a fair arising

Posted on May 5, 2026 by Robert

Toronto. For information or a table contact Mark or Clint at fair@phsc.ca.

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not the indie 500 …

Posted on May 6, 2026 by Robert

Chemist Percy Julian in his Laboratory – lot 112.

Toronto. …but another 500 – lots that is. Of images from the ‘vernacular’. Mike Lehr announces his “May Vernacular Photo History Auction” starts at 11 am today.

Shown at left is lot 112, “Stereoview Chemist Percy Julian Laboratory Portrait.  The photo is accompanied by a brief note,”Albumen stereoview photograph depicting chemist Percy Julian seated at a laboratory bench surrounded by glassware and chemical apparatus.

“The image shows Julian in a white laboratory coat working among flasks, retorts, and reagent bottles in a tiled laboratory interior. The mount and tonal qualities are consistent with an early twentieth century stereoview photograph.

“Percy Julian (1899–1975) was an American research chemist known for pioneering the industrial synthesis of medicinal compounds from plant sources. He developed important methods for producing steroid intermediates and other pharmaceuticals and held numerous patents during his career.

“Verso with pencil identification reading “Percy Julian 1899–1975” followed by biographical notes describing his work in synthetic chemistry and pharmaceutical development.”

Image collectors can view the catalogue and sign up. It is an opportunity to add to your collection. Mike is New Jersey based, so any shipping costs within the USA are covered.

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two to go

Posted on May 4, 2026 by Robert

A British Columbia wedding c1921

Toronto. An interesting category for image collectors is weddings and their celebrations.

The example at left took place on Vancouver Island over a century ago near Sooke, BC. People from Ontario and immigrants from England as well as BC folk united to see the couple marry.

The photograph resides in the tiny Sooke BC museum. Other older or newer examples may be spotted at one of our 2026 events, Next on the schedule is the PHSC Spring Fair on May 24, 2026 (no, this is not Victoria Day weekend, but the following weekend).

Details and the post will appear on the web site shortly. Come out and enjoy our fair at Trident Hall in the west end (Islington and Evans). Free parking, modest admission fee (especially for students), good food, convivial people and lots and lots of interesting photographic gear, photos, books, etc. for viewing, collecting, and using.

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long ago and far away

Posted on May 3, 2026 by Robert

lot 133, an old brass Cooke lens in a leather case

Toronto. The lot 133 Cooke lens may have been made long ago and far away, but it is offered today as a lot in the PHSC May 3rd Spring Auction.

The lens is a 16 inch ‘Process’ lens, series V.  “Especially suitable are the series V lenses for copying, enlarging, machine photography, and for everything demanding microscopically fine definition under average conditions of lighting.” according to the linked web site.

Come out today and enjoy the ambiance of  friends at our Estate auction. There is free parking and admission. And no better way to enjoy a Sunday afternoon!

Directions, poster, lot list, and lot photos are above and here. Have a peek at interesting lots before you see the items in ‘person’ at the preview session.

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committing Hari-Arri

Posted on May 2, 2026 by Robert

lot 237 at May 3rd auction – an old Arriflex movie camera and two magazines

Toronto. Lot 237, in our spring auction tomorrow, is a turret style, three lens Arriflex camera and two film magazines Arri is one of the prestigious high end movie camera makers. The cameras are manufactured to robust specifications to withstand the rigours of professional movie making.

The company was founded in Munich in 1917 by August Arnold and Robert Richter – the AR in ARRI. In 1937, at the Leipzig Fair, the company was the first to offer reflex viewing in movie cameras.

Our 2026 events will have many interesting cameras, lenses, prints, books, etc. to interest all photography collectors, users, and history buffs. Next up is tomorrow’s May 3rd spring (Estate) auction. Details and a poster are shown here. Free parking. Free admission. Friendly people.

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hey! … digitari

Posted on May 1, 2026 by Robert

lot 263, a 16mp Sony Cyber-shot with Zeiss 8x ZOOM lens, camera case and charger.

Toronto. The digital era is now decades old, making the collection of digital cameras attractive. In the future, film cameras will be a rarity. Those who collect digital cameras today will pay relatively little for them compared to their future value.

So too with film cameras – in the future, today’s prices will seem trivial. For a non-camera example, a Leitz student microscope c1900 sold new for $12. Today, one complete and in fine condition would be valued in excess of $1,000.

Our 2026 events offer a variety of opportunities to add to your collection. Up next is our May 3rd spring (Estate) auction. A wide variety of items are offered ranging from antique film cameras and lens to recent digital cameras. In addition there are a number of lots of professional medium format cameras, lenses, and accessories.

Free parking. Free admission. Cheerful people. A great way to spend a spring Sunday afternoon.  And add to your collection whether film or digital. Details and a poster are pinned to this site until the auction begins.

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mighty mouse

Posted on April 30, 2026 by Robert

lot 254 in our Estate auction – a Minolta 16 MG camera

Toronto. I was a scrawny kid, about 90 pounds soaking wet. The summer I worked for Loblaw Grocers, I earned the nick-name ‘mighty mouse’ after a 100 pound bag of sugar was hoisted on my back and I lugged it around the basement.

Post war, Minolta made subminiature cameras (the mighty mice of the camera world) using their proprietary cassettes and 16mm film. These little beauties mimicked the famous Minox but at a reasonable price.

An example of the Minolta 16 series is shown here (lot 254). Those wanting to include subminiature cameras in their collection could start with the Minolta series.

Lot 254 is just one of many lots in our May 3rd auction. The lots include subminis, digital, 35mm, medium format, really old folders, field cameras and more. Come out on Sunday May 3rd and enjoy the ambiance of a photography auction.

Details and the poster now pinned to this site will remain pinned until the auction begins. Free parking, and attendance.

Friendly folk run the auction and bid in the audience. Join us in a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon – and add to your collection/user gear.

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mini projector for mini slides

Posted on April 29, 2026 by Robert

lot 117 – a tiny Minox projector for colour transparencies taken with a subminiature Minox.

Toronto. The tiny Minox is the ultimate spy camera. It was created in 1937, just before WW2, in Riga, Latvia. The chain on the tiny camera has ‘buttons’ for inches matching the lens focus settings for up close exposures.

The lens is an f/3.5 allowing relatively fast exposures. The aperture is fixed wide open, A curved film plane is part of the lens correction calculation (up to model B – changed to a flat plane when the lens was redesigned). The tiny focal length allows sharp prints from inches to infinity.

What isn’t widely known, is that later on, special film for the tiny camera included colour transparency film. Special frames and a special tiny projector allowed these slides to be projected for viewing – just like 35mm and 2-1/4 square transparencies.

Lot 117 at our May 3rd spring (Estate) auction is one of the little Minox projectors, complete with  spare bulbs. Join us on May 3rd, 2026 at our Spring Auction. Free admission. Free parking. Friendly folk. A great way to spend a Sunday afternoon – whether balmy or not. Details and a poster will be pinned to this site until the auction begins.

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different speeds; different focal lengths; same name

Posted on April 28, 2026 by Robert

a relatively new Zeiss Tessar (made in Japan) 45mm, f/2.8 coated T* with a leather case – lot 121 in our auction on May 3rd

Toronto. The Zeiss lens configuration called “Tessar” has gone down in history like the famous Elmar 5cm f/3.5 lens from Leitz.

Lot 121 in our May 3rd spring Estate auction is a very recent Tessar complete with a leather case.

The lens mount on this Tessar is not apparent from the photo at left but may be recognized when the lens is viewed in person. While signed as Zeiss Tessar, the lens is made in Japan, not Jena, Germany suggesting it fits a Japanese camera.

Come out and enjoy the warm spring (hopefully) day. Free admission. Free parking. Friendly people. See the details and poster here.

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a pocket full of lenses

Posted on April 27, 2026 by Robert

some lens cases offered by Leitz over the years: hard leather, bakelite, glove leather, polystyrene

Toronto. Interchangeable lens cameras need somewhere to put the extra lenses. Often the lens came with a case or one could be purchased.

Over the years these cases (or pockets) were made of various materials: metal (aluminum) for tropical use; bakelite; leather; polystyrene; etc.

Shown at left are a few such cases made by Leitz. Other makers had similar offerings. Some of the lenses in our May 3rd auction include a case of one material or another; some lenses have no case included at all.

Come and join us on May 3rd for our spring (Estate) auction. Parking and admission are free and the folks are friendly. What better way to spend a balmy Sunday afternoon !

NB. The title of the post came to mind with the children’s playing rhyme, “A Pocket Full of Posies“

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