[thecharioteer]

Recently discovered an unlikely repository of old Toronto pics: The U.S. Library of Congress. Within their collection are an exquisite set of crystal clear photographs originally produced by the Detroit Publishing Co.:

 

[seemsartless]

Recently discovered an unlikely repository of old Toronto pics: The U.S. Library of Congress. Within their collection are an exquisite set of crystal clear photographs originally produced by the Detroit Publishing Co.:

Those are some wonderful photos, thanks!

There are 15 in the set 'Canada--Ontario--Toronto.' at http://www.loc.gov/pictures/related/?fi=subject&q=Canada--Ontario--Toronto.

But then 296 in the search for just Toronto http://www.loc.gov/pictures/search/?q=Toronto which includes items produced in Toronto, and Toronto Kansas.

 

[Mustapha]

Thanks thecharioteer. That's some discovery and those are some pictures. I wonder who took them and why.

 

[thecharioteer]

Thanks thecharioteer. That's some discovery and those are some pictures. I wonder who took them and why.

Good question! The Detroit Publishing Co. (and their unnamed photographers) produced some stunning images of US cities, circa 1900, also on the LOC site:

 

[junctionist]

In terms of the last photo, Syracuse is relatively unknown today, yet the architecture and midrise scale around the Erie Canal looks very impressive, almost like a European city. Too bad the canal was filled in. Here's what the scene looks in modern times.

 

[ganjavih]

Man, so many American cities were so stunning 100 years ago.

 

[FAC33]

If you ever have a chance to drive through downtown Detroit and look at what photographer Camillo Vergara has termed the "skyscraper sarcophagus", do it. It will break your heart. On the upside, they actually have restored two historic downtown hotels in Detroit. And in an odd kind of upside, some of the derelict skyscrapers have stood simply because no one is rarin' to take them down for new development.

The Michigan Central train station visible from the Ambassador bridge is another tragedy. I've seen photos from that one posted on UT before. And Brush Park. If we think our Victorian mansions are decaying, you should see those. A few have been restored, but so many have been taken down (and not much call for infill in that area) that the character of the neighbourhood is gone. We've lost a lot on Jarvis and Sherbourne, but there are still jewels there.

 

[subtext]

If you are interested in the work of Detroit Publishing you must see the site www.shorpy.com, an amazing collection of vintage photography. A search for "Toronto" also produces some very interesting results.

Enjoy!

 

[thecharioteer]

If you are interested in the work of Detroit Publishing you must see the site www.shorpy.com, an amazing collection of vintage photography. A search for "Toronto" also produces some very interesting results.

Enjoy!

Thanks, subtext, and welcome!

One technical note to add to the discussion of the Detroit Publishing photographs, is that they are from glass plates, obviously intended for at-home magic-lantern evenings. They have a clarity and level of detail absent from most of Toronto's archival photographs.

 

[subtext]

Thank you so much!

It's true that these photographs have a resolution and detail that is truly breathtaking. One of the things I enjoy about the shorpy site is that you have the ability to view them full screen (and bigger)...quite an astonishing experience....

 

[thecharioteer]

Two more (sorry, I know this thread is supposed to be about Toronto......)

The Lower East Side (the pic is titled "The Ghetto":

The Vanderbilt Mansion on Fifth Avenue:

 

[thecharioteer]

And to return to our humble town from the big city, a panorama of the Toronto waterfront (circa 1910) also in the Library of Congress:

 

[Goldie]

One technical note to add to the discussion of the Detroit Publishing photographs, is that they are from glass plates, obviously intended for at-home magic-lantern evenings. They have a clarity and level of detail absent from most of Toronto's archival photographs.

If I may: The fact that they are from "glass plates" has nothing to do with their use for 'magic-lantern' evenings.
Glass plate negatives were in fashion before the introduction of flexible film (as we know it today).
The sharpness and detail is probably due to the large size of the glass plate negatives - no miniature 35mm film in those days!.

 

[thecharioteer]

If I may: The fact that they are from "glass plates" has nothing to do with their use for 'magic-lantern' evenings.
Glass plate negatives were in fashion before the introduction of flexible film (as we know it today).
The sharpness and detail is probably due to the large size of the glass plate negatives - no miniature 35mm film in those days!.

Thanks for the correction, Goldie. When did the cameras that used glass plate negatives go out of fashion? It would be fascinating to see some modern-day pics of streets and buildings using the same technology....

 

[Goldie]

Thanks for the correction, Goldie. When did the cameras that used glass plate negatives go out of fashion? It would be fascinating to see some modern-day pics of streets and buildings using the same technology....

Glass plates were necessary until Eastman began selling coated flexible 'film' circa 1890.
The cameras weren't retired, but simply converted to [sheet] film cameras.
It took some time before the transition was complete - some professional photographers were still using glass into the 1930s-40s.
Large glass plates continued to be useful for some scientific applications (including astronomy) until much later.
That's because the glass provided sharpness and detail that was sometimes lacking in the flexible film substitute. Astronomy use finally expired with the introduction of electronic imaging.
Amateurs, of course immediately turned to the new film which was supplied for the Kodak box "Brownie" cameras from about 1900 onwards.

Some viewers of UT may like to look at the web site of the Photographic Historical Society of Canada.
Fascinating stuff!
It's at: www.phsc.ca