freedom

Posted on August 5, 2026 by Robert

Dr. Elsie Kuhn-Leitz is awarded a French medal for Humanities in 1965.

Toronto. Today in Canada we often take freedom for granted. Sadly, not so in Europe in the late 1930s and during WW2. The late George Gilbert spoke to the PHSC a few times, in one case, about the Freedom Train.

His story is covered in issue 28-1 of the journal under the title, “CAMERAS AND THE FREEDOM TRAIN”.  The story is a proud moment for the Leitz family and organization in Wetzlar (in those days many firms such as Leitz were family owned businesses).

George begins his story, “In 1925 E. Leitz, Gmbh announced a revolution in photography. It had created the first pocketable camera which could be loaded with short lengths of motion picture film. They called it a Leica (Lei for Leitz and ca for camera) and it transformed the world of photography.

“In 1933 the Reichstag election with the democratic votes divided by a doctrinaire split between Socialists and Communists made possible a takeover of the government by a minority party: the National Socialists – the Nazis [the trilogy Berlin Noir by Philip Kerr gives a bleak picture of that point in our history using a his protagonist Bernie Gunther, a private eye].

“The Leica rose to become the prestige camera for the affluent family, unrivaled as the choice of doctors, explorers, pilots and, by the mid-Thirties, to an ever increasing body of photographers who discarded large format cameras for the pocketable Leitz product.

“They became skilled at making hitherto rarely seen candid photos for the emerging American weekly picture magazines such as Life and Look in 1936. These new publications were following formats set earlier in Europe.

“In the period following the worldwide depression, Leica’s top model sold in America for the price of a Plymouth automobile – about $300.00.” …

Members read all of the article by Mr Gilbert in the pdf file for issue 28-1 on the free members’ only DVD or thumb drive. You can join or renew by following the instructions above and at right under ‘membership’. Email any questions to member@phsc.ca.

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brushing up on things …

Posted on August 4, 2026 by Robert

an old shaving brush in a very recent smart phone photo.

Toronto. … like collections. Summer is a great time to reorganize a collection and weed out dups, no longer interesting things, etc. If there are only a few, they might  end up in one of our auctions; if there are a whole lot, it  may require a table at one of our fairs.

Food for thought over the summer…

Our events have done well for all as we enter into our summer break. We begin the events for 2026 again this fall.

As each event date approaches, we will pin a poster and details to the top of the front page on this site. Keep checking, and enjoy the summer. See you this September!

 

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lady bug, lady bug …

Posted on August 3, 2026 by Robert

a tiny lady bug beetle lands on a hose reel – taken by smartphone August, 2026

Toronto. … fly away home … As we used to say as children when ever we spotted this tiny beetle with its obvious markings.

Collectors often search for old photographs. An ancient version of the photo at left might be tucked in such collection categories as “bugs”, “beetles”, “insects”, “macro”, etc.

Our annual events offer a great chance to discover additions for any collection of photographica including not only old photos but old cameras, lenses, etc.

Our 2026 events for the first part of this year have taken place and the PHSC pauses for a summer break. The events will continue this fall. As each date comes near, a poster with details will be pinned to the top of the first page of this site.

Meantime, enjoy the summer and get ready for next events!

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remembering Walter Shean

Posted on August 2, 2026 by Robert

the late Walter Shean

Toronto. Walter died on March 3, 2002 at 69 years of age. He was active in the PHSC and a Charter member. The PHSC auctioned his collection for his estate. The late Larry Boccioletti, a founder of the PHSC wrote this obituary for the journal:

“Charter Member #71 of PHSC, and esteemed friend, Walter Shean passed away Sunday, March 3, 2002 of heart complications. He was 69 and leaves his wife Janette, son Gregory, brother Boris and step-sons, Dean and Todd McIntosh.

“Walter was quiet and low key; he was well known in collecting circles for his eclectic and rare photographic collectibles. In 30 years he had acquired such rare items as machine gun cameras and early hand crank ciné cameras.

“Even though it was quite a drive from Shelburne where he lived, he regularly attended our monthly meetings offering exotic collectibles, and was always at all the fairs [tables of collectibles were regulars at the monthly meetings at one time]. Walter retired from teaching film-production at the Campbell District Secondary school in 1998.

“Few were aware that he suffered from a ‘tired syndrome’ resulting from childhood polio – it often necessitated him to leave meetings early.

“Donations in Walter’s name can be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, Sunnybrook Hospital, or to the Headwaters Hospital in Orangeville.

“Larry Boccioletti”

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moon shot

Posted on August 1, 2026 by Robert

by the light of the silvery moon …

Toronto. The heavenly bodies have been around for millions of years from what we can tell. Some old photo collectors relish at discovering old photographs of the night skies, planets, moon, etc.

At left is a very recent photograph of our moon, so bright it is blown out. Taken this year by a smartphone, it is far, far too recent to be collectible.

However; our events often offer old photographs amongst other interesting items to thrill any collector of photographica.

The events for the first half of this year are now over and we are in our summer break. The events begin again this fall and are preceded a few weeks by a poster pinned to the top of this site. Meantime; do enjoy your summer (the days may be warm again).

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in da mail …

Posted on July 31, 2026 by Robert

Butcher’s Royal Mail Stamp camera with instructions and packaging c1907

Toronto. Bill Belier’s column “A Treasure From My Collection” in issue 28-1 (May/June 2002) feature’s a relatively rare British camera, “The Royal Mail Photo Stamp camera”. The example at left was picked up by Mr Tanenbaum at our spring 1998 fair.

Bill begins, “It is a rare occasion when our two annual photographica fairs do not produce a number of highly prized collectible cameras and our 1998 Spring Fair was no exception. Such was the case when H__ T__spotted the little Royal Mail classic on a vendor’s table, recognized its historical significance, and within minutes negotiated its purchase.

“Over the years H__ has assembled an outstanding collection of classic and land-mark cameras but his interest in “hardware” is more an adjunct and not the main thrust of his passion for photographica.

“Together with his wife C__, who shares his enthusiasm for photographic arts, they have assembled an enviable collection of prints, daguerreotypes, ambrotypes and other expressions of the art of the photographer, both historical and contemporary. Their preferences, which are reflected in the collection, appear to be universal with an emphasis on social documentary photography.”

Members read all of this article in the pdf for issue 28-1 on the free members’ only DVD/thumb drive. Joining is easy – just follow ‘Membership’ above and at right. Questions? Email member@phsc.ca.

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remembering Ron Walker

Posted on July 30, 2026 by Robert

the late PHSC member Ro Walker, Ron collected microscopes, Zeiss cameras, and optical books

Toronto. We lost Ron in 2002. He and wife Joan were PHSC members and frequent volunteers. I personally enjoyed Ron’s deep knowledge of microscopes as myself, he, and editor EvRoseborough were also microscope collectors and members of the rather short lived HMSC founded by another PHSC member Fritz Shulze of Zeiss Canada.

When Ron passed in January of 2002, His obituary was written and printed a few months later in volume 27-5 of the journal from a PHSC perspective:

“After a long and courageous battle with cancer member Ron Walker succumbed peacefully in his sleep at age 79. Beloved husband of Joan Wrigley Tudge, the couple were frequent volunteers at PHSC events.

“Ron served as a Flight Lieutenant with the RCAF during the Second World War and as a Captain with Trans Canada Air Lines/Air Canada until his retirement in 1983.

“A specialist in collecting microscopes he assembled a library of classic works on his chosen instrument and set up an enviable workshop with lathe and milling machines to restore his found treasures to pristine working condition.

“His quests took him to England, Europe and America to seek out acquisitions or to examine museum specimens before beginning restoration on a similar piece in Canada.

“Ron was featured in Photographic Canadiana, Sept/Oct 1993 in a ‘Meet the Collector’ article and was part of a speakers panel during a ‘Micro Night’.

“Mr. Walker equally served his community as a longtime Commissioner with the Streetsville Public Utilities Commission and Hydro Mississauga. He was honoured with the President’s Citation by the Ontario Municipal Electrical Association for his distinguished contributions to the MEA and the electricity industry.

“With his expertise in optics he was called upon as consultant to IMAX.”

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possibly another rare bird?

Posted on July 29, 2026 by Robert

a rare lens/shutter set from the Jan 2026 auction

Toronto. Photographica Collectors are always looking to spot that rare bird, be it photo, camera, or lens, to add on to their collections. Some very likely sources are our annual events.

For example this Triplex lens/shutter/board combination, shown at left, appeared in one of our auctions earlier this year (February 2026).

The first half of our 2026 events are now finished and the PHSC is on its summer break. The PHSC will resume the 2026 events this fall.

As each event date approaches, a poster will be pinned to the top of this site with details etc. Meantime, enjoy the summer!

 

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… a real train wreck ….

Posted on July 28, 2026 by Robert

a train wreck in Northern Quebec c1958

Toronto. … is a person in total chaos and emotionally a wreck. However; photographica collectors sometimes seek out old photographs of trains or wrecks of any sort to add to their collections.

The photo at left of a wreck up in Northern Quebec is still a bit too new to really be a collectible.

The PHSC events each year give ample opportunities for collecting both old photographs and old equipment to add to any collection – or even more recent used film and digital gear to become ‘user gear’.

We are now taking a well earned summer break and will continue this year’s events in the fall. As each date approaches, a poster and details will appear pinned to the top of this site.

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a dentist to be drilling …

Posted on July 27, 2026 by Robert

a Roxboro, Quebec dentist at work on his tiny patient c1976

Toronto. Some collectors of old photographs relish photos of work and professionals such as the dentist, his assistant, and his tiny patient shown here in the 1970s. While a bit new to be a collectible (getting there), other old images of work show up from time to time.

Our 2026 events gave all photographica collectors -including those collecting old photos – an opportunity to add interesting items to their collection.

After our summer break, we will be hosting more 2026 events. Weeks before each event itself, a poster will be pinned to the top of this site’s first page giving more details.

Meantime, enjoy the rest of the summer days avoiding the forest fire smoke and sweltering weather should they occur once again.

NB. The title of this post comes from the song “I’m An Ordinary Man” in the play “My Fair Lady” which is based on Shaw’s Pygmalion.

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