West Lodge/Then and Now

Looking north up West Lodge in the summer of 1946 towards the Gutta Percha Rubber Factory.
2010 and the factory/warehouses are long gone.
Another view of the Gutta Percha factory.
An online version of their catalogue from 1905 can be viewed here.
The building at the bottom of the page was the head office located at 47 yonge Street and it would appear that although altered the building remains.
47 Yonge in 2010.

Vintage Stereo Ads/1974

Pioneer probably spent more on advertising than anyone else. Here is one of there expensive tri-fold ads from the inside cover of High Fidelity Magazine March 1975. The SX 828 (50 watts per channel) listed @ $499.00 would cost $2,225.00 in today's money.

More Vintage Stereo Ads/1974

Not as popular as the Pioneer or Marantz lines, Sherwood still made respectable components.

The king of receivers. The Marantz 2325 put out a whopping 125 watts per channel (that's real 1970's watts not today's inflated numbers) List price in 1974 was $800.00 ($3566.00 today).
These units are still very desireable and sell for $400-$2000.00 today.

Not as popular as their receivers Marantz also built speakers and turntables.

A Thorens turntable, one of the best.

Four Channel stereo never really caught on.

Vintage Stereo Ads/1974

In the 1960's and 70's Hi Fi stereo equipment was a big status symbol and it was important to have a superior system. Once again, usung the inflation calculator it's shocking to find out how expensive some of these items were. Below, a selection of magazine ads from High Fidelity magazine 1974-1975. For more info on seveties stereo please visit:
seventiesstereo.blogspot.com

KLH speakers were developed by the legendary Henry Kloss. He also designed for AR (Acoustic Research) and Advent. He laso designed the currently popular Tivoli radio. All of his classic speakers are still highly collectable and have held their value to some extent. I have a pair of the KLH 17's and by today's standards would cost $356.00 today.

This Kenwood system @ $2150.00 in 1974 would cost a staggering $9,553.00 today!

The most expensive of the Duals @ $400.00 would be $1800.00.

And even this Radio Shack receiver (still fine quality) would be over $1000.00....

Eaton's College Street Store

Some photos from the archives of Eaton's College store during the construction of the Yonge subway line circa 1949-1950. For a more detailed post click here.

Vintage Bicycle Accessory Ad.

Queen and Markham/Then and Now

The N/W corner of Queen and Markham in the spring of 1940.

2010 and still a corner store.

Vintage 1969 CCM Galaxie Makeover

Alan Zweig's 1969 CCM Galaxie was given to Josh Heisie in the summer but needed a lot of work. Josh gave it back to me in exchange for another bike and the CCM has now been fixed.
The bearings have all been cleaned an re-packed as well as a paint job and new seat. I'll probably still change the handle bars and grips.
For a good tutorial on rebuilding these things check out Bike Overhaul.
Now with the low bars, chain and makeshift tool bag.
There's a company in Montreal that has some very cool vintage bike accessories for sale:
www.retrovintage.ca/en

College and Beverley/Then and Now

Beverley Street looking north across College in 1913 before the road was straightened (somewhat).
2010.
Sometime in between.

College and Bathurst/Then and Now

Looking east along College from Bathurst in the late 1890's.
A current view.
????

College and Crawford/Then and Now

Looking west along College across Crawford in the mid 1930's.
A similar viewpoint in 2010.

Spadina and Oxford/Then and Now

Looking north up Spadina from Oxford in the late 1960's towards 1 Spadina Crescent. During World War 1 this was the Spadina Military Hospital. Amelia Earhart worked here as a nurse and it was while here in Toronto that her interest in flying Developed.

2010.
Miss Earhart in Toronto 1917.

Spadina and Nassau/Then and Now

Looking north up Spadina across Nassau in the late 1960's.
2010.

Queen's Quay and York/Then and Now

Vintage Stereo Inflation Calculator/The Fisher 600

The Fisher 600 stereo receiver sold for $349.00 in 1959 and the wood case was an additional $29.99. Using the Bank of Canada's inflation calculator you would need over $2700.00 to buy this piece of hi fi audio equipment today.

Coxwell and Gerrard/Then and Now

The S/E corner of Coxwell and Gerrard looking east in 1924.
2010. The building in the middle has received a strange make-over to the roof line.

Vintage Toys/Corgi Lotus Racing Team

This Corgi gift set, The Lotus Racing Team from the mid 1960's recently sold in England for $1000.00. It's a shame we never looked after our stuff when we young...

Another, smaller Lotus gift set.