we’re going to the fair!

Posted on September 28, 2024 by Robert

print of two young kids standing by a c1924 automobile

Toronto. Wow! This is so exciting! The fall fair is less than a month away! The doors open at noon, October 20th, 2024 (sorry, but the 2024 fall fair is open only on Sunday, the 2oth).

Expect to see some photos like the one at left of the old car and two kids. Besides photos, our fairs offer cameras (mostly old, but usually some digitals, lenses, accessories, books, ephemera, darkroom stuff, studio stuff, etc etc. – there will be something for every photo collector whether the collection is prints or cameras. There are usually things for collectors, users, and even  photo historians!

Often you will find user gear for both film folk and the digital mavens. Join the excitement. In fact, if you have something to say or write of interest to photo historians, we have lots of venues – just ask for Clint (fair@phsc.ca).

Click here for time and location. The fall fair in Toronto is at Evans and Islington, on the eastern edge of Mississauga – easy to reach. There is public transit nearby as well as free parking for all you drivers. There is good food; the fair is indoors; and the cost is inexpensive!

See old friends; see tons of bargains! And remember , you always have a good time the PHSC fall fair.

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I see a great fair coming fast …

Posted on September 27, 2024 by Robert

Portrait of child by Green & Co, Berlin, ONT. (now Kitchener)

Toronto. It’s less than a month away! Our fall fair opens its doors for one day only on October 20th, 2024.

Lots of photos like the one at left (from the days when we called Kitchener “Berlin”). And of course you will find cameras, lenses, accessories, books, ephemera, darkroom stuff, studio stuff, etc etc. – something for every photo collector – prints, cameras, photo history, etc.

Not only can you add to your collection, but there will be user gear for film folk or digital mavens. Come along and join in on the excitement (p.s. we have lots of venues for those who would like to write about photo history, or talk about it and historical aspect of the photo art – just ask for Clint).

Check out this poster for time and location. Easy to reach, public transit nearby, free parking for all you drivers, good food, indoors, inexpensive.

Come out and see old friends (and tons of bargains)! There is always a good time to be had at our fairs.

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conserving old photos

Posted on September 26, 2024 by Robert

a studio portrait tintype with some surface problems

Toronto. Many of us have met Lincoln Ross during meetings, presentations, and fairs. In issue 17-2 Lincoln wrote an article called, “A Professional Approach to Conserving Photographic Material”.

The article gives sound advice on ways to conserve old photos. Near the beginning, Lincoln states, “Photograph Conservation has come a long way in the past 15 years [written fall 1991].

“What used to be a ‘hands-off approach to preserving photographs is now changing as our knowledge increases. thanks to the efforts of Dr. Klaus B. Hendriks (Ottawa). Mr. James M. Reilly (Rochester. N.Y.). and Mr. Henry Wilhelm [check out Henry’s download for lots of great material] (Grinnell, Iowa).

“However, when people hear the word ‘restore’ most think of air brushing and retouching. While there is a demand for such work, conservation (restoration) goes far beyond it.

“Conservation is the preservation of original photographic materials and includes chemical treatments to reverse and/or stabilize their condition. Most photo conservation knowledge is in the area of black & white materials, and is in no way complete. …”

Visitors to our fall events (fair on Oct 20th is next) may find interesting photos, cameras, lenses, etc for their personal collections. Members of the PHSC could read all of Lincoln’s article in issue 17-2 in either hard copy for or more recently as a searchable pdf file on the free to members DVD. Not a member yet? See the menu item ‘MEMBERSHIP’ above and the ‘Membership, Join or Renew!’ paragraphs at the right. Questions? Drop an email to Lilianne at member@phsc.ca.

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a different slant

Posted on September 25, 2024 by Robert

WINTU chrome right angle viewer c1933-39

Toronto. About six years ago I discussed the WINTU – a tiny Leitz accessory for their now famous Leica camera.

The first right angle viewer was made around 1929. This version was made around 1933 through 1939.

It serves as a reminder that our coming fall fair will be chock full of exciting goodies just waiting to join your collection. Thee may be a boxed WINTU sitting there waiting, but you never know. I always looked forward to the fairs, enjoying the chance to acquire some interesting books, pamphlets, cameos, lenses, accessories etc. to expand my collection. At home, I would photograph the gadgets I discovered and leap into more research on each item. A wonderful exciting time!

This year the fall fair is on October 20th, a week after Thanksgiving here in the great white north.  Free parking, inexpensive admission, good food, and great finds make the fall fair a ‘must see’ event!

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Ansco sextet

Posted on September 24, 2024 by Robert

half dozen Ansco box cameras from 2018 Fall Fair

Toronto. Our 2024 Fall Fair date is fast approaching. At left is a colour sextet of Ansco box cameras from some half dozen fall fairs ago (it’s rare to get one 120 camera of each colour for your collection).

Our next fair is less than a month away. While we are looking forward to the event, we can’t even picture what marvellous items you will find there for your own collection.

We do know you will see exciting goodies and meet friends old and new. As usual it is held at the Trident Hall, well known for good food (and beverages). Join sat this event. Admission is more than reasonable plus free parking and good food!

 

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a container as a collectible

Posted on September 23, 2024 by Robert

pyro bottle c1851

Toronto. Back in the days of film and glass plates, various chemicals were used as developers including pyrogallic acid. Ev discovered a pretty blue glass bottle that once contained pyrogallic acid. This brought back memories he discusses in issue 17-1 in a column titled, “From My Collection“.

Ev begins, “Today’s users [summer 1991] of proprietary developers probably have never heard of, much less used Pyro developer for their negatives.

“Yet this oldest of developing agents, which dates back to 1851 and which I used until the advent of buffered developers, was the industry standard commonly known as Pyro-soda or Pyro-metol. The latter was of tremendous value with underexposures due to a yellow stain which formed coincident with the silver reduction.

“Finding this rare and beautiful cobalt glass bottle (from about 1870), which contained Pyrogallic acid from Schering’s famous Berlin manufactory, reminded me of the pre-WWI supremacy of Germany in the fine chemical field.”

Ev continued his story of pyro which members read in the printed version of the journal. Today’s members can now read the pdf version on the DVD. This PHSC DVD contains volumes 1-40 of our journal. Each issue is in a searchable pdf format. Join the PHSC today by following either ‘MEMBERSHIP’ above or ‘Membership – Join or Renew’ at the right. Membership is easy and inexpensive. Join camera collectors, photo collectors, photo historians, etc. today! Questions? Email Lilianne at member@phsc.ca.

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a trip to Europe over 30 years ago

Posted on September 22, 2024 by Robert

central portion of Deutsches Museum c1991 from issue 17-1 (note the aircraft to left of the Rotunda tower)

Toronto. Back in 1991, three PHSC members decided to visit photographic collections in European museums. Willi Nassau, John Durst, and Bill Belier did the tour while Bill wrote a rather detailed article that spanned two journal issues (16-5 and 17-1). Issue 17-1 contained the second part of Bill’s article, in a piece titled “München Stadtmuseum and Deutsches Museum“.

Bill’s article gives a sobering comparison of camera collecting in the old world compared to the new. At one point in part two of his article, Bill talks about visiting the Deutsches Museum, “Friday… now down to our final day of’ ‘museum crawling’. The Deutsches Museum is the world’s largest technical museum with a floor area of about 13 acres devoted to science and technology from its origins to the present day.

“The complex is so huge that it can accommodate a full size outdoor display of a twin-engine Dornier experimental aircraft in one corner of the courtyard (see drawing) leading into the rotunda of the main building. The various displays are contained on eight separate levels.

“The complex contains a reference library of approximately 720,000 volumes, an archive, reading rooms, a 2,400 seat auditorium, restaurant and gift shop. The photographic section of the archive has over 40,000 negatives of scientific and technological subjects. Prints can be obtained on application. …”.

You guessed it! Members at the time read Bill’s fascinating report in the hard copy journal originals while those members more recent, read the pdf format of the issues (contained on the free to members PHSC DVD). Not a member yet? It’s easy and inexpensive to join! See the material above (MEMBERSHIP) and at right (Membership – Join or Renew!). Questions? Drop Lilianne an email at member@phsc.ca.

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shooting or collecting wildlife photos

Posted on September 21, 2024 by Robert

Sony presents a wildlife photographic seminar Oct 3, 2024

Toronto. Sony is offering a seminar on wildlife photography. at 8:30pm on October 3rd presented by Dusty Cressey.

This session may interest all camera and photo collectors.

In seeing the techniques you may see what to look for when collecting such old photos and cameras and lenses.

While the ‘taking’ promotes Sony Alpha digital cameras, the techniques apply to any camera; any period. Check it out.

Remember, our fall fair is a few weeks later on October 20th. At the fair, you may find a suitable camera or lens – and test the ideas you see on the 3rd before picking up some gear and/or photos for your collection,

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modern daguerreotypes

Posted on September 20, 2024 by Robert

Railroad Bridge, 1990, Apache Canyon, New Mexico, 8″ x 10″ daguerreotype. (Courtesy the Scheinbaum & Russek Gallery, Santa Fe, NM

Toronto. About seven years before our own modern daguerreotypist joined the PHSC, Ev printed an illustrated article by Robert Shlaer entitled, “PRACTICAL DAGUERREIAN IMAGERY”. An example of Mr Shlaer’s  work is shown at left.

In the article Shlaer says, “It is from my recent efforts that I offer the following discussion of daguerreian imagery. What I have to say is related to the technique of daguerreotypy only as I use it, and where I use it.

“It is pure opinion derived from my personal experience and my subjective reaction to daguerreotypes. I assume no authority, nor the responsibility to maintain these opinions in the faces of better ones. By sharing my impressions I hope to suggest a point of departure for the appreciation of daguerreian art, both antique and modern. Perhaps my colleagues in the art will also find something of use, even if it be only through disagreement.

“The daguerreotype differs technically in a great many ways from the conventional transparent-negative, paper-positive photography of today [c1990] , and only a little less from direct transparent-slide methods. These characteristic differences include speed, contrast, latitude, spectral response, size, sharpness, reversion, fragility, and viewing conditions, all of which invite or require an imagery quite different from that common to modern photographic practice.”

You will enjoy all of Bob’s article which spans issues 17-1 and 17-2. Members had/have that pleasure since the pdf version of these issues are on the PHSC DVD we send free to all members. To join, see’ MEMBERSHIP’ above and/or ‘Membership Join or Renew!’ at right. Questions? Email Lilianne at member@phsc.ca.

In 1998, Mike Robinson joined us. Dr Robinson of Toronto runs the Century Darkroom and is an accomplished modern day daguerreotypist. He was president of the PHSC (2001-2003) and later on president of the Daguerreian Society based in the USA. He also spoke to the PHSC late in 2014 on the topic of his PHD dissertation.

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the autographic idea …

Posted on September 19, 2024 by Robert

A Kodak folder c1914 with the Autographic feature

Toronto. … or ‘the right way of titling negatives’. In issue 17-1 Bob Wilson discusses the early 1900s Kodak Autographics. Bob begins his article, “From the earliest days, photographers devised ways of adding titles to their negatives so that the titles would appear on the prints. If a white title was wanted, they would write onto the negative with black ink.

“This ink would block the light, creating a white title on the print. If a black title was needed, they had to remove emulsion from the negative by scratching or by writing on the emulsion with a special ink . This ink would bleach the silver when the negative was immersed in ordinary fixing solution. This left the area on the negative clear where the writing had been and thus would print black on the print.”

At one time I had a Kodak 3A Autographic with its leather case. It was a sturdy folder design. I bought the camera in Montreal and years later donated it to the PHSC. It became an auction lot and now resides in Ryerson (TMU).

As usual, members can read the original issue, or its pdf equivalent on the DVD we send free to all members. To join, see ‘MEMBERSHIP’ above or ‘Membership – Join or Renew!’ at right. Questions? Drop Lilianne an email at member@phsc.ca.

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