Tag Archives: microscope

strange bedfellows …

Posted on December 3, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. We collectors of photography – images, hardware, ephemera, etc. Or fans of photographic history, seldom consider other non-photographic collectibles. At least three German camera makers; Leitz and Zeiss, who established themselves decades earlier as makers of quality microscopes, binoculars, … Continue reading →

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the eye looker redux

Posted on March 20, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. I mentioned in earlier post that we camera collectors sometimes collect other oddball optical gadgets too. In the last issue (22-2) Ev wrote about a 1901 souvenir he discovered amongst Brodie Whitelaw’s gear and suggested it was a Stanhope … Continue reading →

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Looking at Small Things – 1680 style

Posted on March 13, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. When I was a kid, an issue of Popular Mechanics magazine showed how the tiny lens of a pen-light 1.5v bulb could be used as a powerful (about 200x) microscope – just like one made by Leeuwenhoek in Delft, … Continue reading →

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beyond macro

Posted on September 7, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. In the days of minicams (mainly 35mm),  subjects could be focussed from infinity down to about a metre. Any subject closer needed accessories like front element lenses, extension tubes, bellows, or special closeup stands. If a lens was asymmetrical, … Continue reading →

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PHSC News newsletter for June 2021

Posted on June 12, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. At right top of page 1 in the latest PHSC News newsletter is a subminiature film camera made by Mamiya in Japan for all you die-hard film fans. June of 2021 is well underway, and our editor, Sonja and her … Continue reading →

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even educated fleas do it

Posted on July 13, 2019 by Robert

Toronto.   The title of this post is a line from a 1928 Cole Porter song (Let’s Do It). I first heard it in the 1950s on a Columbia LP of Noel Coward at the Desert Inn in Las Vegas. … Continue reading →

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photographic lenses – Conrad Beck

Posted on January 9, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. Like most optical houses in the 1800s, The British house of R and J Beck at Cornhill (London, England) expanded their optical product repertoire to photographic lenses (and cameras). In this seventh edition of Conrad Beck’s small book, like … Continue reading →

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another revolution world wide

Posted on November 10, 2017 by Robert

Toronto. In November of 1994, I bought this student microscope from Gord Reithmeier. Made about 1900, it is unusual in the excellent condition of the stand and its wooden box. Originally sold complete for $12 US, it is occasionally seen … Continue reading →

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Waddingtons On Line Auction

Posted on June 22, 2016 by Robert

Toronto. My thanks to Ashley Cook for noting this Canadian on line auction by Waddingtons. The cameras she mentioned are mid way in the lots. Set the number of lots per page to 100 and scroll down close to the … Continue reading →

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