Glenn Marshall loves cameras. No, really, it’s not just that he loves them, but, he loves the history and evolution of them and collects them with a passion some might find a slight bit fanatical. With more than 250 of them in his collection, including some rare ones that date back to the 1800s, he talks about them like they are his own children. His knowledge of the history of cameras is broad.
“Did you know there have been more than 70,000 cameras developed over the years since the first one was made in Egypt in the 4th or 5th century B.C.,” says Marshall.
On Saturday, April 21, Marshall will be showcasing one-third of his collection at the Saugus train station in Newhall to the Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society.
“I’ve been interested in photography since I was 12-years old. Many years ago, I found an old Kodak brownie fold-out camera at a flea market in Oregon. I thought I could get film for it, but I couldn’t. From there I just kept collecting,” says Marshall, a long-time Canyon Country resident.
One of his prized possessions is a rare limited production Kodak from the 1870s that he has lovingly restored. That find and his mother’s camera from 1913, a special edition red George Eastman, are among his favorites, although it is difficult to chose.
Thank goodness for Marshall’s passion for cameras. His preservation of them is a welcome hobby for those who may not realize how far the mechanics and use have come since the beginning of it’s inception.
When asked what he thinks of the digital cameras of today, Marshall fears we are taking a piece of history and freezing it in time.
“We need to go back and reminisce,” says Marshall.
Join Marshall at 2 p.m. on April 21 for this lecture on cameras and photography. The general public is welcome. He will be giving away 20 cameras from his collection to the audience in attendance.
For further information, visit www.scvhs.org.