Miscellany Toronto Photographs: Then and Now

[adma]

Interesting how they took "sympathetic liberty" in renovating the storefront level.

 

[thecharioteer]

Interesting how they took "sympathetic liberty" in renovating the storefront level.

Kudos to Klaus Nienkamper 40 (?) years ago. He was a visionary.

1960's?

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Klaus-by-Nienkamper/114883251934529

 

[thecharioteer]

"Interesting how they took "sympathetic liberty" in renovating the storefront level."
QUOTE: adma.

As well as painting over the east wall, obliterating the s/e quoins of the original building fabric.


Regards,
J T

Which is unfortunate, JT. Until I read the plaque, I never knew the front portion was an addition. With the painting, one would never know now.

 

[plink]

Then. c1926.
A 'google' for Polson Iron' brings up a wealth of material of this fascinating company, including to my mind it's most fascinating creation, 'Knapp's Roller Boat'.

Buried in this report [pdf] from Waterfront Toronto is an excellent history of Knapp's Roller Boat, about 41 pages in, which contains the most detail I've seen on its history, specifications, and probable current location.

 

[adma]

Which is unfortunate, JT. Until I read the plaque, I never knew the front portion was an addition. With the painting, one would never know now.

But at least it's paint, rather than EIFS.

 

[thecharioteer]

Just managed to date one of the "Then" pics as 1968, the year John Chamard ran for the NDP in this riding (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toronto_Centre)

 

[Mustapha]

It's Friday and time for some weekend nonsense.




Amphicar at the CNE 1962.

You used to see these back in their day (albeit only very occasionally) on Toronto streets.

http://silodrome.com/amphicar-convertible/

A recent article about these fascinating automotive relics.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323423804579022770919670010.html

 

[Mustapha]

Some unique "Then & Now"s on this page:

http://petapixel.com/2013/04/02/pho...lended-with-shots-of-major-historical-events/

Fascinating, Goldie.. I found this link; similar stuff:

http://sergey-larenkov.livejournal.com/

 

[Mustapha]

Nice to have you back in these parts, Moose! We've missed ya!

Thank you! I took some time off to help someone start a business; so I never really left. I'm back, but infrequently.

 

[wwwebster]

...Knapp's Roller Boat...

The article from the July 1897 issue of The Canadian Engineer is available here:

http://ia700509.us.archive.org/Book...adianengineer05toro_0089.jp2&scale=1&rotate=0

 

[Mustapha]

Buried in this report [pdf] from Waterfront Toronto is an excellent history of Knapp's Roller Boat, about 41 pages in, which contains the most detail I've seen on its history, specifications, and probable current location.

The article from the July 1897 issue of The Canadian Engineer is available here:

http://ia700509.us.archive.org/Book...adianengineer05toro_0089.jp2&scale=1&rotate=0

There wouldn't be so much written about the Knapp boat if it weren't such an engineering folly. Imagine getting passengers out of that thing in an emergency...

 

[Mustapha]

Anyone here ever attended one of the Empire Club's speaker luncheon series at the Royal York? I came across this old picture at the Toronto Archives.

It got me thinking. I haven't been in years. Last time was when vice president Richard Cheney was the speaker. They locked all the doors; you couldn't get in or out.




In line with my interest in aviation history I looked up some of their past speakers.

Almost 60 years ago one of the speakers was Sir Miles Thomas, chairman of BOAC.

http://speeches.empireclub.org/60627/data?n=8


Their pioneering Comet jet [BOAC was first in jet travel] had already suffered one crash. No mention of it in his speech. Two more Comet crashes would follow in the months after his speech.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BOAC_Flight_781

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_African_Airways_Flight_201


And in one of those possible Six Degrees Of Separation things, the Comet's test pilot was one 'J Cunningham'; a name eerily similar to our own J T CUNNINGHAM.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1402200/Group-Capt-John-Cats-Eyes-Cunningham.html

 

[barit]

I believe that is Louis St. Laurent. Canada's 12th Prime Minister from November 1948 to June 1957.

 

[thecharioteer]

The Bank of Upper Canada Building, NE corner of Adelaide Street East and George Street:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bank_of_Upper_Canada

1859:

1872:

1909:

1952:

1956:

1970's:

Today:

Post-script: if it were up to me, I would remove the over-sized Victorian mansarded third floors from both the Bank and Post-office buildings, which ruined the proportions and elegance of the original buildings.

 

[thecharioteer]

Close-up from 1872: