Paquin Enlarger made in Canada (Toronto)
Toronto. Editor Ev Roseborough seems to have known and met dozens of eccentric folk in the photography business. Makers of darkroom equipment like enlargers were no different.
Ev has an article in issue 19-4 of our journal titled, “J.M. Paquin, Canadian Manufacturer of the ’30s” (please note that the article ends on the following page, not on page 16 as printed).
Years ago, I wondered why we saw so few Canadian products (like Paquin Enlargers). Other than Canadian Kodak or Leitz products up in Midland, which as far as I could tell (other than lenses designed by Walter Mandler), were manufactured or assembled here from designs created elsewhere.
For example, I saw only a couple of Paquin “Made in Canada” enlargers. One was in John Linsky’s collection (John had explained the Paquin to me). Another showed up with a widow who wished to dispose of her late husband’s darkroom gear. After reading Ev’s article I realized why I saw so few ‘Paquin’ products at our events.
Ev begins, “One of the most abrasive characters I have ever met was J.M. Paquin. His dusty showroom was separated from the rear factory by a tongue-and-groove partition, decorated with signs such as NO CREDIT. Several glass showcases occupied this showroom, their emptiness concealed somewhat by a veil of dust mixed with the vapours from his japanning oven.
“In the show window, at 787 Queen St., W. in Toronto, there would be an enlarger or two surrounded by dehydrating entomological specimens, feet up.
“The proprietor was a short bandy-legged gentleman who always wore a battered fedora, (Brodie Whitelaw commented, “even in bed”) and a vest with a gold watch chain. Gold also formed a large portion of the most elaborate dental work I have ever seen, revealed only during a fleeting smile.
“J.M. made little effort to sell his products, you either wanted them or you didn’t. Although a flyer, loaned by Bill Belier, states, “see it at your dealers,” I don’t believe there were any dealers. He was short to the point of rudeness with prospective customers who were just looking. …”
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