auction jamboree …

lot 664 is a Kodak folder ready for your collection.

Toronto. … Our first event for 2026 is the February 15, 2026 auction. It is looking to be a wonderful means to add to your collection and user gear. All the details are shown here in the auction post.

The above auction post shows photos of about 2/3 of the lots plus the most recent lot list in pdf format. It will be pinned to the top of the first page until conclusion of the bidding.

Come and join friends on a Sunday afternoon in February. Free admission. Free parking. Good food. And great photographica lots just ready to be claimed by the highest bidder. All lots are on view before bidding begins.

Note: Decades ago I bought an album by the Kingston Trio. One song on the album, “Zombie Jamboree” inspired the name of this post.

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Kodachrome gone …

quartet of Nikons – lot 693 in February 15th auction

Toronto. … but our events like the February 15th auction carry on! Kodachrome film bit the dust about 15 years ago but we continue to bring joy and thrills into the lives of photographica collectors with the tasty range of goodies featured in our auctions and fairs.

Our February 15th auction has oodles of items in 100s of lots (like these Nikon film shooters) to add to any collection or user gear. Come down and see, and bid for those special things that catch your eye.

Details and directions are here. Free parking. Free admission. Good food. Great friends. What a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon!

NOTE: The post tile is based on the Paul Simon 1973 song “Kodachrome” sung here by Paul.

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paradise

old camera tagged as lot 665 for auction on February 15, 2026

Toronto. Our events are ‘paradise’ for photographic collectors – hardware and images alike. Our first event for 2026 is the February 15 auction. A sampling of lots is already available in an earlier post (see above link) now pinned to the top of page one until we close the auction.

Come down to Legion hall 101 in Long Branch (southwest Toronto) and add to your collection/user gear. Free admission, free parking, good food, friends, and a chance to handle and inspect the lots offered.

Note: The post title is from a song on Meat Loaf‘s first album (1977), “Bat Out of Hell” called “Paradise by the Dashboard Light” and sung by Meat Loaf and Ellen Foley. The baseball analogy is called by Yankee’s announcer, Phil Rizzuto.

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slip out the back, Jack …

sample of lots available – old brass lens with wooden camera (?) shutter (?) board (?)

Toronto. …. and scoot on down to our February 15th 2026 auction.  This will be our first 2026 event.

The auction offers you a great way to add to your collection and user gear. Details have been posted on our site for a few weeks now.

A sampling of lots are illustrated showing the amazing range of goods to be offered.

Note: The title of this post is a line from Paul Simon’s song “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover“. The song is sung here by Paul.

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face lift for a grand old lady

side view of George Eastman House with front entrance at the right.

Toronto. Thanks to our president, Clint Hryhorijiw, who sent me an email he received from Cynthia Motzenbecker the other day.  The email from Cynthia notes that thanks to the efforts of US Senator Charles Schumer , the George Eastman (House) Museum is to receive a $500,000 grant from the US National Parks Service to help in preserving this historic mansion.

Any one remotely interested in photography must visit the GEH Museum at least once. The house was built for George Eastman as his home back in the days when such houses were built close to the factories the householder owned and/or operated.

In the fall of 1982, the Photographic Historical Society (Rochester) held its PhotoHistory V symposium and trade show at the GEH where I had the pleasure of meeting Helmut Gernsheim whose thick ‘History of Photography” gave me my first understanding of the history of this art.

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Mike’s follow up to the 31st

an unsold lot from the Jan 31, 2026 auction in NJ

Toronto. Auctioneer Mike Lehr sent another note out to advise that any lots left unsold in his Saturday the 31st of January auction are now available.

Please see the above link and note for details. You can visit his web site under PAST AUCTIONS to see what was offered.

Another chance for image folk to expand their collection.

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let it snow …

Christmas in western part of Montreal Island c1970/1

Toronto. Our decision to defer the auction on January 25th proved absolutely correct. It was initially planned to fill a gap in events for photo collectors. Hopefully we will have better weather on the 15th of this month when we now plan to host our “January”, er, February auction.

By the way, this is the first time in about a half century of PHSC events that we have had to defer an event  due to weather – or anything else.

The thumbnail at left shows a typical winter in Dollard des Ormeaux. The snow is higher than we saw on the 25th of last month.

Come out to our February 15th, 2026 auction. Lots to see and enjoy. Something will surely catch your eye and may even add to your collection and user gear!

 

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reminiscing again …

the late Ron Anger c2000 by Robert Lansdale with PHSC fair posters

Toronto. The second ‘memories’ person in issue 26-4 is the late Ronald Anger – charter member #007. Ron was heavily involved in the society in a variety of capacities including president of the PHSC. Ron collected Ernemann cameras and was a dedicated amateur photographer.

The editor begins, ” chairing the 4th Photographic Fair in 1978 and the 9th Fair in 1983; he also served as our 3rd President. Previous shows had been held in Cody Hall on Bloor Street or the War Amps Building on Wellesley.”

Ron takes over, “We moved to the Chelsea Inn, paid a rental fee of $800 and expanded the show to a two day week-end with a hospitality room for the dealers on Friday night. In the early days we rented tables for $5 to $7 and filled them with boxes of collectibles – only 50% of the material was ‘modern users’.

“The prize cameras have disappeared into collections or have been picked off by dealers; we see some of that material gradually coming back on the market as older collectors disperse their collections. I had lined up a donation of a Zorki 2 (Leica II copy) but in the draw I won it myself.” …

This winning was embarrassing to Ron. You can learn his reaction and solution by reading the entire article in the issue 26-4 pdf file on the free members-only DVD/memory stick. See ‘Membership’ above and at right to join. Address all questions to member@phsc.ca.

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another memories article

our first Membership Secretary, the late Marj Addison, member CM 004, at home c2000

Toronto. Taking a brief break from collecting, we look once again at the column, “Members Memories… from the past”, initiated by late editor Bob Lansdale in volume 25 of the journal to help celebrate our 25th anniversary.

The first memory article in this issue is by the late Marj Addison, our first Membership Secretary. The introduction to the article (presumably by the editor) states, “[Marj] sits once again with the original membership books which she established for the society in 1975. The first ledger was a school scribbler in which each new member was given a sequenced number –the system continues today. [Marj and Jack lived in Scarborough and on Jack’s retirement moved to eastern Ontario].

“A file card was also maintained for detailed information on the individual’s participation in the PHSC. Every entry was hand written since that was before computers. [these historical documents were later lost by a volunteer].

“Marge supported her husband Jack, in both his business life as a photographer and in his social activities. When he joined the PHSC and volunteered for the executive she decided she might as well offer her services and thus became the Membership Secretary.

“Jack had a way of sinking himself deep into the society and served as President from 1977 to 1981 and, at the same time, editing our journal –Photographic Canadiana. He advanced it from a news sheet to a magazine format. Needless to say Marge was kept busy typing up articles and sitting at the kitchen table packaging the completed issues for mailing.

“Helping run the promotional booths at the CNE and several shopping malls, running Fairs and special events –it was all in good fun as the volunteers always gathered for a wine & cheese party after every event”. …

Members easily read Marjorie’s thoughts in the issue 26-4 pdf file on the free members-only DVD/thumb drive. You can join by following ‘Membership’ join instruction above and at right. Questions may be emailed to member@phsc.ca.

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as Horace Greeley once said …

Pioneer photographers of the far west 1840-1865

Toronto. …Go west, young man. Many photographers did indeed ‘go west’ – in North America, that is. Messrs Palmquist and Kailbourn recently released a “biographical dictionary” of the “pioneer photographers of the far west“.

This opus was reviewed in issue 26-4. The review begins, “This is a most comprehensive, well documented, biographical dictionary of some 1,500 photographers (and workers engaged in photographically related pursuits) that were active in western North America before 1865.

“It is enriched by some 250 illustrations, many previously unpublished. Peter Palmquist and Thomas Kailbourn, two of America’s leading photo history researchers, have produced an epic production.

“With over 800 pages [above link suggests 639 pages] this is but volume #1. A second volume will take the study eastwards to the Mississippi River and include Prairie Canada and Mexico.” …

The full review is in the issue 26-4 pdf file on the free members-only DVD/thumb drive. Not a member? Well then check out ‘Membership” above and at right. Questions? Email them to member@phsc.ca.

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