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Vintage cameras donated to museum

After owning them for 80 years, Peter Teichroew donated two cameras to the museum Friday.
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Peter Teichroew donates vintage cameras to museum manager Pat Skoblanuik.

After owning them for 80 years, Peter Teichroew donated two cameras to the museum Friday.

One is a Kodak No. 1 Pocket and the other is a Kodak Tourist.

“I bought them for $20 and $30 in 1930,” the Seniors Village resident said.

He used the cameras up until 1945 when he had to mail the film away to Winnipeg for development.

In those days it cost 25 cents to get a roll developed.

Teichroew would put a quarter on a roll of film and mail it in.

Originally from Altona, Man., where he was born June 5, 1920, Teichroew came out to B.C. looking for work and followed a friend to Williams Lake in 1958.

“He’d got a job at Williams Lake Motors as a mechanic, I came up to visit, loved hunting and fishing and decided to stay,” he recalled.

He got a job at a sawmill on the Dog Creek Road.

In 1965, after running the trim saws for six years, he lost his hearing and has been hard of hearing ever since, although his hearing aides do help somewhat.

A shelf in his room is home to several albums containing photographs he has taken over the years, and some of his favourites are enlarged and pinned up on the wall.

There are also a few trophies, including one from 1960 for a photograph and in 1964 for the second largest moose from the Williams Lake Rod and Gun Club.

Teichroew never married so when he was asked if he was available, his face broke out into a broad grin.

He has lived in Seniors Village for two years.



Monica Lamb-Yorski

About the Author: Monica Lamb-Yorski

A B.C. gal, I was born in Alert Bay, raised in Nelson, graduated from the University of Winnipeg, and wrote my first-ever article for the Prince Rupert Daily News.
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