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.

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on a container as a collectible

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.

Posted in history | Tagged , , | Comments Off on a trip to Europe over 30 years ago

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,

Posted in activities-other | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on shooting or collecting wildlife photos

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.

Posted in history | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on modern daguerreotypes

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.

Posted in history | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on the autographic idea …

a man from Texas

Posted on September 18, 2024 by Robert

Contax photo with John’s article in issue 16-5 (spring 1991)

Toronto. John Alldredge was charter member number 8, joining the PHSC in early 1975. He served in a number of positions on the Toronto Branch Executive including President, Vice-President, and Treasurer. John assisted in the annual auction as a ‘gate-keeper’ for the walk-in lots of the day.

John was our Zeiss go-to guy at the time and wrote an extensive article on the Contax, “A Brief Survey and Bibliography of Printed Material of Interest to Collectors of the Zeiss Ikon Contax Rangefinder 35mm Camera.” in issue 16-5 of our journal.

Issue 13-1 had this sobering announcement:  “PHSC member John Alldredge has suffered a seriously broken hip as a result of a motorcycle accident last October 1st [1986] in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He has three pins embedded in his hip to help it mend. John, our resident Zeiss expert, is in Kalamazoo working on a Masters degree in Occupational Therapy. He is now out of the hospital, has graduated from a wheel·chair to crutches and is quickly catching up on his course work. If you can spare a minute, drop John a line or card … .”

John returned to Ontario in late 1989 and took on the task of ‘Promotions’ for a few years.  He disappeared from the PHSC and I seem to have lost track of him. This is John in May, 1991  cut from a group shot by Bob Lansdale. Unfortunately John was part of the society before Bob became our (unofficial) photographer and religiously recorded all executive members and speakers.

Posted in history | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on a man from Texas

Land o’ goshen …

Posted on September 17, 2024 by Robert

Land presenting the Polavision home movie system, 1977 – from the  Wikipedia article linked in this post

Toronto. … is an expression of mild  amazement from my youth. The expression came to mind when I saw notice of Edwin (Herbert) Land‘s death in issue 17-1 (May/June 1991) of our journal.

Ev, who was editor at the time , mentioned that inventor Land lived from 1909 to 1991. In his column, Editor’s Notebook, he mentions that, “Polaroid was a name coined by a friend [of Land’s] in 1934 to describe Edwin Land’s first product, a synthetic polarizing material which proved suitable for sunglasses, gun sights and similar uses, that he had researched while a student at Harvard.

“It is really the name of a company, but is now synonymous with Instant Photography. It is interesting to note that the inventor had considered the name Epibolipol. How fortunate it was abandoned!”

Ev continues the story which members read (and can read now on the pdf version). The PHSC DVD contains volumes 1-40 of our journal, with each issue in searchable pdf format. You can join the PHSC following either ‘MEMBERSHIP’ above or ‘Membership – Join or Renew’ at the right. Questions? Email Lilianne at member@phsc.ca.

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Land o’ goshen …

our September meeting is this Wednesday the 18th

Posted on September 16, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. We are having a show and tell this Wednesday evening September 18, 2024. To register, please visit Eventbrite here as the poster on this site is a non-linkable jpg. Any questions contact Celio or Clint via info@phsc.ca.

our September 18, 2024 meeting is Show & Tell

Posted in program | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on our September meeting is this Wednesday the 18th

a dilly of a dag camera c1840

Posted on September 15, 2024 by Robert

c1840 Daguerreotype camera by Prof Smetana, Plenz CZ

Toronto. The announcement in January, 1839 of the Daguerreotype process electrified the civilized world. First and foremost in improvements were to reduce the time needed to create a ‘likeness’. In 1840 Petzval created a much faster portrait lens to properly expose a Daguerreotype plate in a fraction of the time.

The 1839 News reached professor Smetana in Plzen, Czechoslovakia and in the following year (1840) he announced his Daguerreotype Camera complete with a Petzval lens made by F. Waibl, Vienna.

Editor Ev Roseborough describes the historic table top camera used for the issue 16-5 cover shot thusly. “This camera was used in the 1840’s by Josef Frantisek Smetana, professor at the Plzen Grammar School, to make daguerreotypes. The camera is mounted on a stand fitted with three adjusting screws.

“The earliest cameras of this type were simply placed on a table when in use. There is a Petzval lens constructed by F. Waibl, a renowned Viennese optician. The plate size is 72 x 81 mm (i.e. 1/6 Daguerre Standard Plate). There is also a development box where the pictures taken were made visible by means of mercury vapour.

“Professor Smetana, a cousin of the famous Czech composer Bedrich Smetana, was the first scholar in Bohemia to describe Daguerre photography in the Czech language. This description can be found in his book ‘Silozpyt cili fysika‘, published in 1842.”

Posted in history | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on a dilly of a dag camera c1840

a recognition issue

Posted on September 14, 2024 by Robert

Berenice Abbott in 1930s – Image from Wikipedia article on Ms Abbott

Toronto. My good friend George Dunbar dropped me a letter the other day. Enclosed was an anecdote about Berenice Abbott, a famous NYC photographer. I first learned of her impressive photographs as a subscriber to the original “LIFE LIBRARY of PHOTOGRAPHY“. This anecdote was in the NY Times Sunday, September 8, 2024 column “Metropolitan Diary” as reproduced below.

In the early 1960s I was at university in Montreal. My roomie at the time was in Political Science and bought the Sunday NY Times religiously for its fine American political content. I remember one Sunday he trundled home with a massive seven pounds plus of newspaper…

 

Posted in history | Tagged , , | Comments Off on a recognition issue