.

Part way through the article Jack writes, “Harry knew that he was not going to last very long. He died in 1992. So did his wife. He wanted to see his collection go to one place (all collectors have the same wish). His asking price, working through an agent who was less than helpful, was $50,000 for everything.

“From what I could see, there were enough fine items there to make the collection worth the price. There was no cherry picking. Harry would have accepted a lesser amount, but there were no buyers – perhaps because it was such a mess.”

To read all of Jack’s story, pull out the members-only free DVD and see the pdf file for issue 20-5. No DVD? Not a member? Easy to fix! See  the MEMBERSHIP sub-menu above (especially the Membership Form) and the article at right (PayPal).

Send your payment with the form or send the form after using your credit card/PayPal account. Questions? Email Lilianne at member@phsc.ca. Membership is rewarding – and inexpensive.

If you have passed your ‘best before’ date, and see this tale applying to you, be sure to contact Clint (our president) through  this website (info@phsc.ca). We are ready and able to help.

Note: The title for this post is from a poem I learnt in grade two and often recited (slightly amended over time) to my children many, many years ago to their delight.

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face pullers

Posted on January 21, 2025 by Robert

cover of 1994 book”The Face Pullers”.

Toronto. Even before the 1870s, our Native Canadians were often chosen as subjects by photographers. The Native Canadians described these photographers as ‘Face Pullers’. Brock Silversides captured a segment of these photos in his 1994 book titled, “The Face Pullers: Photographing Native Canadians 1871-1939″.

Bob Wilson did a review of the book in issue 20-3. His review begins, “Natives have always been popular subjects, both for photographers taking pictures and for people buying them. This was true in the 1840s and 1850s when photography was just beginning. And it is true today, with such photographs eagerly sought by collectors.

“Brock Silversides presents a fine selection of photographs of Native Canadians. These were made in areas in Canada which now comprise the central and southern portions of the provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta. 1871 was the starting date, when the first photographs of the Native People in this area were taken by Charles Horetzky.

“Silversides begins with a brief summary of the people who made these photographs. They fall into several groups: the survey photographers (including Horetzky), the itinerants who travelled through the area, the resident professional photographers, and the amateur photographers. 

“Silversides then deals with the ‘generally accepted truism’ that natives did not like to have their photograph taken, and has included some interesting quotations from accounts of the photographers about difficulties that they encountered.”

Members can read the rest of Bob’s book review in the 20-3 pdf file on the free members-only DVD. Don’t have the DVD? Why not become a member – joining is easy! Check out the MEMBERSHIP sub-menu above (especially the Membership Form) and the PayPal article at right. Send payment with the form or send the form after using your credit card/PayPal account. Any questions? Email Lilianne at member@phsc.ca. Membership in our society is rewarding – and also inexpensive.

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