Tag Archives: Wollensak

it ain’t no Leica

Posted on August 1, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. Like many 1940s, and ’50s 35mm cameras in contemporary ads, Clarus touted quality comparing the camera indirectly to a Leica, but far less costly. Like the famous little camera manufactured in Germany by Leitz, Clarus was small, compact, chose … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on it ain’t no Leica

the sky is falling …

Posted on December 5, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. … or so said Chicken Little in the Children’s fable (I learnt the English version … ). For many years film and glass plates were basically insensitive to blue light (orthochromatic) so clouds and sky exposed for the landscape … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on the sky is falling …

wally’s world

Posted on January 16, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. The Wollensak home movie gear and home tape recorder were typical fodder for North Americans in the middle of the last century. The name was bought by Revere of Chicago and marketed enthusiastically with ads like this one at … Continue reading →

Posted in camera | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on wally’s world

all that’s fit to print

Posted on March 8, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. I received an email Tuesday from Brad down in Florida. Brad came across an unusual camera there with a label by Kominek in Toronto. He has it up on Ebay at the moment. Brad explained the camera had been … Continue reading →

Posted in camera | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on all that’s fit to print

through the glass darkly

Posted on January 4, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. As a kid I often saw ads for a Kalart after market rangefinder. This little gadget was bolted on the side of a Speed Graphic.  I never thought of Kalart as a camera maker. At our Show and Tell … Continue reading →

Posted in camera | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on through the glass darkly

Wollensak

Posted on March 10, 2018 by Robert

Toronto. The Wollensak company in Rochester NY made many fine optical components many years ago including lenses for the screw mount Leicas during the war when authentic Leitz lenses were unavailable. Communication companies like Bell Canada used their products (photographing … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Wollensak

Remember the Wollensak Lenses for the Leica?

Posted on June 5, 2017 by Robert

Toronto. PHSC Member George Dunbar sent me this April 1945 advertisement from Popular Photography. During WW2, Leitz NY continued to operate. One big problem: merchandise from Germany dried up. To solve one of the issues, Leitz NY manufactured lens mounts that … Continue reading →

Posted in camera, lens | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Remember the Wollensak Lenses for the Leica?