Tag Archives: article

as Horace Greeley once said …

Posted on January 31, 2026 by Robert

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 … Continue reading →

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a really rare one

Posted on January 30, 2026 by Robert

Toronto. I often mention that wet plate cameras usually self destruct as they are used. In this rare example shown in Bill Belier’s column in issue 26-4 it is described by its present owner – Mike Robinson. Bill begins, “Our … Continue reading →

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submerged in religion

Posted on January 29, 2026 by Robert

Toronto. The article “A Surprising Find!” not only expands on Carswell’s CdVs but discusses the meeting of Baptist clergy in Toronto in 1868 and Carswell’s group photo shown here. It is a collage of individual portraits. The article by editor … Continue reading →

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a pocket full of poses

Posted on January 28, 2026 by Robert

Toronto.  Around the time when the northern part of British North America established  itself as the Dominion of Canada (1867), a Toronto photographer, Robert Carswell, created these CdVs which became part of the late Robert Wilson’s collection. Twenty-five years ago, … Continue reading →

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home movies again …

Posted on January 15, 2026 by Robert

Toronto. In the time before digital and smart phones everywhere, a sub set of amateur photographers took and projected movies. Home movies entertained us after watching the ‘boob tube’ lost interest momentarily. The late Alan Katttelle from down Massachusetts way, … Continue reading →

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ever see an ‘ugly duckling’ camera?

Posted on January 8, 2026 by Robert

Toronto,  I received my copy of the MiPHSC Photogram (53-4, Winter 2025) a few weeks back. In it was an article by Rob Niederman (known for his collection and knowledge of cameras) titled “My Collection Has An Ugly Duckling”. Join … Continue reading →

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Frank’s cameras

Posted on January 2, 2026 by Robert

Toronto. It’s a new year and a post on an article in a new issue – issue 26 – issued under the very capable hands of editor Robert Lansdale. Both Bob and wife Marge are now deceased. Both were retired … Continue reading →

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bigger is better …

Posted on December 30, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. Once the CdV size of photos ran its course, entrepreneurs used larger size carded photos to spark sales, culminating in the very large ‘promenade’ photos. An article by Bob Wilson highlights the history of carded photos starting with the … Continue reading →

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ghost of fairs past …

Posted on December 28, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. … with apologies to Dickens and his short story, “A Christmas Carol”. Our spring 2000 fair offered fodder for a photo essay in issue 26-2 of our journal. The camera at right is just one of the items offered … Continue reading →

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really, really, really close.

Posted on December 18, 2025 by Robert

Toronto.  In 1969, Neil Armstrong stated the first of  his iconic statements, “the Eagle has landed” as the Lunar Module ‘Eagle’ touched down on the moon ready for  his decent into history. In 1910, the T. Eaton Drug Company produced … Continue reading →

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