an old brass lens – part of a swap across the Atlantic
Toronto. As we near St Pattie’s day, this is a suitable post. It is based on a follow up article titled “A SECOND LOOK …”. Editor Lansdale expands on photographer John Turner reporting a lens swap between Dr Mike Robinson and Seán MacKenna of London, England.
This swap returned to Toronto a lens used by Irishman John Turner when he emigrated to the big smoke to create studio portraits. The lens has an added signature, “J.G. Turner, Toronto, March 17, 1859.”
Mike, Mr Graham Garrett and Seán did further research on Turner and the lens.
Editor Lansdale begins his report, “For a further development of the Turner story we turn to [Dr] Mike Robinson of Century Darkroom in Toronto. He lectures on the daguerreian and ambrotype processes at Ryerson University [now TMU] as well as the George Eastman House in Rochester.
“Seán MacKenna of London, England read about Mike making daguerreotypes in Toronto so e-mailed him hoping to gain information about an early Toronto image maker.” …
Members read all of this brief article in the issue 26-5 pdf on the free members-only DVD/thumb drive and discovered the roles played by the trio of researchers. You can easily join by following ‘Membership’ above and at right. Address any questions to member@phsc.ca.
