Proofing Machine

DimensionsOverall: 91 × 94 × 50 cm (0.91 × 0.94 × 0.5 m)

Credit LineGift of George P. Lazi, 2007

Object number2007.033.003

Label TextGeorge P. Lazi came to Canada in 1957 following the Hungarian Revolution - with his wife, Erica, and daughter, Eva. In 1959 he opened Beta Photos on a small scale at 519 Richmond Street, as one of the four tenants in the building. As years passed, the enterprise grew, and by the end of the sixties, Beta Photos had an established customer-base from Windsor to Toronto and took over the whole building. George was winning more and more recognition as a world-class professional photographer. In 1970, he was elected as President to the Professional Photographers of Ontario. George was one of the fifteen founding members of the new nationwide Professional Photographers of Canada and the Ontario representative to the first federal Council meeting in Toronto. A longtime advocate of a strong educational system he lectured to many groups in the USA and Canada. In 1973, he started teaching at Fanshawe College and before retirement in 1993, he taught hundreds of students architectural, commercial, and portrait photography. For his outstanding service toward professional photography education, in 1992 in Ottawa, he received the National Citation Award. His first student was his wife, Erica, who became studio-manager and principal photographer until 1994. Beta Photos closed at their 519 Richmond Street address at the end of April 2007. This proofing machine was purchased and used by the founder and operator of Beta Photos Company, Limited, George Lazi, until 1994.

NameMachine, Proofing